MDS Analytical Technologies launches Molecular Devices SpectraTest LM1 Luminescence Validation Package to meet user needs

SUNNYVALE, CA, December 16, 2009 - MDS Analytical Technologies, a leader in innovative solutions for drug discovery and life-sciences research, today announced the launch of the Molecular Devices® SpectraTest® LM1 Luminescence Validation Package.

The new LM1 Validation Package, which is commercially available, is the latest addition to an ever-growing validation and compliance product line, and is a direct response to customers' needs. With both single- and multi-mode luminescence microplate readers becoming more popular among research scientists, users of these systems have a real need to be able to validate instrument performance. The new LM1 Validation Package provides users with such a tool, giving them the ability to test optical specifications of MDS Analytical Technologies' microplate readers.

"All SpectraTest® Validation and Compliance Tools provide users an automated, traceable method for instrument validation that delivers less variability than traditional techniques and interrogates 13 critical parameters of instrument performance," said Andy Boorn, President of MDS Analytical Technologies. "This gives our users an extremely high degree of confidence in the performance of their instrument systems, which translates into the same level of confidence in the quality of their research results."

Validation and compliance tools are essential for users in laboratories that must adhere to quality and regulatory requirements. To meet the validation and compliance needs of all of its users, MDS Analytical Technologies provides additional tools for IQ/OQ/PQ validation as well as software validation, and offers compliance tools to help users meet quality and regulatory requirements, such as United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 21CFR Part 11 compliance and Good Laboratory and Manufacturing Practices (GxP). These tools facilitate users' performance certification and qualification.

The new Molecular Devices® SpectraTest® LM1 Validation Package is specifically designed for the validation of optical performance of luminescence microplate readers manufactured by MDS Analytical Technologies, including all Molecular Devices® SpectraMax® L and M Series Readers and FlexStation® 3 Readers. All elements of the validation process are handled automatically by protocols within the SoftMax® Pro Software Suite, which comes standard with all SpectraMax® and FlexStation® Readers.

The key to the Molecular Devices® SpectraTest® LM1 Validation Package lies in its unique luminescence validation microplate, which enables users to test specifications that are critical to instrument performance, including background noise, background spike, lower limit of detection, crosstalk, linearity, relative luminescence units (RLU), well-to-well precision, left-to-right bias, top-to-bottom bias, and kinetic noise, spike, and drift in the low and high signal ranges.

The SpectraTest® family of validation & compliance packages also includes the SpectraTest® ABS1 Absorbance and FL1 Fluorescence Validation Packages, which give users a similar ability to validate the performance of absorbance and fluorescence microplate readers manufactured by MDS Analytical Technologies.

About SpectraMax® L Microplate Luminescence Readers
SpectraMax® L Microplate Luminescence Readers offer the sensitivity, reliability, flexibility, upgradability, automation options, and validation tools required by today's leading laboratories. The dual luciferase reporter (DLR) certified systems are ideal for measuring flash and glow assays, including dual luciferase reporter gene, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) via aequorin, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), and acridinium ester flash assays, in both 96- and 384-well plates. The SpectraMax® L Reader can be upgraded to multi-channel configurations for a six-fold increase in throughput for medium throughput and secondary screening laboratories. Industry-leading SoftMax® Pro Software eliminates the need to export data to spreadsheet programs, and manages instrument control. SoftMax® Pro GxP Software helps users meet FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and GxP compliance requirements.

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