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Thermo Scientific™ Varioskan™ ALF Multimode Microplate Reader
Description
The Thermo Scientific Varioskan ALF Multimode Microplate Reader is a versatile, entry level reader for most common absorbance, turbidimetric, fluorescence, and luminescence microplate assays. Its photometric optical design is based on a xenon flash lamp and monochromator, enabling continuous wavelength selection from UV through visible range up to 1000 nm. The broad wavelength range enables many common assays, including nucleic acid and protein quantification, bacterial growth curves, ELISA, and cell viability.
Enhance your fluorescence and luminescence measurements with the filter-based optics
With the Varioskan ALF reader, fluorescence and luminescence measurements are performed with filter-based optics for optimal specificity and sensitivity. The system comes with three pre-installed excitation and emission filter sets suitable for many common fluorometric applications like Quant-IT DNA quantitation assays and PrestoBlue and AlamarBlue cell viability assays. Additionally, five open filter positions are available for customized fluorometric and luminometric measurements. The filter slots are easy to access on the instrument's side with no tools required for filter exchange. Also, commonly used FRET and BRET assays are easy to set up and perform thanks to Varioskan ALF reader's unique filter-based optics design.
This package includes a Varioskan ALF Multimode Microplate Reader (Cat. No. VA000010C) and a Rapid Exchange two-year extended warranty.
Achieve consistently accurate results with automatic gain adjustment
The automatic gain adjustment feature selects the ideal fluorometric or luminometric reading range for your instrument based on signal intensity in the well, eliminating the need to manually adjust measurement parameters. The results are consistent no matter what signals are measured.
Additional features
- Kinetic and endpoint measurements for a variety of applications
- Spectral scanning for photometric measurements
- Separate optimized measurement modes for absorbance and turbidimetric measurements
- A self-diagnostics system that includes a set of initialization tests and adjustments, ensuring instrument readiness for operation
- Compatible with 6- to 384-well microplates with and without lids
- Reads μDrop and μDrop Duo plates for microvolume analysis of DNA, RNA, and proteins
- Performs onboard shaking and incubation for temperature-critical assays
- Operated through SkanIt software
- Unlimited installation on multiple computers, no annual fee required
- Includes an extensive cloud-based library of ready-made protocols
- Two editions available: Research Edition for life sciences and Drug Discovery Edition with features for compliance with 21 CFR Part 11
- Multiple user interface languages available
- Automation compatibility for integration with automation interface
- Thermo Scientific verification plates provide comprehensive and traceable validation of the instrument optical performance. Ready-made SkanIt software protocols provide easy to read reports with defined measurement parameter limits
Varioskan ALF Multimode Microplate Reader with 2-year Extended Warranty (A66711), REX is a Varioskan ALF specific package SKU including the instrument (VA000010C), and an extended warranty to 2 years which includes a rapid exchange service (REX) should the instrument get broken during the warranty period.
Specifications
Specifications
| Product Type | Multimode Microplate Reader |
| Cuvettes | No |
| Detector Type | Photomultiplier Tube (PMT) |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 61 x 34 x 40 cm |
| Incubator Temperature | Ambient +2° to 45°C |
| Interface | PC Software (Thermo Scientific SkanIt Software) |
| Light Source | Xenon Flash Lamp |
| Measurement Speed | Photometry: ≤10 sec. (fast mode); Fluorometry and Luminometry: ≤20 sec. (96-well plate) |
| Product Line | Varioskan |
| Reading Options | Endpoint, Kinetic |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Relative fluorescence units (RFUs) cannot be compared between two different microplate readers. RFU values are arbitrary and dimensionless, meaning that the actual numbers don't have a specific physical meaning, but the relative values are used for comparison. The critical measurement is the ratio of signal to background.
Whether the signal is low or high is 100% dependent on the baseline, i.e., if the sample signal is 2 and the baseline is 1, then it is a low signal but if the sample signal is 2 and the baseline is 0.01, then it is a very high signal. Instruments that typically give sample signals in the tens of thousands RFUs also typically have baseline RFUs somewhere in the tens or hundreds. For example, the Varioskan Microplate Reader is designed such that the baseline is kept below 0.1 RFU.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.