Starna Scientific Development department has designed and patented a new ultra-micro volume fluorescence lens cell to address the growing requirement for researchers to carry out clinical/biochemical/pharmaceutical studies cost effectively by performing UV/Visible spectrofluorometer analysis on smaller volume samples of typically five microlitres or less.

The new ultra-micro cell provides a practical solution for customers where samples cannot be prepared in or diluted to larger volumes.

Starna’s new Type 19FL ultra-micro cell, which avoids the need for dilution, thereby minimising reagents costs, is well suited to providing analysis in volumes typically handled in molecular biology and forensics applications.

By offering good sensitivity even in very small volumes the Type 19FL ultra-micro cell is also ideally suited to proteomics applications, where the sensitivity of the cell is sufficiently high to measure native fluorescence of proteins prepared in microlitre quantities. The cell design also allows the majority of the sample to be recovered.

The new ultra-micro cell is about five percent less sensitive when compared with a conventional 10 mm path length cell; however, the difference is much less than the loss in sensitivity encountered when diluting the sample to the required minimum volume (about 300 uL) for full centimetre-square cells. The patented lens design offers greater efficiency than that of a standard micro cell of equivalent geometry.

The new type 19FL ultra-micro lens cell is designed to enable ultra low volume fluorescence measurements in the 5 ul sample volume range. The cell allows good quality fluorescence measurements to be achieved using a conventional spectrofluorometer at sample volumes that could only be previously carried out using expensive, dedicated, low volume instrumentation.

Using Far UV non-fluorescence quartz, the Type 19FL Ultra-micro volume fluorescence lens cell, 5 mm path length, can be supplied with a ‘Z’ height of 8.5, 15, 20mm and has been specifically designed to make loading and flushing simple, with minimum dead volume.

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Starna® products are manufactured at the Starna Scientific (formerly Optiglass) factory founded in 1964, whose lineage of optical expertise is traceable to the early part of the last century. Starna Scientific Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the international group of Starna companies whose reputation is synonymous with quality and service in the manufacture and supply of spectrophotometer cells, optical components and certified reference materials.

All Starna products are manufactured in an environment conforming to the latest ISO 9001:2000 standard. Starna Scientific is also accredited by UKAS as a Certified Reference Material Producer. This internationally recognised accreditation is only awarded to CRM producers whose manufacturing and calibration processes satisfy both ISO Guide 34 and ISO 17025. This unique combination of manufacturing and application skills makes Starna a much valued partner to instrument manufacturers, distributors and end users worldwide.