October 2, 2006, Cambridge, England--TTP LabTech initiated the second generation of high content screening systems with the launch of a triple-laser microplate cytometer. An evolution of its Acumen Explorer HCS platform technology, the Acumen eX3 is equipped with up to three lasers at 405, 488 and 633 nm, offering a wavelength range for excitation that is similar to that of white light source instrumentation and significantly increasing the variety of fluorescent reagents compatible with the system.
According to the company, the new Acumen eX3 will simplify assay transfer from development to screening laboratories by delivering the powerful object recognition of CCD Imagers combined with the fast reads of bulk fluorescence readers. Scanning up to 64 whole wells at a time, the Acumen range of laser-scanning fluorescence microplate cytometers can perform cytometric analyses at throughputs of up to 200 plates--or 300,000 data points (1536 plates)--per day.
"The Acumen eX3 offers huge flexibility: researchers can select the optimum laser combination required to excite the fluorescent probes being used," said Wayne Bowen, TTP LabTech's CSO. "Since nuclear staining is not required to locate the cells, all probes may be used for reporting biological responses. The upshot is that, with simultaneous four colour detection, the Acumen eX3's possible performance exceeds the limits of current multicolour, multiplexed assay protocols, giving an assurance of future-proofing."
