Our luminescence microplate readers have been brought to market by a team with a heritage of developing the most sensitive luminometers. All high-performance plate luminometers “Made in Germany” by Berthold Technologies guarantee lowest background and negligible crosstalk for all luminescence applications, from reporter gene assays to BRET, ATP assays and more. We offer both dedicated luminescence microplate readers and multimode microplate readers configured with luminescence reader module.
Dedicated Microplate Luminescence Readers
Luminescence measurements without compromise - dedicated Microplate Luminometers offer the best sensitivity as their optical system has been optimised 100% for luminescence detection.
Multimode Luminescence Microplate Readers
All our multimode microplate readers can be equipped with modules to measure luminescence. They offer a sensitivity comparable to that of our dedicated microplate luminometers. In addition, some systems can be equipped with filters required to perform BRET assays.
Compare Luminescence Microplate Readers
| Centro LB 963 | Centro XS LB 963 | Tristar 3 | Tristar 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detectors |
|
|
|
|
| Absorbance (Vis) | ||||
| Absorbance (UV) | ||||
| Luminescence | ||||
| BRET | ||||
| Fluorescence | ||||
| TRF | ||||
| FP | ||||
| AlphaScreen |
| Centro LB 963 | Centro XS LB 963 | Tristar 3 | Tristar 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optical system | Single technology | Single technology | Single path for all detection technologies | Single path for all detection technologies |
| Light source | ✘ | ✘ | Xenon flash lamp |
|
| Spectral range Absorbance | ✘ | ✘ | 200-1000 nm | 200-1000 nm |
| Spectral range Luminescence | 340-630 nm | 340-630 nm | Standard: 280-650 nm Extended: 280-850 nm | Standard: 280-650 nm Extended: 280-850 nm |
| Spectral range Fluorescence | ✘ | ✘ | Excitation: 230-1000 nm Emission: Standard 280-650 nm, Extended 280-850 nm | Excitation: 230-1000 nm Emission: Standard 280-650 nm, Extended 280-850 nm |
| Z-adjustment | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Bottom reading | ✘ | ✘ | ||
| Filters | ✘ | ✘ | ||
| Monochromator for Abs. and Fluor. Excitation | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| Monochromator for Fluor. Emission | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| Filter identification | Manual | Manual | ||
| Wavelength scanning | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| Monochromator stray light | 10-6 | |||
| Monochromator bandwidth | 4-22 nm |
| Centro LB 963 | Centro XS LB 963 | Tristar 3 | Tristar 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injectors | Up to 3 JET injectors with frictionless operation | Up to 3 JET injectors with frictionless operation, all in pre-measurement position | Up to 3 JET injectors with frictionless operation | Up to 3 JET injectors with frictionless operation |
| Injector volume | 10-100 µL in 1 µL steps | 10-100 µL in 1 µL steps | 10-100 µL in 1 µL steps | 10-100 µL in 1 µL steps |
| Injector accuracy | Better than 2% across the entire volume range | Better than 2% across the entire volume range | Better than 2% across the entire volume range | Better than 2% across the entire volume range |
| Injector precision | Better than 2% across the entire volume range | Better than 2% across the entire volume range | Better than 2% across the entire volume range | Better than 2% across the entire volume range |
| Centro LB 963 | Centro XS LB 963 | Tristar 3 | Tristar 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microplate formats | 96-well | 96- and 384-well | 6- to 384-well | 6- to 384-well |
| Plate height adjustment | ✘ | ✘ | 3 different frames depending on plate type | 3 different frames depending on plate type |
| Additional sample formats (optional) |
|
| ||
| Optional Microplate Stacker | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Centro LB 963 | Centro XS LB 963 | Tristar 3 | Tristar 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaking | Linear, orbital, double orbital, with selectable speed and diameter | Linear, orbital, double orbital, with selectable speed and diameter | Linear, orbital, double orbital, with selectable speed and diameter | Linear, orbital, double orbital, with selectable speed and diameter |
| Temperature control | From ambient +5° to 45° C | - | From ambient +5° to 45° C | From ambient +5° to 45° C |
| Gas connection |
| Centro LB 963 | Centro XS LB 963 | Tristar 3 | Tristar 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luminescence sensitivity | <5 amol (25 fM) ATP/well (96-well plate) | <1.8 amol (7.5 fM) ATP/well (96-well plate) | <6 amol (30 fM) ATP/well (96-well plate) | <6 amol (30 fM) ATP/well (96-well plate) |
| Crosstalk | 10-6 | 10-6 | 10-6 | 10-6 |
| Dynamic range | >6 orders of magnitude | >6 orders of magnitude | >6 orders of magnitude | >6 orders of magnitude |
How to choose a luminescence microplate reader?
If you are going to purchase a luminescence microplate reader, there are a few points that you need to consider:
- Microplate format: most luminescence microplate readers can measure 96-well microplates, but if you need a higher throughput, look for models than can measure 384-well microplates.
- Reagent injectors: if you are going to perform assays that have fast kinetics, you need to dispense the reagents using injectors: otherwise, signal will be already very low when the last wells are measured, and not comparable to the wells measured first. Learn more about this in our video “Do you flash or do you glow? Why fast injection matters in luminescence chemistry”. Our microplate readers can be equipped with up to 3 reagent injectors. If the signal has a very short half-life, one of the injectors must be in measurement position.
- Waste pump: if you use reagent injectors, you need to prime and wash the injector lines several times per experiment. A waste pump automatically removes liquid waste, making priming and washing easy and convenient. The Centro is the only luminescence microplate reader in the market equipped with integrated waste pump.
- Environmental control: if you need shaking or temperature control in your assays, choose the luminescence microplate reader accordingly.
Need help selecting the Luminescence Microplate Reader that best fits your research needs?
Wait no more, our specialists will be glad to help you!