System information

2 Luminescence
www.turnerbiosystems.com 18
2 Luminescence
2.1 General Information
• The Luminometer detection wavelength range is 350 to 650 nm.
• Microplate Recommendations:
- White plates are recommended for general luminescence detection.
- Black plates are recommended primarily for bright assays, such as ELISA, but will
generally yield decreased sensitivity despite the benefit of having lower background and
cross-talk than white plates.
- Clear plates are not recommended due to high cross-talk.
• For luciferase assays, samples and reagents must be equilibrated to room temperature prior
to taking the measurements for optimal light intensity.
• For best results, make sure all reagents are as freshly prepared as possible and assay
protocols are followed.
• To reduce high background noise, keep the interior of the instrument clean. Always flush the
injectors after each use and clean up any spills.
• To reduce cross-talk from adjacent wells, always use the Microplate Sample Tray Cover.
2.2 Microplate Sample Plate Cover
A Microplate Sample Plate Cover is installed on the Microplate Sample Tray with the purchase of
the Luminescence module. Its primary purpose is to reduce cross-talk signal from adjacent wells.
• If any moisture appears on the Microplate Sample Tray Cover, clean the optical lens, the
mask, and the interior of the instrument. See Section 1 for general care and cleaning
instructions.
2.3 PMT Activation
The Luminescence module uses Photomultiplier Tube (PMT) detection. It requires a 5-minute
warm up to ensure consistent results. Activating the PMT prior to preparing the sample plate for
reading will reduce the wait time before the run.
When the Luminescence mode is selected, an ACTIVATE PMT button is visible in place of the
START button. This forces the user to warm up the PMT before initiating a run. After PMT
activation begins, the START button will appear.
While the PMT is activating, the user can maneuver around the software and select other
detection modalities without interfering with the PMT activation. If the instrument door is open for
more than one minute, the PMT will deactivate.
Parameters and file names can be set during the activation of the PMT. If the START button is
touched before the PMT is completely activated, the run will begin immediately after the 5-minute
warm up of the PMT.