SPECTROstar Omega - UV/Vis absorbance spectrophotometer microplate reader

UV/Vis absorbance spectra

The SPECTROstar Omega can record both a photometric spectrum (220-1000 nm) down to a resolution of 1 nm and absorbance values at fixed user-defined wavelengths. Similar to a monochromator, but much faster, the spectrometer allows you to capture the UV/Vis spectrum of a sample within one second per well - no scanning needed. The speed of the spectrometer and the easy work-up in the software provide users with unmatched flexibility that can be used to optimize absorbance settings for all your experiments:

Belonging to the Omega microplate reader series, the SPECTROstar Omega absorbance microplate reader provides the following outstanding features:

• Onboard "smart" injectors dispense reagents and initiate kinetic events even when reading full spectra (e.g. monitoring protein denaturation or the increase of different products in an enzymatic assay over time)


• Precise temperature control up to 65°C and multi-mode shaking capability


• Template manager for transferring standards, building complex data processing protocols and using default templates


• Versatile kinetic software features for endpoint, long-term and fast kinetic measurements


• Real-time kinetic monitoring


• Plate capacity up to 384-well


• "QuickStart" mode allows users to read plates with just 3 mouse clicks


• Stacker and robot compatibility

Unique Gas Control Features

The SPECTROstar Omega, as well as the other microplate readers in the Omega Series, has advanced gas control capabilities. Using the Atmospheric Control Unit (ACU) it is possible to fully regulate O2 and CO2 levels within the microplate reader. The microprocessor controlled unit can regulate CO2 (0 - 20%) and O2 (1 - 19%) independently, making it unnecessary to change gas cylinders or piped gas supplies to reproduce certain physiological conditions needed for cell-based assays. In combination with temperature control and unrivalled shaking options, the microprocessor controlled ACU provides a true ‘walk away’ solution for e.g. long term cell based assays. Alternatively, BMG LABTECH offers a traditional purge gas vent, which is beneficial for assays working with samples sensitive to atmospheric gas. This vent can be used to replace the atmosphere in the reader with an inert gas such as CO2 or Ne

Low Volume and Cuvette based measurements

The SPECTROstar Omega is also compatible with the LVis Plate. The LVIS Plate features 16 microdrop well sites for 2 mL samples in addition to a horizontal position for a standard cuvette. It is also fitted with four NIST traceable optical density filters and a holium oxide filter to determine instrument reproducibility and wavelength accuracy.  The LVis plate is also coupled with the latest BMG LABTECH control and analysis software, which allows you to take low volume measurements with ease and confidence.


Upgradeability to multidetection reader:

Due to the absolutely modular concept of the Omega microplate reader series, the SPECTROstar Omega absorbance microplate reader is entirely upgradeable to a multidetection microplate reader. Whenever the need for fluorescence and luminescence based experiments arrives, have the SPECTROstar Omega upgraded to a FLUOstar Omega or even to the POLARstar Omega with Simultaneous Dual Emission and Fluorescence Polarization detection mode.


For more information on the Omega series of microplate readers, click here.

• 260/280 nm DNA and RNA quantitation (AN168)


• Protein quantitation (e.g. Bradford (AN158), Lowry, BCA (AN171)


• Reporter gene assays based on absorbance (e.g. ß-Gal, SEAP)


• Cell proliferation and apoptosis


• ELISA, enzyme immunoassays (e.g. alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase) (AN169)


• Enzyme activity assays: Monitoring absorbance changes in cellular co-factors NADH and NADPH (AN170) allowing the determination of enzymatic activity


• Reaction optimization (metallation of porphyrin in twelve different solvents) by parallel kinetic studies (AN178)


• Microbial growth (6.542)


• Antioxidant capacity of substances using colorimetry (6.335)

Many applications using the SPECTROstar Omega also profit from using the Atmospheric Control Unit (ACU) for O₂ / CO₂. The following assays are a few examples of such applications:

• Mammalian Cell Assays


• Stem Cell Assays


• Hypoxia research


• Colorimetric Cell viability assays


• Microbial Cell Growth (OD 600)


• Bacterial Studies (AN 155, AN 189)

The SPECTROstar Omega microplate reader is the perfect instrument to conveniently measure any absorbance assay between 220 and 1000 nm. Either single wavelengths or the whole spectrum can be measured in less than 1 sec per well.

For a list of application notes that can be performed on the SPECTROstar Omega absorbance microplate reader, please click here.

Not all of the features mentioned above are available in the basic units or in all detection modes. Optional accessories may be necessary to perform certain assays. Please contact your local distributor for details.

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