AlphaScreen® / AlphaLISA® Mode

Alpha Technology, including AlphaScreen®, AlphaLISA® and Surefire®, is a unique assay technology that measures the interaction of two molecules bioconjugated to donor and acceptor beads. When interactions occur between these molecules, the beads are brought close enough to cause a chemical reaction as shown in an AlphaScreen® assay example below. Upon laser excitation at 680 nm, a singlet oxygen transfer occurs that leads to a strong light emission between 520 to 620 nm, which is directly proportional to the amount of binding.

This oxygen cascade needs a high intensity excitation source to initiate the reaction. The PHERAstar series of multidetection HTS microplate reader uses a solid state laser that produces high-intensity light at 680 nm, perfectly suited for the Alpha Technology based assays. This laser, coupled with extremely low-noise luminescence readings, makes BMG LABTECH's PHERAstar series the perfect microplate readers for AlphaScreen®, AlphaLISA® and Surefire® assays.

BMG LABTECH engineers have designed a specialized measurement mode and optical system to provide the FLUOstar and POLARstar Omega microplate readers withAlphaScreen®, AlphaLISA® and Surefire® performance that rivals any HTS microplate reader. For the first time, experience fantastic AlphaScreen® / AlphaLISA® performance on a mid-range reader. AlphaScreen® is also part of the Omega's optional Advanced Assay Technology package.

BMG LABTECH has responded to the needs of our customers and their demands for sensitive AlphaScreen® detection capabiities.  In 2005 users wished to have AlphaScreen® technology and BMG LABTECH became an early adopter of AlphaScreen® with the addition of a solid state laser on our PHERAstar microplate reader.  In 2008 we employed a second generation AlphaScreen® technology system with the introduction of our Omega Series of microplate readers.  And, with the PHERAstar FS we now have our third generation AlphaScreen® systems that boast superior speed and sensitivity to ensure that you get the most out of your AlphaScreen® assays. 

BMG LABTECH has published application notes (AN) on AlphaScreen® using various BMG LABTECH microplate readers:

Detection of tyrosine kinase activity using the PHERAstar in AlphaScreen® mode (AN 153)
AlphaScreen® Phosphotyrosine Assay Performed on FLUOstar Omega and POLARstar Omega (AN 186)
Homogeneous IgG AlphaLISA® assay performed on BMG LABTECH's PHERAstar Plus (AN 190)
An AlphaScreen® SureFire® Phospho-ERK1/2 assay performed on POLARstar Omega (AN 210)

The following BMG LABTECH microplate readers can be configured to perform AlphaScreen® measurements: