Extending the benefits of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical laboratory, Beckman Coulter’s LIF detection addresses the research methods-development and quality-control environments with the same instrument platform. This detector – available as an upgrade module for existing P/ACE MDQ users – is also integrated into application specific capillary electrophoresis systems designed for:
- Oligosaccharide and monosaccharide analysis
- DNA-protein interactions
- Quantitative gene expression
- DNA fragment analysis
- CE-based immunoassays
The LIF detector uses a laser light source. A 488 nm argon-ion laser is available from Beckman Coulter. Other lasers can be adapted. Refer to the section titled Using Other Lasers with the LIF Detector for more information. A fiber cable transmits excitation light from the laser to the capillary in the cartridge. Substances in the capillary which fluoresce at the laser wavelength are detected. The LIF Detector measures and records this fluorescence, which appears as a peak in the software.
The instrument can easily be converted between LIF and UV/PDA modes as detector components are modular.
The LIF Detector can be used in the indirect mode. In this mode, a fluorescent buffer system is used to detect non-fluorescing components.