Lumat LB 9507 Luminometer

The LB9507 Luminometer is certified for the Dual-Luciferase (TM) Reporter Assay

The LB 9507 is the latest, 4th generation, luminometer in the successful line of semiautomatic tube luminometers from EG&G Berthold. Our reputation for performance, reliability and build quality based on experience with thousands of installations world wide have made EG&G Berthold renowned as "The Luminescence Company". Continuous product development and research have enabled us to realize several significant improvements:

• 30% Increase in sensitivity over other systems
• Increased sample throughput
• Easily upgraded through PCMCIA memory card
• Smaller footprint to save valuable bench space

Simple Operation - Powerful Performance

Advanced Light Detection

The heart of the new Lumat LB 9507 Luminometer is the latest photomultiplier tube-based photon counting module, integrating the signal processing electronics and high voltage, using state of the art manufacturing technologies and components for increased performance, reliability and serviceability. The proprietary design ensures extremely low backgrounds with long term stability, eliminating the need for internal LED or other calibrators. The photon counting technology provides an extended dynamic range with linearity over more than five decades without the need to adjust the sensitivity gain.

Reliable Reagent Injectors

EG&G Berthold's reagent injectors have proven themselves in thousands of installations - performing virtually maintenance free over many years. Their support design using resistant materials to corrosive agents such as peroxide enable them to withstand the most hostile conditions.

Special attention was given to the injection lines to guarantee precision and reduce dead volume; an important consideration when using expensive reagents such as luciferin/luciferase.

Unique Tube Loading and Measurement Chamber

The design of the measurement chamber incorporates the new rotating sample transport which combines the following functions:

• The geometric optimisation of the tube position and selected reflecting materials results in a greater light collection efficiency by as much as 30% compared with the previous design which was itself perceived as state of the art.
• The sample throughput for tubes with typical measurement times is almost doubled, because loading and unloading can be done during measurement of another sample. Throughput therefore approaches that of an automatic instrument.
• The unique design guarantees a perfect light seal which is an absolute must for highest sensitivity.

Latest Quality and Safety Standards

EG&G Berthold luminometers are renowned for their quality and reliability. Close attention is always paid to providing the optimal mechanical and electronic design, selection of the best components available and strict quality control of assembly and final testing. These criteria are rigorously applied by highly qualified technicians at our factory in Bad Wildbad, Germany. The entire facility has been certified according to the ISO 9001 standard for Quality Assurance from 1991 onwards. Electrical and Emission compliance is guaranteed by design: the wet area (reagent supply, injectors and connection tubes) is completely separated from the elctronics. The stringent safety standards issued by the authorities in Europe and the United States of America, UL and CE are met.

Software

The built-in 32-bit microprocessor software has been developed to provide easy intuitive operation of all powerful features. The well established dialogue structure based on a full alpha-numeric keyboard and three "soft-keys" has been further refined. The three basic protocols are:

1. Raw Data Measurement. Any measurement time can be selected. Results are provided in Relative Light Units (RLU) together with average and coefficient of variation for replicates. In addition a 20 point kinetic can be selected and a graphic printout provided on the built in printer. This protocol is typically used for ATP measurements or for Luciferase Reporter Gene Assays.

2. Cut-off Protocol. This protocol allows a basic interpretation of measured values: The user must define the negative and positive standards, and based on these the unknowns are automatically classified into positive, negative and indeterminate.

3. Kinetic measurements (Ratemeter model). If information is required on the kinetics of the measurement this protocol is ideal. The software allows automatic repeat measurements, the user specifying the measurement time. Injections can be initiated at any time. The exact time of any injection is reported on the printout.

Also available as an option: quantitative measurements (LIA, ILMA). Concentration values for each standard are entered by the user and stored as a protocol. The software calculates the calibration curve (log-log or logit-log) from the measured RLU values of the standards. The unknown sample RLUs are then transformed into concentration values. Alternatively a "mastercurve" may be entered for automatic calculation of the standard curve.

Data export to standard software packages

The measured raw data is simultaneously sent to a serial device - any type of external computer like PC, Apple Macintosh or mainframes. By use of a simple terminal program, measured raw data can be exported to a spreadsheet program like EXCEL, LOTUS 1-2-3 or QuattroPro.

The Memory Card

The operating software is running on a PCMCIA "credit card size" memory card. The memory card can be exchanged by the user within seconds. Software updates and enhancements can therefore be introduced at any time. If the instrument is being used by several people each user can have their own card which contains their individual measurement protocols.

Applications

The new generation of luminescence reporter gene assays based on either firefly luciferase, galactosidase, phosphatase or glucuronidase activity can be measured with highest sensitivity and reproducibility.

The capability of detecting ATP down to 20 attomoles allows the complete range of ATP based assays to be measured such as tumour chemosensitivity testing, hygiene or sterility monitoring, and many others. In addition the sensitive measurement of NAD(P)H based on bacterial luciferase allows the assay of many enzymes and metabolites in linked reaction systems which consume ATP or NAD(P)H.

Many clinical assays use acridinium esters as labels resulting in a flashtype luminescence which requires injection in the measuring position. Luminescence immunoassays (LIA) include the entire menu of thyroid, fertility, tumour marker and other assays. Several diagnostic DNA probe assays are based on acridinium ester labels.

By changing the colorimetric substrates of horse radish peroxidase or phosphatase to a luminescence substrate up to a 100 fold increase in sensitivity over enzyme immunoassays (EIA, ELISA) is achievable with the Lumat.

The flash luminescence associated with aequorine in the presence of calcium is used either as a sensitive label for immunoassays or to detect calcium at low concentrations.

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