Endy:Victor3 plate reader/detection limits and linear range

Absorbance measurements
For the OD600 label, the machine appears to respond in a linear fashion over the range of absorbances shown in this figure. More details of the experiment can be found here. Better data over a larger range will follow shortly.



Fluorescence measurements
Recent experiments have raised the question of what range of concentrations can we expect the plate reader to give linear results. Chris Quinlan (of Perkin Elmer) provided the following information about the plate reader's detection limits.


 * Fluorescein MDL (Minimum detectable level) - 2fMoles/well. Using 200$$\mu$$l per well this corresponds to 10pM.


 * (Perkin Elmer) believe the machine has a five decade linear range. This means concentrations up to $$\mu$$Molar should be read linearly.


 * For higher concentrations, use a smaller volume.


 * The emission of Fluorescein relative to GFP is not yet known. We also do not know how the emission of purified fluorophores relates to the emission of fluorophores in vivo.


 * More to follow on this hopefully.