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The Software:
Ascent software controls all the reader functions and provides easy
assay optimization, flexible handling and convenient report formatting.
The software for Fluoroskan Ascent FL enables
both fluorometric and
luminometric detection methods to be used, even during a single session.
NEW SESSION (a set of
parameters)
A new application is created by creating a new session either by
clicking the new button or from the menu selection
“session”. The session is based on a
template. The user is requested to select a plate template which is
based on predefined well parameters and point locations. The program is
supplied with the most common 1 to 384 well plate templates.
| OPENING EXISTING SESSIONS: |
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This command displays the Open session dialog box
where you can select and load an existing session file.
Filename:
Select or type the name of the session you want to open. The fixed
extension of the file name is *.sec for the Fluoroskan Ascent FL.
Note: The Fluoroskan Ascent FL can, however, read *.ses, *.sec, *.sef
and *.sel files, but only save them as *.sec files.
Note: By default, the software opens up the file DEFAULTC.SEC.
When the software is opened, the user can view two tabs:
The “Procedure Desktop” is used to
specify the Parameters, Area definition, Layout and Settings in the
Procedure tab. The highly visual Procedure desktop is used for
instrument control and assay setup.
When setting up an assay, the user can choose between a wide variety of
plate formats. In the Area definition window in the Procedure desktop,
the desired measurement area can be freely chosen by painting the wells
to be measured. If needed, only half of the plate can be measured or
even just every second row or column. Several measurement points can be
taken from the same well when 1-48 well plates are used.
When a new session is created, the user can give the
user name, comments and can select the measurement method. The
measurement method can be
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Fluorometric
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Luminometric
Procedure Toolbar:
With the means of the Procedure Desktop module, the user
can define assay steps. The area is a collection of measurement points
on the plate. The maximum number of points in the X direction is 75 and
in the Y direction 49.
Note: Step is a collection of basic operations, which are executed in
the defined area at a certain time.
The creation of new areas and steps is based on the template selected by
the user.
The step parameters are requested in the Parameters entry area. The area
definition, settings and layout of the General step are applied to the
whole session. The measurement method can be set to be the same
throughout a session or it can be set separately for each
Measure step.
Steps and Steplist:
The Steplist is a collection of all the steps defined for a session. An
active step can be added or removed from the steplist by using the right
mouse button in the Steplist area.
Every measurement and dispense step may have a specific area definition,
settings and plate layout.
The area definition is used to select the target
areas for the Measure
and Dispense steps.
The Layout function allows
the user to specify the wells. The plate is described in the window.
The data fields are:
Type: You can select the type of an item from the drop-down list. This
can be either CALIBR., CONTROL, SAMPLE, or BLANK.
The selected types can be applied or removed using the
Apply and Remove
button.
The tab which shows the values obtained from
fluorescence is called the “Result Desktop”. The extremely flexible
Results Desktop is built as a familiar spreadsheet environment. In
addition to the comprehensive built in automatic calculations, the
function tool can be used to perform basically any custom-made
calculations.
The START button initiates the quantitation process. After the
RunStatus
is done, the result desktop pops up.
Curve Fit: A curve can
be fit into the result desktop by clicking on the ‘CurveFit’
option.
Data Export:
Finally, exporting of any kind of
data from Ascent Software to another spreadsheet program is very simple.
Data can be copied (Ctrl-C) and pasted (Ctrl-V) directly to other
spreadsheet programs and data can also be exported by saving to a file.
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