Molecular Devices SpectraMax GEMINI EM, Operator'S Manual

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Chapter 1
1-12 SpectraMax GEMINI EM Operator’s Manual
Spectrum Mode
Spectral analysis measures fl uorescence or luminescence across a spectrum of
wavelengths (minimum 250 nm; maximum 850 nm). When reading using fl u-
orescence, you may set a fi xed wavelength for excitation and scan the emis-
sion wavelengths, and vice versa. The default value reported for each well is
the wavelength of maximum
fl uorescence. When luminescence is chosen,
only the emission wavelengths are scanned, and the default value reported
for each well is the wavelength of maximum luminescence.
All spectrum readings are made using the scanning monochromators of the
SpectraMax GEMINI EM.
Well Scanning Mode
Some applications that involve the detection of whole cells in large-area tissue
culture plates may require the use of well scanning mode. As many cell lines
tend to grow in clumps or in the corner of microplate wells, this non-con
fl u-
ent growth pattern may require multiple reads in a well at different locations.
When used with 6-, 12-, 24-, 48-, or 96-well plates, well scanning allows maxi-
mum surface area detection for whole cell assays. No plate adapter is required
when using large-area tissue culture plates. For more information on well
scanning, please review the appropriate section in the
SoftMax Pro User’s Man-
ual.
Temperature Regulation
The SpectraMax GEMINI EM has been designed to regulate the temperature
of the microplate chamber from 4°C above ambient to 45°C. Upon power up,
when the incubator is off, the temperature in the SpectraMax GEMINI EM
microplate chamber is ambient and isothermal. Turning on the incubator by
pressing the
[Temp on/off]
(incubator) key will cause the SpectraMax GEM-
INI EM to begin warming the microplate chamber. The temperature set point
defaults to 37.0°C at start-up. With the incubator on, the temperature of
the
microplate chamber can be set and regulated from 4°C above ambient to 45°C.
Accuracy of the temperature set point is guaranteed onlyif the set
point is at least 4°C above ambient. If the temperature set point is
lower than the ambient temperature, the chamber temperature will
remain at ambient. Temperature regulation is controlled by heaters
only and, therefore, cannot cool the temperature to a setting lower
than ambient. Additionally, the highest setting (45°C) can be achieved
only if the ambient temperature is >20°C.
You can change the temperature set point by pressing the up (
∧
) or the down
(
∨
) arrow keys until the desired set point is shown above the key in the dis-
play.
Typically, the microplate chamber will reach 37.0°C in less than 30 minutes.
The microplate chamber temperature is maintained at the set point until you
press the incubator
[Temp on/off]
key again, turning temperature regulation
off.
Should you turn the incubator back on after a momentary shutdown,
allow about ten minutes for the control algorithm to fully stabilize the
microplate chamber temperature.
NOTE:
NOTE: