New Detection Cartridges Expand Applications of Beckman Coulter’s PARADIGM Platform

Beckman Coulter® introduces four detection cartridges for the PARADIGM Detection Platform, its modular plate reader, adding new capabilities for widely used fluorescence and luminescence applications. The AlphaScreen*, GeneBLAzer*, and MultiTox-Fluor cartridges provide assay specific settings and protocols to reduce setup time and speed research. These products, and a new filter-based Fluorescence Intensity cartridge, join a line of 14 previously released cartridges that can be exchanged in the PARADIGM Detection Platform in less than five minutes and that enable a range of cell and molecular biology assays.

The AlphaScreen cartridge utilizes a 680 nm laser diode to provide sensitive detection of protein-protein interaction, receptor-ligand binding, cAMP quantitation and kinase assays. Designed and optimized specifically for AlphaScreen and AlphaLISA products, this new detection cartridge employs a patent-pending design that reduces crosstalk while improving performance.

The GeneBLAzer detection cartridge, designed for use with Invitrogen Corporation’s GeneBLAzer assay technology, provides FRET analysis for GPCR, ion channel, nuclear and cytokine receptor, signal transduction and kinase assays.

The MultiTox-Fluor cartridge, designed for use with MultiTox-Fluor assays (Promega Corp), provides a dual-label fluorescence-intensity screen for multiplexed viability/cytotoxicity assays. This Dual Label Detection Cartridge enables efficient multiplexing of assays, using two high-powered LEDs to provide sensitive and simultaneous reads of two distinct labels. The dual-excitation, dual-emission functionality unique to the PARADIGM results in faster reading times.

The new Fluorescence Intensity Detection Cartridges feature a standard dual-emission design that is optimized for FRET measurements of the cellular fluorescence proteins CFP-YFP. The fluorescence intensity cartridge utilizes an energy intensity optimization technique that allows the user to read up to seven logs of sample concentration in a single pass without any manual intervention and provides uncompromised performance for both top and bottom reads. The unique optical design of the PARADIGM allows for direct excitation of adherent cell assays improving signal-to-noise ratios for sensitive cell assays.

The array of detection cartridges offered for the PARADIGM is growing, and custom cartridges can be developed for researchers and vendors with specific assay requirements.

“Detection cartridges for the PARADIGM Platform enable researchers to cost-effectively perform prominent assays with high sensitivity and reduced setup time,” explains Jim Barry, marketing manager, Life Science Automation. “Working together with researchers and the vendor community has allowed Beckman to offer a single instrument that can run a wide range of tests out of the box.”

The PARADIGM Detection Platform allows real-time system configuration in less than five minutes, and incorporates two photomultiplier tubes to provide simultaneous detection of two labels.

Single or dual excitation and emission modes address existing needs and future expansion. Z-Height focusing, in which the lens is adjusted to address low volumes or varied well geometry, is enabled for both top- and bottom-read configurations for all appropriate read modes.