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BioTek's ELx50™ FMW Recommended by Luminex Corporation for xMAP<sup>®</sup> Multiplex Bead Assays

Agilent Technologies
16 Sept 2007

Product news

Responding to new assay developments, BioTek Instruments, Inc. is pleased to announce that their ELx50™ Filter Microplate Washer (FMW) has been recommended by Luminex Corporation for use with their xMAP® multiplex assay platform.

The compact ELx50 FMW features a syringe drive fluid-delivery system with an automated vacuum filtration solution for quick and unattended processing of 96-well filter bottom plates. Selectable vacuum levels and aspiration times provide complete filter bottom plate washing for filter pore sizes from 0.45 µm to 1.2 µm, and a range of fluid viscosities. Automated aspiration of liquids provides consistent wash performance and reduces the potential for operator error compared to manual methods. In addition, the modular platform allows for processing of standard microplates for traditional ELISA and cell-based assays.

According to Luminex, recovery of microspheres in the xMAP assay platform is good, even with high vacuum during aspiration and after up to six washes. In addition, blotting requirements are minimal or unnecessary, and filter microplate wells do not dry out from aspiration.

The xMAP multiplex assay platform uses microspheres that are internally dyed with fluorescent materials, coated with a test-specific substrate, and suspended in filter bottom microplate wells. When the coated substrate binds with a target molecule, two lasers excite the microsphere's internal identifying dyes, and also any reporter dye captured during the assay. The resulting fluorescence is detected with flow cytometry.

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ELISAEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), also known as enzyme immunoassays (EIA), are used for the detection and quantification of proteins, peptides and antibodies in a sample. ELISA often comes in kit format, with pre-selected antibody pairs to detect specific proteins or biomarkers of diseases such as diabetes and obesity, or cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Detection is made possible with chemiluminescent, fluorescent or colorimetric substrates and detection instruments such as microplate / ELISA readers. Other kits available include: Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays for the quantification of protein-producing cells and chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIA) kits. Find the best ELISA kits and products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Microplate Readers / DetectorsMicroplate readers are used to automate the detection and analysis of labeled or label-free components in microplates during assays or live-cell monitoring. Microplate readers are generally distinguished by their mode of detection. Types include absorbance, luminescence, fluorescence intensity, fluorescence polarization, TRF / FRET and multimode microplate readers. Microplate readers deliver a high throughput of samples by reading multiple wells simultaneously, with the 96-well format the most commonly used. As a result, microplate readers are often used in the drug discovery, bioassays, research and pharmaceutical industries for screening applications. Microplate loading can also be automated, with robotic microplate stackers to increase throughput. Find the best microplate readers in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Flow Cytometry / Cell CountingFlow cytometers are used to count, sort and examine multiple characteristics of cells. Other cell analysis equipment includes image cytometers, cell counters, fluorescence-activated cell sorters (FACS), magnetic-activated cell sorters (MACS), and a range of flow cytometry assay kits. Flow cytometers can reveal information on cell viability, cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle progression, as well as identify cell populations and intracellular or cell-surface molecules. Additionally, some flow cytometers, known as FACS, have an additional sorting function after analysis. Cell counters and image cytometers count live and dead cell populations and can also conduct cell proliferation assays. Find the best flow cytometers, cell counters and cell sorters in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.

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BioTek's ELx50™ FMW Recommended by Luminex Corporation for xMAP<sup>®</sup> Multiplex Bead Assays