Tecan Spark 10m

Spark® 10M

IMAGING MULTIMODE READER

02 SPARK 10M BROCHURE
YSIS INCUB
ANAL ATION

TION PROTE

DETEC CTION

.Engineered with cellular assays in mind

Capabilities At Tecan, we understand the demands of cell-based
applications and the challenges they pose every day.
Cell counting and viability analysis You need a plate reader that ensures not only ideal
Automated cell imaging cellular conditions, but also excellent assay results. And
Automated cell conluence that’s exactly what you get with the Spark 10M, which
Cell incubation boasts a range of features and capabilities for specialized
Evaporation protection activities such as fast cell counting and evaluation of cell
Automated microplate lid handling proliferation by conluence analysis.
Reagent dispensing with heating
and stirring With a single click, SparkControl™ gives you fast, accurate cell counts for live/dead analysis
Te-Cool™ cooling
Absorbance Label-free cell counting and fast viability analysis
DNA quantiication With its built-in cell counter, the Spark 10M can analyze a broad range of
NA labeling eiciency cell sizes and types, providing fully automated label-free cell counting and
Cuvette port analysis in less than 30 seconds.
Fluorescence intensity · Accurate, reproducible cell counting, with lexible area selection for
Time-resolved luorescence (TRF)
Fluorescence resonance greater sensitivity
energy transfer (FRET) · One-click analysis providing cell number, size distribution and viability
Time-resolved luorescence · Export cell images for visual conirmation
resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) · High-precision cell counting, even at low concentrations
Fluorescence polarization · Automated replicate processing for multiple samples in disposable Cell Chips™
Luminescence (lash and glow)
Alpha Technology
Luminescence scanning
Multi-color luminescence
(BRET1, BRET2™, BRET3, Chroma-Glo™)
SparkControl™ software
SparkControl Magellan™
QC tools (IQ/OQ services)
Connect™ microplate stacker

R R R Tecan’s innovative Cell Chips minimize Spark 10M lets you generate automatic
sample preparation, ofering greater mean value calculations of samples in
T RANSCREENER T RANSCREENER T RANSCREENER application lexibility and opening up multiple disposable Cell Chips.
new cell counting possibilities.
Far Red FP validated Red FI validated Red TR-FRET validated

www.bellbrooklabs.com www.bellbrooklabs.com www.bellbrooklabs.com

SPARK 10M BROCHURE 03

No matter what your application, the Spark 10M multimode reader delivers the
ideal combination of advanced capabilities and exceptional ease of use, enhancing
productivity with a series of unique features and beneits.

Automated cell imaging and conluence measurements R = 0,98957
100
It is necessary to normalize results over several wells across a
microplate to have conidence in your cell-based assay results. 90
The problem is that you don’t know how many cells have adhered
to the bottom of the microplate, or even grown, over a certain 80
period of time. It is now possible to automatically measure cell
conluence and image cells in the well of a microplate. This allows Confluence % 70
the system to automatically inject a compound or measure a GFP
signal once a user-deined cell conluence is reached, providing 60 10% 30%
more reliable results. 90%
50

40 70%

30

20

10

0
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6

BCA OD

The growth of HeLa cells at various conluence

levels and the corresponding increase of

protein content measured using a BCA assay

protocol.

Maintain stable culture conditions and improve cell growth 600 5000 cells / medium with FCScell growth [%]

An integrated Gas Control Module (GCM™) features two independent 500 ■ Spark 60
gas inlets that allow automated control of CO2 and O2 concentrations ■ no GCM
inside the reader chamber for:
· Stable long-term cell culture environments 400
· Improved cell viability and extended experiment times without adversely
300
afecting results
· Optimization of gas levels and mixtures with independent regulation 200

of CO2 and O2 concentrations 100
· Software-controlled, automated adjustments for real-time modulation
0
of gas concentrations during a run 0 10 20 30 40 50
time [h]

Comparison of cell proliferation in the
Spark 10M reader with integrated GCM
and a standard microplate reader.

Evaporation protection to enhance cell viability

Built-in evaporation protection enhances live cell kinetic assays for better
reproducibility and more reliable data. A patent-pending Humidity Cassette
reduces evaporation in standard microplates, minimizing edge efects and
enabling long-term live kinetic studies without the need to switch to dedicated
and costly microplate types; simply use your current, validated plates.

Minimize evaporation and contamination with automated microplate
lid handling
The integrated microplate Lid Lifter™ simpliies applications such as
absorbance and luminescence assays by automatically removing the lid
for measurements. It gives you the lexibility to perform automated
reagent additions during an experiment without manual intervention. This
patented feature optimizes CO2/O2 exchange and minimizes evaporation,
allowing walkaway automation for experiments such as long-term kinetic
assays.

Reagent dispenser with heating and stirring enhances application lexibility
Integrated injectors help to generate consistent data by eliminating
precipitation and salt formation. Independent heating and stirring capabilities
increase the reliability and reproducibility of compound handling, as well as
enabling automated dispensing of viable cells.

04 SPARK 10M BROCHURE

Designed for lexibility. Engineered for performance.

Broaden your format lexibility

Spark 10M reads cuvettes, the low-volume NanoQuant Plate™, disposable Cell Chips, Robolask® and is
also compatible with all standard ANSI/SLAS microplate formats up to 384 wells.

OD 4,5 Absorbance – get a full spectrum quickly, with ultra-fast
4 absorbance measurements
Spark 10M’s patent-pending High-Speed Monochromator (HSM) delivers
3,5 complete spectra – from 200–1,000 nm – in just 5 seconds. These ultra-
3 fast measurements ofer the speed of a diode array with the precision and
lexibility of a monochromator for wide-ranging and detailed spectra.
2,5
2 Fast absorbance scan of a didymium ilter
from 200–1,000 nm with 1 nm resolution
1,5
1

0,5
0
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Wavelength [nm]

Ultra-fast DNA quantiication

With its High-Speed Monochromator, the Spark 10M provides unparalleled
wavelength accuracy for DNA and protein quantiication:
· Improved performance and increased dynamic range from UV to NIR
· Full absorbance spectrum data from 200–1,000 nm in less than 5 seconds
· High accuracy, especially in the deep UV range (230–260 nm), for complete

conidence in your DNA sample QC
· An OD range from 0–4 ensures good linearity, requiring fewer dilutions and

less manual pipetting

Emission Excitation Fluorescence – Fusion Optics deliver the best of both worlds

  Spark 10M is the irst instrument to ofer independent, user-selectable
  ilters and monochromators on both the excitation AND emission sides for
any measurement. You no longer have to choose between sensitivity OR
Monochromator Filter lexibility — you can now have both. Every well. Every assay. Every time.
From both the top and bottom of your sample.

®

Fusion Optics:
provides easy access to
lexibility and sensitivity;
always freely selectable in
the SparkControl software.

SPARK 10M BROCHURE 05

Unparalleled lexibility for luminescence

Optimize your assays with Spark 10M’s multi-color luminescence option. The
system ofers an excellent dynamic range of 109 using up to 3 OD attenuation,
with 40 user-selectable ilters to provide unprecedented freedom for virtually
any luminescence measurements, including BRET1,2,3 and Chroma-Glo.

Using a unique ilter-based technique, the desired detection wavelength
for multi-color luminescence measurements can be selected with only a
few mouse clicks.

Enhance your assay performance and
lexibility with multi-color luminescence
and luminescence scanning.

High performance Alpha Technology 5.050,00 DetDeectetciotionnLLiimmiitt
Alpha Technology comprises AlphaScreen®, AphaLISA® and AlphaPlex®, and 4.540,50
is a luminescent bead-based assay technology designed for the measurement 4.040,00 33.,6622
of biological interactions. Spark 10M is equipped with a high performance laser 3.530,50
light source for excitation, and an IR sensor for well-by-well temperature [ng/ml Omnibeads] 3.030,00 11.5,588
correction. This results in better sensitivity, uniformity and linearity for 2.520,50
your Alpha assays. SparkControl also ofers preselected ilter settings for 2.020,00 SSppaarrkk SpSaparkrktteempp.. ccoorrr.r.
AlphaScreen, AlphaLISA and AlphaPlex, as well as user-selectable ilter 1.510,50
settings for future Alpha Technology applications. 1.010,00
0.500,50
Improved temperature control with Te-Cool 0.000,00
A stable temperature is a prerequisite for getting reliable results. Whether
you read enzymatic reactions such as luciferase assays, run temperature- 3
dependent Alpha assays, or study kinetic assays of living organisms, you
need precise, controllable cooling. Now, for the irst time, Te-Cool lets you 2.5
keep your assay stable at a speciic temperature for long periods.
% CV 2
For most readers, the speciied minimum temperature inside a plate reader is Ambient
deined as a few degrees above ambient. This can vary signiicantly depending
on the time of year and location, and so will your results. Temperature gradients 1.5 28 °C
can also occur across a microplate with many readers, leading to poor precision
and variations in your results. 1

A key beneit of Spark’s Te-Cool module is the ability to measure your assay 0.5
at ambient temperatures, ensuring more stable readings without even
needing to know the exact temperature – the software takes care of 0 5 10 15 20
everything, keeping the measurement chamber at ambient temperature. 0 min

Connect microplate stacker for Spark 10M Assays run at equilibrated ambient temperatures
The Connect is a versatile microplate stacker designed to allow walkaway lead to better sensitivity. The CV is shown for
batch processing for up to 50 microplates per run. It interfaces directly with absorbance readings taken at 570 nm every 5
SparkControl Magellan reader software for easy operation, ofering increased min with Spark set to ambient temperature with
throughput for a wide range of applications in genomics, proteomics and drug Te-Cool vs. a higher temperature set at 28 oC.
discovery.
1.400 Ambient +8 °C CV=14,6
1.300 Ambient +4 °C
Luminescence [RLU] 1.200 Ambient
1.100

1.000 CV=7,7
900

800

700

600 CV=0,4

500

400
0 1 23456

Time [min]

Enzymatic assays are temperature sensitive.
A luminescence assay was measured kinetically
over a time course of 10 min. Best results
with lowest CV were obtained when setting
Spark 10M at a constant ambient temperature
with Te-Cool.

Connect stacker highlights include:
· Designed for reliable operation and ease of use
· Dark cover to protect light-sensitive well contents
· Allows manual operation of single plates
· Barcode scanner option which can read either short side of the plate
· Choice of 30- or 50-plate column cassettes to suit your

throughput requirements

06 SPARK 10M BROCHURE

Standard OR

Fast, simple instrument operation is at your ingertips Optimized luorescence bottom-
with SparkControl’s touch-optimized, intuitive interface. reading with Tecan’s unique Optimal
Engineered to simplify your daily laboratory tasks, Read (OR) function. OR ensures
SparkControl ofers: very low CVs by performing multiple
measurements on spatially separated
spots arrayed across each well.

Substrate

FIRST
MEASUREMENT

Substrate

SECOND
MEASUREMENT

High deinition well scans provide SparkControl makes it easy to adjust Get instant access to applications
a complete picture of the cell parameters during a run, including and enjoy easy operation with
population in each well for more environmental conditions such as SparkControl’s one-click, worklow-
accurate signals, even with inhomo– temperature (even below ambient) based interface. The software makes
geneous cell layers. The software and the CO2 and O2 levels inside it easy and intuitive to translate your
also provides a qualitative image of the reader. worklow into a saved protocol that
the cell distribution. can be run or edited at any time.

App App App

Cell Cell Nucleic Acid
Counting Viability Quantitation

App App Automated z-focus adjustment Simplify the worklow for cell-based
enhances the sensitivity of top- assays with the cell conluence
Cuvette Labelleling reading luorescence intensity and feature. Increase conidence for
Eiciency luorescence polarization modes, cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, and
signiicantly improving the quality protein expression assays by, for
One-click applications streamline of results. No matter what your example, automatically controlling
your worklows, getting you from plate volume, sample volume or well the addition of compounds at a
sample to results faster than ever shape, this unique feature makes user-deined cell conluence.
before. it easy to set up your reader for
optimum performance with varying
assay parameters.

SPARK 10M BROCHURE 07

Extended SparkControl Magellan is a data analysis package
dynamic range providing powerful data reduction tools for numerous
detection modes.
Detect even very low signals with the
Spark 10M’s extended dynamic range. SparkControl Magellan ofers The software provides a suite of
This function automatically adjusts the users an array of tools designed to
gain settings during a measurement enhance functionality, simplicity sophisticated functions including:
run, allowing the detection of very · Full qualitative and quantitative
low signals without compromising on and security.
sensitivity. All results are automatically · Ideal for microplate-based EIA analysis
correlated and displayed within one · All major curve ittings, including
single data set. applications such as ELISAs,
end-point assays, kinetic assays, point-to-point, linear regression,
Kinetic assay ratiometric measurements, non-linear regression, polynomial,
protection multi-label measurements and cubic spline, Akima, logit-log,
3D scanning four- and ive-parameter its
Safeguard your kinetic assays using · Rapidly perform everything from · Convenient handling of dilution
automated gain regulation to avoid data reduction and curve itting series and ICx calculations
luorescence measurements running to the calculation of kinetic · General data import and export
into saturation. Measurements with parameters, such as Michaelis- options, as well as automated
diferent gain settings are then Menten constants import of sample ID lists.
automatically correlated, allowing · Video tutorials and example iles · Kinetic data analysis with
evaluation of the entire dataset. simplify operation calculation of slopes, onsets
· Plate deinition editor allows and enzyme kinetics
creation of customized plate · Spectral calculations to provide
geometry iles rapid background correction,
curve smoothing, wavelength
selection, peak identiication and
3D scanning

SparkControl Magellan makes it easy to Designed to simplify the user experience,
perform complete kinetic data analyses SparkControl Magellan conveniently
including the calculation of slopes, onsets handles all dilution series and ICx
and enzyme kinetics. calculations.

SparkControl Magellan Tracker ofers all the functionalities necessary for
compliance with FDA regulation 21 CFR part 11 for electronic records and
signatures, while still providing all the advantages of SparkControl Magellan
Standard.

7

Typical performance values*

Absorbance AlphaScreen
Light source
Dedicated Limit of detection ≤100 amol/well bio-LCK-P6; 20 µl
Spectral range xenon lash lamp
OD range 200–1,000 nm ≤2.5 ng/ml Omnibeads7; 20 µl
Scan speed (200–1,000 nm) 0–4 OD
Wavelength accuracy ≤5 sec Uniformity ≤3.0%
Wavelength reproducibility <0.3 nm
Wavelength ratio accuracy (260/230) ≤0.3 nm Z´value ≥0.9
Wavelength ratio accuracy (260/280) <0.08
Precision @ 260 nm <0.07 Fastest read times8 ≤2 min (384-well plate)
Accuracy @ 260 nm <0.2%
Limit of detection (nucleic acids) <0.5% ≤1 min (96-well plate)
<1 ng/µl
Cell counting

Size range 4–90 µm

Counting accuracy +/–10% (10–30 µm)

Counting reproducibility <10% (10–30 µm)

Cell concentration 1x104–1x107 cells/ml

Imaging speed inc. data reduction <30 sec/sample

Fluorescence intensity Number of samples/run ≤8 samples
Light source
Spectral range Dedicated xenon lash lamp Automated cell imaging High power LED
Wavelength accuracy Ex: 230–900 nm; Em: 280–900 nm Illumination Bright-ield
Wavelength reproducibility Ex: <1 nm; Em: <2 nm Image 4x
Optical mirrors <1 nm Objective Laser based
Well scanning 50%; 510 nm dichroic Autofocus 1.3 µm/pixel
Limit of detection1 Up to 100 x 100 data points Optical resolution

Fusion F/F – top ≤0.25 pM (≤25 amol/well; 100 µl) Gas Control Module 0.04–10% (vol.)
Fusion M/F or F/M – top ≤0.35 pM (≤35 amol/well; 100 µl) Adjustable concentration range – CO2 0.1–21% (vol.)
Fusion M/M – top ≤0.50 pM (≤50 amol/well; 100 µl) Adjustable concentration range – O2 <1% (vol.)
Fusion F/F – bottom ≤2.5 pM (≤0.5 fmol/well; 200 µl) Concentration accuracy – CO2 <0.5% (vol.)
Fusion M/F or F/M – bottom ≤3.5 pM (≤0.7 fmol/well; 200 µl) Concentration accuracy – O2
Fusion M/M – bottom ≤4.0 pM (≤0.8 fmol/well; 200 µl)
Reagent injectors
FP (luorescence polarization)2 300–850 nm Syringe sizes 0.5 ml; 1 ml
Spectral range Pump speed 100–300 µl/sec
Precision – Fusion F/F ≤1.5 mP Injection volume 5–1,000 µl; step size: 1 µl
Precision – Fusion F/M ≤2.5 mP Dead volume ≤100 µl
Precision – Fusion M/F ≤2.5 mP Injection accuracy and precision ≤0.5% at 450 µl
Precision – Fusion M/M ≤3.0 mP
Temperature control Ambient +4 °C (up to 42 °C)
TRF (time-resolved luorescence)3 Uniformity <0.5 °C

Limit of detection – Fusion F/F ≤40 fM (≤4.0 amol/well; 100 µl) Te-Cool cooling module +18–42 °C
Limit of detection – Fusion F/M ≤65 fM (≤6.5 amol/well; 100 µl) Temperature range
Limit of detection – Fusion M/F ≤65 fM (≤6.5 amol/well; 100 µl)
Limit of detection – Fusion M/M ≤100 fM (≤10 amol/well; 100 µl) Shaking
Linear, orbital, double-orbital;
Luminescence variable amplitudes and frequencies
Spectral range
Luminescence (glow) 370–700 nm Plate formats
Limit of detection4 Up to 384 wells; NanoQuant Plate; Cell Chip;
Luminescence (lash) ≤9 pM (≤225 amol/well; 25 µl) Cuvettes; Robolask
Limit of detection5
Dynamic range ≤218 fM (≤12 amol/well; 55 µl) Fastest read time ≤13 sec
Multi-color luminescence >9 orders of magnitude 96-well plate (FI) ≤30 sec
38 spectral ilters; 384-well plate (FI)
OD1, OD2, OD3 attenuation ilters

* Speciications are subject to change. Performance values represent the average observed factory tested values.
For product speciications refer to operators manual.

1) Detection limit for luorescein; Fusion Optics: F-Filter; M-Monochromator; 5) Detection limit for ATP (ENLITEN® Kit)
2) FP detection limit @ 1 nM luorescein 6) (PE# 6760620; P-Tyr-100 assay kit)
3) Detection limit for europium 7) (PE# 6760626D; Omnibeads)
4) Detection limit for ATP (144-041 ATP detection kit SL [BioTherma]) 8) Including temperature correction

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Tecan Group Ltd. makes every efort to include accurate and up-to-date information within this publication, however, it is possible that omissions or errors 398454 V3.0 01-2016, 30110115
might have occurred. Tecan Group Ltd. cannot, therefore, make any representations or warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness
of the information provided in this publication. Changes in this publication can be made at any time without notice. All mentioned trademarks are protected
by law. In general, the trademarks and designs referenced herein are trademarks, or registered trademarks, of Tecan Group Ltd., Männedorf, Switzerland. A
complete list may be found at http://www.tecan.com/trademarks. Product names and company names that are not contained in the list but are noted herein
may be the trademarks of their respective owners. For technical details and detailed procedures of the speciications provided in this document please
contact your Tecan representative.

Spark multimode reader is for research use only.

Tecan is in major countries a registered trademark of Tecan Group Ltd., Männedorf, Switzerland.
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