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Sensitive, publication-quality imaging of DNA and protein gels, chemiluminescence and fluorescence in Western blots.
Advantages
High sensitivity: Detect low abundant protein molecules easily. Advanced settings allow up to 50 incremental exposures and exposure times up to 10 h.
Sharp images with high resolution: Choose from four binning modes, including “no binning” for sharper images and improved resolution of closely spaced bands—great for chemiluminescence imaging!
Easy to use: Intuitive software that’s easy to learn and use with on-board analysis functions. Adjust sample position and focus when needed.
Image a chemiluminescent sample and a colored molecular weight marker simultaneously with automatic overlay. The overlay image retains the marker color for easy identification of molecular weights.
Highly flexible performance: Choose from five imaging options to cover all of your imaging needs from colorimetric to chemiluminescence to fluorescence.
High performance with specially developed Fujifilm lens and Super CCD
Developed in collaboration with Fujifilm, the Amersham Imager 680 for Western blotting uses a large honeycomb CCD chip with larger-than-usual hexagonal sensor cells, allowing it to collect more light. This feature provides greater sensitivity, making it ideal for low-light applications such as chemiluminescence. The imager uses an f/0.85 43 mm FUJINION™ lens developed specifically for scientific low-light applications. This combination of CCD chip and lens delivers high sensitivity along with high-resolution for publication-quality images.
Chemiluminescence Western blot detection is based on antibodies conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) that catalyze the oxidation of luminol in presence of peroxide, resulting in light emission. HRP has several advantages over other enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase (AP). HRP can be easily conjugated to antibodies or streptavidin (which binds with extraordinarily high affinity to biotin, a commonly used tag) and can be used with different chemiluminescent reagents. Considerable efforts have been made to develop HRP-based detection reagents to obtain higher detection sensitivity, stronger light intensity and long-lasting signals.
Simple and easy to use
Operate the Amersham Imager 680 via an iPad or external monitor/touchscreen for maximum flexibility. The intuitive software is designed to minimize learning time, ideal for multi-user labs. The software easily guides you from acquiring an image through to image analysis with minimal effort. The on-board analysis software allows you to quickly analyze images immediately after imaging is completed.
Upgradability and robustness
The Amersham Imager 680 requires minimal maintenance and is robust for high-throughput, multi-user labs, providing you with a dependable system for all of your imaging needs. The system is also upgradable, allowing you the flexibility to choose additional light sources and modules as your needs change. The system can be used for a wide range of applications and it is fully upgradable between four different configurations.
Illumination options and applications
Chemiluminescence: Use with any blot that incorporates chemiluminescence labeling. (available with all Amersham Imager 680 models).
Colorimetric Epi-White: Take real-color images on the Amersham Imager 680! Use this with chemiluminescence mode to generate images for gel documentation or combine chemiluminescence with automatic color-marker overlay for easy molecular weight identification (available with all Amersham Imager 680 models).
Colorimetric Trans-White: Factory calibrated system for quantitative OD measurement for Coomassie Brilliant Blue stained and silver stained gels (available with Amersham Imager 680 RGB and QC models).
Fluorescence Trans-UV: Use with ethidium bromide or other UV fluorescent stains (available with Amersham Imager 680 UV, QC, and RGB models).
Fluorescence Epi-RGB: Use for multiplex, quantitative Western blotting applications (available with Amersham Imager 680 RGB).
Software
In addition to the on-board software, images acquired using Amersham Imager 680 models can be analyzed using ImageQuant TL (IQTL). IQTL is an advanced general-purpose gel, blot, and array image analysis software tool. IQTL requires installation on a separate external computer.