BioTek’s new Epoch Multi-Volume Spectrophotometer System combines two innovative products into system designed for a wide range of applications, from nucleic acid and protein quantification on a micro scale to cell-based assays in microplates, BioCells or standard cuvettes. The Epoch Microplate Spectrophotometer offers a 200 nm to 999 nm wavelength range without interference filters for measurements in 6 to 384 well microplates, while the Take3 Plate extends the system’s applications to very low volume nucleic acid and protein quantification. Up to sixteen 2 ul DNA, RNA or protein samples can be quickly quantified saving valuable time and samples. This system is well suited to the budget sensitive laboratory that needs maximum functionality and application flexibility.

The Epoch Microplate Spectrophotometer features a monochromator based optical system, with a wide 200 to 999 nm wavelength range, selectable in 1 nm increments. The main benefit is the ability to run a multitude of biomolecular assays without needing to purchase application specific filters. Controlled by the powerful Gen5 Data Analysis software, users need only to select the desired wavelength and read the microplate. When the assay wavelength is unknown, a spectral scan can be quickly run to determine the absorbance peak. Epoch can measure 6 to 384 well microplates with either a single data point taken in the center of the well, or by well area scanning in larger well diameters to provide multiple measurements that can be analyzed more closely. Measurements made in microplates can be corrected for pathlength by Gen5’s automated pathlength correction option, which is an especially useful tool for direct quantification assays.

When used with the Epoch microplate reader, the Take3 Multi-Volume Plate extends applications into the increasingly important low volume area. Take3 allows measurement of up to sixteen 2 μL samples at a time so that DNA, RNA or protein samples can be measured quickly and without diluting. The Take3 plate uses a custom designed fused silica slides, one of which is precision printed with sixteen 2 mm microspots – the ideal size for samples as low as 2 μL. When the top of the Take3 is closed, a nominal 0.5 mm pathlength is created so that sample concentrations can be quickly and accurately made with results produced automatically, via pre-programmed applications within the custom Gen5 Take3 module. Together, Epoch and Take3 comprise a system that allows the laboratory an assay multi-tasking capability in one compact footprint at a fraction of the cost of typical instrumentation and in a fraction of the time that would be required to accomplish the same results.

P.O. Box 998, Highland Park
Winooski, VT 05404
TEL: 888-451-517
www.biotek.com