For perfect and accurate result use high-quality plate readers
These are also popularly known as microplate readers and photometers. These are the instrument which is used to find out biological, chemical, or physical events of samples. For such unique features, they are greatly used in drug discovery, research, quality control, and different manufacturing processes in the biotechnological and pharmaceutical industry.
The best plate reader can offer accurate result as the reaction of the sample can be assayed in 1-1536 microtiter plates. Some common detection of modes for assays is fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, absorbance, fluorescence intensity, fluorescence polarization, and luminescence. Now let’s have a look into the different types of microplate readers that you can use.
Various types of microplate readers
The microplate readers can be classified in different ways. But there are two major classifications that you should consider while buying the readers. These two categories are detection technologies and by wavelength selection mechanism.
- Microplate readers classified under detection technology
Dedicated Microplate Readers
These readers can only measure only one technology, i.e., either luminescence, fluorescence, and absorbance. Such plate reader doesn’t offer you the features of a multimode microplate reader. However, the readers offer better sensitivity and reliability in result production than the other types of readers. There is advanced microplate luminometer which offers the best sensitivity in luminescence.
Multimode microplate readers
Such readers can use more one chemical detections technology. These readers are quite complicated than dedicated readers. You have to make some compromise in design to accommodate all the detection modes in a single reader. But you will get a greater level of flexibility with such types of reader. In advanced multimode readers, you will get a dedicated optical path for accurate detection result. These are quite expensive but offer high modularity.
- Microplate readers classified under wavelength selection
While choosing a plate reader, another important thing that you should consider is the system used to select the wavelength. This feature can play a great role in a different application. The main options are:
Filters
Most of the affordable readers utilize normal filters to choose the required wavelength for the detection method. But it is not the worst one. The filters have high transmittance, and this brings a greater level of sensitivity in different applications. However, the main drawback is you will have to use a different filter for each wavelength required.
Monochromator
Monochromators offer a greater volume of flexibility. It can be used for both wavelength and bandwidth selection. But, the sensitivity in most applications is lower than when using filters. Some high-quality microplate readers offer you the best of both worlds. The readers can be configured with both filters and monochromators. So, always choose the best one for you.
No wavelength selection
Luminometers lack filters or other ways of wavelength selection. The light of wavelengths can reach the photomultiplier. This offers a greater amount of sensitivity, but it lacks for BRET. This requires to measure light emitted by the acceptor and donor selectively.
These are different types of plate reader that you can buy. Think about your budget and requirement and choose the best one for you.
