Microplate Readers

Multimode Microplate Readers

Multimode readers are flexible instruments that can measure luminescence, absorbance, fluorescence and more.

Luminescence Microplate Readers

Berthold Technologies is the technology leader in luminescence measurement. Pick the microplate reader for luminescence that meets your needs.

ELISA and Absorbance Readers

Our ELISA readers cover a broad range of instruments, from basic absorbance readers to sophisticated multimode readers with monochromator.

Fluorescence Microplate Readers

Measure fluorescence intensity, FRET and TRF with ease using our microplate readers.

Buying a Microplate Reader

There are many different types of microplate readers available and it can be sometimes difficult to buy the reader that best suits your needs. The basic considerations will be discussed below. If you still need more information or have questions our experts will be happy to assist you.

What is a microplate reader, actually?

A microplate reader (also called sometimes microtiter plate reader) is a high-sensitivity instrument designed to analyze samples contained in microplate wells. Microplate formats can vary from 6-1536 wells, providing the ability to read many samples in a short time. The measurement can be performed using a variety of detection technologies: the most common detection modes used in plate readers are absorbance, luminescence and fluorescence. Microplates have become indispensable in modern laboratories and save labor, time and costs.

Types of microplate readers

Microplate readers can be classified in several ways. The following classifications may be useful to decide what reader to purchase:

Microplate readers by wavelength selection

An important characteristic when choosing a plate reader is the technology used to select the wavelength, as it has a major impact on many applications:

Filter-based microplate readers use filters to select the desired wavelength. They´re typically more affordable, but affordability doesn´t mean less performance in this case: filter-based systems have a very high transmittance, delivering higher sensitivity than monochromator-based systems for many applications. In addition, wavelength switching is very fast, a desirable feature in ratiometric assays. ELISA readers, for example use filters, as they typically measure a few different wavelenghts only.

The main disadvantage of filter-based microplate readers is that they require a different filter for each wavelength needed, which reduces flexibility and makes it impossible to perform wavelength scans.

Monochromator-based microplate readers use diffraction-gratings to create the desired excitation and/or emission wavelengths. The correct wavelengths can be selected via the instrument software and no filters need to be switched. This provides total flexibility in wavelength selection, and even allows to perform wavelength scans.

A disadvantage of this technology can be compromises that may be required in the optical system of instruments having multiple detection modes, which may result in lower sensitivity compared to dedicated readers.

More about monochromators in microplate readers

Some microplate readers from Berthold Technologies offer you the best of both worlds: the Tristar 5 can be configured with both, filters and monochromators, so you can select the best option for your application.

Luminometers usually don´t require filter or any other way of wavelength selection: light of all wavelengths reaches the photomultiplier and is pooled together. This provides the best sensitivity, but is a limitation for BRET assays, as this application requires to differentiate between light emitted by the donor and by the acceptor dye.

Microplate readers by detection technologies

There are two main types of readers by detection technologies: dedicated microplate readers and multimode microplate readers.

Dedicated microplate readers (single-mode or single-technology readers)

Dedicated microplate readers are able to measure a single technology only: either absorbance, luminescence or fluorescence. They lack the flexibility of multimode microplate readers, but they often offer better sensitivity and reliability than multimode readers. For example, the Centro XS LB 963 provides a sensitivity for luminescence detection, unmatched even by the most sensitive multimode microplate readers. ELISA readers are also very popular: ELISA assays have a wide variety of applications – including clinical, forensic and food research and, in addition, they can be used to quantify many other types of colorimetric assays, including protein quantification using the classic Lowry, Bradford or BCA methods, and others.

Pricewise, single-technology microplate readers are overall more affordable than multimode readers, but special configurations to meet specific application needs may increase costs.

Multimode microplate readers

Multimode microplate readers are equipped with more than one detection technology. They are more complex than dedicated plate readers, and some design compromises have to be made to accommodate all detection modes in a single instrument. In return, they offer great flexibility, enabling a broad range of applications and, especially in advanced instruments such as the Tristar 5, provide excellent performance.

Multimode readers tend to be more expensive, but high-modularity platforms can initially be configured with only the options only that will really be needed and upgraded later on if required.

Microplate Reader Applications

Microplate readers have a broad range of applications, which depend mainly on the detection technologies available. Absorbance is in many laboratories the most popular technology, as many colorimetric methods have been developed for many applications: from ELISA to protein quantification, cell viability, enzymatic activity and many others. Luminescence is the most popular technology to measure reporter gene assays, but is also very useful to study cell proliferation and protein-protein interactions. And fluorescence is the technology with the most diverse number of applications, thanks to the diversity of fluorophores and detection technologies available that are based on fluorescence. If you want to learn more about the applications of microplate readers, visit our page:

Multimode Reader Applications

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Performing assays in microplates

Our microplate readers deliver the performance you need to solve your analytical challenges