SpectraMax Plus 384 Microplate Reader

A versatile UV/VIS spectrophotometer for both 96- and 384-well microplates as well as cuvette. We have been using this for DNA measurements 260/280 nm, colorimetric assay measurements like MTT assays, and ELISAs. The spectrophotometer has a wide wavelength range 190–1000 nm, thanks to its tunable monochromator based wavelength selector, with an accuracy of 1.0 nm. The Xenon flash lamp has been working without any issues for the last 11 years. The spectrophotometer also provides temperature regulation from ambient +4 degrees to 45 degree Celsius. Also there is a plate automated mixing option, which can be programmed between readings. It can be used both as a standalone as well as PC connected using the very useful SOFTmax Pro software supplied. SOFTmax Pro software supplied is very intuitively designed and has preloaded templates for a wide variety of molecular assays. Easy to use software, one can quickly make sand save custom protocols, analyze results and export data into excel/ PDF. Overall a versatile, sturdy spectrophotometer for a molecular biology/cell biology/assay laboratory.

Review Date: 11 Aug 2021 | Molecular Devices®

Must-have equipment in the lab. High reproducibility.

Review Date: 17 Mar 2020 | Molecular Devices®

This is the only reliable feature in measuring bacterial growth in our lab. We have another photometer that works with droplets only, but it is far from reliable. We use the SpectraMax for all sorts of measurements and it works fine; I even use the shake mode to shake 96 well plates evenly.

Review Date: 17 Mar 2020 | Molecular Devices®

This instrument has received a lot of wear and tear over the last 6 years and it has held up remarkably well. Sometimes the instrument was used back to back for 10 hours at a time and it never faltered. We have had no maintenance done on it, but we also have a SpectraMax 190 that did need work and they were fast and efficient and even walked us through the repairs that were made.

Review Date: 9 Oct 2019 | Molecular Devices®

I don't know anything about value for money, because I was not involved with the purchase or maintenance. It is a great "must have" in any lab.

Review Date: 22 Jan 2019 | Molecular Devices®

The microplate reader is quite user-friendly. It comes with a PC software that is very interactive and a range of useful functions. I have done reproducibility tests on this reader and, also compared the absorbance data to the BioTek ELx808 plate reader. The results were excellent. The software has useful functionality: you can export your data to excel format, save your plate readings onto PDF and also allows you to calculate unknown concentrations if you label the concentrations of your standards. Most biochemical assays require incubation at a prescribed temperature. No worries! The plate reader has a temperature control that also improves reproducibility because assays can be carried out at a controlled temperature. Although it is pricey, I think it is worth the price. Overall, I give it 5 stars for ease of use, after sales & care and four stars for "value for money".

Review Date: 2 Jul 2018 | Molecular Devices®

The software package which comes with this machine is intuitive and easy to use for the main basic function. If you want to program complicated assays it can also do this although it takes a bit more working out on the part of the programmer. The results are clear and the audit trail function is incredibly helpful in the regulatory environment. It was one of the more expensive instruments we researched, but the software, validation data sets and the training provided mitigated the increased cost.

Review Date: 12 Jun 2017 | Molecular Devices®