VANTAstar

Flexible microplate reader with simplified workflows

 

The VANTAstar® is the latest addition to our family. This compact multi-mode microplate reader was conceived for ease-of-use and flexibility and ensures effortless detection setup for a simplified data generation. Equipped with our patented dual LVF Monochromators™ system, filters, UV/vis spectrometer, and Enhanced Dynamic Range technology, it can cover a wide range of applications in basic research and life science. 

VANTAstar Microplate Reader

Ratings

select-science 11-2

Great results! I am very happy with this purchase ...

The VANTAstar is an excellent multi-mode plate reader. It is easy to use, generates clean and...
4.8/5.0 (5)
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VANTAstar

The VANTAstar is an upgradable multi-mode microplate reader compatible with all plate formats up to 384 wells. The Enhanced Dynamic Range (EDR) technology, a fast full-plate auto-focus, and luminescence cross-talk reduction make assay detection easier than ever and manual optimization superfluous. 

With its Atmospheric Control Unit for gas control, temperature incubation, multiple shaking options, well scan and reagent injectors with heater and stirrer, the VANTAstar supports all live cell-based assays. The VANTAstar is also available with only filter-based detection. Check here more details about the VANTAstar F.

The VANTAstar comes now with Voyager, BMG LABTECH´s new microplate reader control interface. Designed to remove complexity while maximising flexibility, Voyager makes data acquisition more intuitive than ever.

The VANTAstar is for research use only.

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Features

  • LVF Monochromators for wavelength flexibility and performance
  • Automatic sensitivity adjustment with EDR 
  • Rapid full-plate auto-focus
  • Optimized luminescence detection with automatic cross-talk reduction
  • Spectral scanning in absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence
  • Dedicated features for live cell-based assays 
  • Full top/bottom detection capability with automatic switch
  • Reduced footprint
  • Easily integrated into automated systems

 

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VANTAstar

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Our technologies

Automation

Automation is a key feature in high-throughput screening. BMG LABTECH microplate readers have been successfully integrated into various robotic systems. Small footprint, multiple robotic software interfaces and an automation-friendly plate carrier guarantee an easy integration into all leading robotic platforms. All plate readers can be controlled through ActiveX or DDE interfaces. Moreover, the ASCII data output is the most versatile in the industry and works with most LIMS and automation platforms.

Direct optic bottom reading

Fluorescent and luminescent detection of adherent cells substantially profits from measurements performed from the bottom of the well. The PHERAstar FSX, CLARIOstar Plus and VANTAstar have a free air optical path to the bottom of the microplate, improving sensitivity and eliminating the need for fiber optics or light guides. Unlike conventional microplate readers, all BMG LABTECH readers require no displacement or installation of any additional hardware when switching between top and bottom reading modes.

Dichroic Mirror

Dichroic mirrors have significantly different reflection and transmission properties at two different wavelengths. Specifically for optic detection, they reflect or block excitation light at lower wavelengths, and transmit emission light at longer wavelengths to the detector. Used between excitation and emission filters, they increase sensitivity and decrease background noise.

Enhanced Dynamic Range

Sample signals often span over a wide range of intensities. This makes detection of all samples in a single run problematic as a fixed gain ensures that only a limited range of intensities is reliably detected. Enhanced Dynamic Range was specifically designed to offer the largest possible dynamic range - 8 concentration decades. It allows measurement of bright and dim signals in the same run – no gain setting required – and provides highly reliable results over a large dynamic range with no manual intervention.

Incubation and shaking

Shaking and incubation allow users to mix the well content and easily run measurements at elevated temperatures. The incubator controls the air temperature in the measurement chamber from room temperature up to 45°C, 60°C or 65°C. BMG LABTECH microplate readers are equipped with orbital, double-orbital or linear shaking with definable intensity, duration and direction of motion. These features are available on all BMG LABTECH plate readers.

LVF Monochromators

The revolutionary next-generation monochromator technology with filter-like performance. LVF Monochromators™ take advantage of Linear Variable Filters (LVF) to separate light into distinct wavelengths and continuously adjustable bandwidths. LVF Monochromators allow for filter-like light transmission and performance, and eliminate the stray light issues found in conventional monochromators. LVF Monochromators can be found on the CLARIOstar Plus and VANTAstar microplate readers.

Path length correction

Absorbance measurements such as DNA quantification or protein determination detected in a microplate reader are frequently compared and/or normalized to results from a 1 cm path length cuvette. All BMG LABTECH microplate readers have the ability to perform a 1 cm path length correction thanks to an internal fitting algorithm. Using this correction, data normalization to 1 cm path is given with only one mouse click.

Reagent injectors

Many of today's most popular assays such as enzyme kinetics, calcium flux, and dual luciferase require the ability to monitor a signal during and after the addition of a reagent. All BMG LABTECH readers, with the exception of the SPECTROstar Nano, can be equipped with up to two reagent injectors. Injectors enable reagent delivery to any plate format from 6 to 384 wells.

UV/vis spectrometer

BMG LABTECH was the first and is the only microplate reader manufacturer to equip its instruments with a UV/vis spectrometer for absorbance measurements. Similar to a monochromator, but much faster, the spectrometer will capture full-absorbance spectra from 220 to 1000 nm at a resolution of 1 nm in less than one second/well. Alternatively, up to eight discrete wavelengths can be collected at the same time.

Well-scanning

For non-homogeneous samples such as for cell-based assays, where the sample distribution is uneven across the well, a single reading in the centre of the well is inadequate. To overcome this problem, all BMG LABTECH readers come with an advanced Well Scanning feature that can take multiple measurements in each well with a resolution of up to 900 points/well. Alternatively, in spiral or orbital averaging mode, the reader takes several measurements for each well on a defined spiral or orbit and calculates an average.

Xenon Flash lamps

Microplate readers require a light source to provide the incident of light directed at the sample.

Z-height focus

Automatic Z-height adjustment is extremely important for obtaining the best possible signal from every sample. If the focus is inaccurate by as little as 0.2 mm, this can result in a signal degradation of up to 25%. BMG LABTECH's Z-height focus adjustment tool scans the whole sample with 0.1 mm resolution and determines the height at which the strongest signal can be measured.

Crosstalk

Signal cross-talk negatively affects data quality in luminescence and AlphaScreen. It leads to an overestimation of dim samples, increases blank variability and background noise, and the possibility of false positives. The multiple factors to consider when trying to reduce cross-talk, as well as BMG LABTECH´s dedicated solutions are discussed here.
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