Odyssey® CLx Infrared Imaging System by LI-COR Biosciences

"The equipment is amazing. It is very user-friendly and easy to handle. I am using the equipment almost every week and couldn't really imagine any alternative way. When we needed maintenance, the company sent a representative to help and they gave us a really informative presentation about the methods and the instrument. After their suggestions, my experiment results became much better. Thanks LI-COR!"

"We are very happy with our purchase and it gives us much less background than we were used to seeing with our Typhoon Trio. Sensitivity is excellent using LI-COR products."

"Odyssey Clx is very easy to use and gives us high quality data. Reagents from Licor are reliable and easy to use."

"It's very effective. We get high quality reproducible results and it's also very easy to use. The software given to analyze bands is very easy to use. Overall very satisfied with results. My western blot nightmares are over. Thank you LI-COR."

"We can develop and measure almost any analyte by western blot in our R&D method development group in no time at all. Because of the fluorescent Ab library, we just need the specific primary antibody to detect/prove a new protein. Multiplex assays have already been developed (for 2 analytes in 1 run/on 1 blot) and in routine use."

"The instrument offers quantitative infrared western detection with great results. It is a workhorse for my department and research institute."

"The CLx is a simple, robust, easy to setup and maintain infrared imaging system. It is widely used in my department for western blot imaging. This instrument is so well designed that in the years of daily usage not a single issue has ever developed that required a service call. New users are always amazed at the ease of obtaining high quality images with minimal training. This instrument is highly recommended for small to large multi-user environments and requires minimal, if any, routine maintenance."

"Scanning is very easy to do. The software is excellent most of the time and easy to use, however it sometimes does not save the analysis and reverts back to the original scan. I also like the fact that the lite version of the software is available as a stand alone. The machine is located in a common area and used by many people. It has been very reliable and useful."

"CLx is a great instrument that I have been using routinely for quantification of bands in Western blotting protocols. It is easy to use and almost needs no maintenance. It is definitely an asset to any lab that routinely does quantitative western blot analyses. I know that it has many other capabilities in addition to scanning bands in an immunoblot protocol."

"I am very pleased with Odyssey CLx. I have been using it since 2016 and it always delivers. I am very impressed by its dynamic range as well as its user-friendly interface for quantification of signal intensity."

"The machine is easy to use, The application specialist is always available for training, updates and help. The machine is very versatile."

"I find the Odyssey CLX to be a very reliable machine with many great capabilities. It is superior in every way to using film for western analysis. The software is easy to use and gives out reliable accurate results. The after care has been brilliant with specialists available when I need them for training or problem solving. This is slightly more expensive than some other western analysis models but I find this is much easier to use and more reliable with very little background in the near-IR channels."

"The detection system for western blots is very reproducible, the software is easy to use, never had an issue. I went from film expositions to this system and I would never go back to films."

"The Odyssey CLx is central to my work. The instrument is extremely reliable. I am targeting low abundant proteins. The scanner makes this work achievable. The fact that the near infrared fluorescence signal is static is very useful to my work flow. The LI COR image studio software makes using the instrument very friendly."

"This instrument is very effective in measuring signal for our western blots and we have even done some in-gel staining that has gone well."

"Excellent product. I use LI-COR Odyssey for Western blotting as well as quantifying colony formation assays. Highly sensitive and great software."

"I have been using this imager for a few years now. It is stable and easy to use. There is a little bit to learn for the software, but not too hard. The best thing is that it can scan two colors. No need to strip and reprobe! Scanning time is not instant, from 5min to 20min depending on your blot size and resolution you prefer. Maybe not as sensitive as some femto ECL kit, but good enough for most cases."

"The Li-Cor Odyssey infrared imager is an awesome instrument for Western Blot applications. You can use multiple colors at the same time to detect mouse and rabbit antibodies. Additionally, I have used this for imaging my crystal violet stained plates. Would definitely recommend"

"LI-COR IR Odyssey western blot imaging system is a very easy to use and a highly sensitive instrument."

"Very happy with our LI-COR Odyssey system. Very sensitive. Can use multiple colors to detect multiple proteins at the same time. Built in features for quantification of the blots is also very helpful. Would definitely recommend."

"Great product. Easy to use and very useful and convenient. Would definitely recommend using. Using as an alternative to traditional Western blot."

"1, Achieve high quality and reproducible results. 2, Easy to use. 3, The licor company also provides good Blocking buffer, Antibodies, especially second antibodies, manual book."

"Extremely easy to use, and data are very reliable and reproducible. It is more sensitive compared to traditional film exposure. I highly recommend this instrument to someone who are performing a lot of Western blot assays in lab ."

"I love this machine! I can multiplex western blots and the ease of use is awesome. The images are crisp and analyzing software is simple. Also, the detection limits are also much better than other instruments used."

"Easy to use machine, great secondary antibodies that, great images with reproducible results. Easy to use analyzing software and helpful support when called upon and sporadically throughout the year. I like that I can multiplex with different wavelengths at the same time for easy controls on western blots!"

"This is probably the instrument I use the most in the lab. The sensitivity is great; the ability to probe for multiple targets at the same time. Training is easy, the software is straightforward, and the aftersales check-ins have been great. I've really appreciated having our service rep go through my protocols and help troubleshoot."

"I love this machine. High sensitivity, easy to use. It saves lots of film, ECL reagent and time. No more dark room."

"This machine works really well with both LI-COR's dyes and other brand dyes. I find it much easier and a lot quicker than the traditional chemiluminescence Westerns. It’s also great to be able to have 6 logs of signal that are in the linear range. LI-COR provided great support after the set up and even checked in a year later to make sure I didn't have any issues. I would like to use it for their in cell Westerns, but haven't had a chance to do that."

"The instrument is very easy to use because the instructions and steps are clear. Unlike traditional dark-room Western blot developing, the Odyssey instrument gives results almost in an instant with an ability to adjust the band contrast. In addition, the blots can be stripped and re-used a few times!"

"I can get excellent results with high-quality very easily using this machine."

"The equipment is ideal for reliable and fast results. I evaluate protein extract from spinal cord samples from rats. Antibodies that were difficult to see before are now easier to see in spinal cord tissue. "

"Easy to use and high quality of the images. No film needed and without the need of going to the dark room to develop films. The signals on the blot stay forever and without a rush to get the blot analyzed. The western blot signals can be easily quantified. "

"The LI-COR Odyssey system permits the best protein detection system our lab has used. The instrument is top notch, software is powerful and easy to use for Western analysis, and the customer support is excellent."

"Very easy to use and contain more features, and easy to trouble shoot"

"Coming from a background in fluorescence microscopy, I already knew the benefits of using a fluorescent readout. The superior dynamic range and sensitivity allows me to confidently report my data. The first time I used the system I found it to be easily navigated and was able to quickly modify settings for western blot or pRTK array scanning."

"We performed a 2D-DIGE experiment to assess posttranslational modifications in Drosophila ovarian extract. The samples were labeled with NHS-IRD700 and NHS-IRD800. While there was some difference in pI due to the dyes, the experiment went very well."

"Easy to use, fairly consistent results. One thing that needs improvement is how the software calculates/compensates background, local or global. "

"The imager works very well. There is a slight learning curve since it can do so much. I've only used it for Westerns, but am pleased with it for that application. Once you get used to it, it is not difficult to use. The customer care team is great. I would recommend it to others. "

"The Odyssey is very user friendly and makes imaging western blots super easy. It has multiple tools that come in use when analyzing our bands, such as the rotation of the picture and image intensities. All of these applications were not possible when using our old imager so I would highly recommend this product to fellow scientists."

"I have been using it for over a year. To me, this imaging system is extremely efficient in terms of time taken for immunoblot development, cost and convenience as compared conventional enhanced chemiluminescence based analysis. Secondary antibodies allow us to hit for multiple protein targets at same time without being worried for membrane stripping and reproducibility of results. One area that may need some attention for improvement is the Image studio software used for densitometric analysis. The software could be made better user friendly. We are highly satisfied with the after sales service. As mentioned in the first sentence, it is certainly cost effective compared to ECL method as far as X-ray film and reagents used for the same. Our own math has convinced us to continue with this entire set up for our future studies. I would highly recommend this instrument to other colleagues or friends I come across. This is a great cost-effective set up must for any lab focused on getting con"

"The product is very effective for Western blots. It is very sensitive, allowing you to detect proteins that would be missed by film. It's pretty easy to use, but I am still unfamiliar with some of its functions (4/5 stars). After sales care is great (5/5), but the price tag is a little high (3/5)."

"The instrument is easy to use, the software is friendly. Still I haven't done calculations and compare costs with ECL and X-ray film. "

"It's quick and easy to use for Western blot analysis. Its accurate and reproducible quantification of protein bands makes it semi-quantitative analysis. When compared to absolute quantification mass spectrometry data, it showed a very similar result, supporting its strength as a quantitative measurement."

"Lightly-trained users can obtain consistent results without supervision. That is high praise coming from a core equipment lab manager. For rare mechanical glitches, Technical Support has been fantastic."

"The results were of highest quality and it is easy to use. I would definitely recommend it to others."

"Easy to use Good quality captured image Fast Nice software for image annotation Will recommend to my friends in the field. "

"The scanner is awesome. It rescued us from the dark room. All you have to do is to put your blot on the scanner and click start. Couple minutes later when you check back, your results will be ready and waiting for you. It cannot be easier. Their tech support/sales rep visits us frequently and help with any questions/concerns we may have. Now labs around us all use our scanner and it became very popular."

"The LI-COR system is very easy to use and allows our lab to obtain clear and quantifiable results for our research. Our lab performs a high volume of western blots and we have never had any trouble with the machine or the software and it is easy to train new personnel. I would highly recommend this machine to any lab. "

"Great system, really easy to use. I especially like being able to set up multiple user accounts so all my settings are saved every time I use the imager. Also, the odyssey reps have been really helpful in getting everyone set up and troubleshooting any difficulties we've encountered. "

"Actually, every time, I can get high-quality data. But, when I take data with very high-quality, it takes long long time, almost 1 hr for scanning. Also, when I run immunoprecipitated samples sometimes it is not detected. I want you to improve the scanning time and sensitivity if possible. "

"The Odyssey CLx is a fantastic machine that we are using for all of our Western blots in the department. We have pretty much stopped using any ECL reagents and use the IR secondary antibodies. It's producing great results, although it did take us a little work to optimize conditions to reduce background. It is also being used to look at 2D gels by a colleague, something we had not envisioned when first thinking about buying the system. It meets all the needs of our entire department."

"Higher sensitivity than chemiluminescent systems and not time sensitive. Signal does not fade in a few minutes like HRP probes. Two targets can be viewed on the same blot using different fluorescent secondaries. Software is user friendly. High quality images."

"The LiCor Odyssey CLX is a pleasure to work with. The detection quality is excellent and the software is both easy to use and provides clear quantification. In addition, technical support is top notch."

"Odyssey® CLx Infrared Imaging is a very efficient system for western blot (WB) detection. It works with two different wavelength fluorescent antibodies. This means you can reveal two antibodies (produced in different animals) at the same time. Just incubate them for one hour (they can be reused many times if stored at 4ºC). So, you discard the ECL (enhanced chemiluminescence) and dark chamber for reveal WB. You can adjust the laser intensity and speed of scanning to increase the results. Moreover, you can incubate the membranes and reveal them many days after if necessary, once the fluorophores are more stable. For this you should dissolve them into TBS buffer solution at 4 ºC. This machine can be used for a lot of functions, including In-cell western, On-cell western, animal scanning (need a coupling system), gel scanning, etc. The product has a resistant glass and works with both PVDF or nitrocellulose membrane, however, the last one is better for stronger laser intensity."

"The equipment is versatile and easy to use. It saved my group a lot of money as compared to the traditional western blotting. It is faster than other analysis options of bands with the easy to use software. More so, the technical support is amazing. We had free hands-on training and regular support."

"Odyssey INFRARED scanner imaging system is used by our lab regularly for scanning western blots. It works very well without any issue but sometimes it says program is busy so we have to restart the instrument. Other than this minor disadvantage it is very useful for scanning blots and is very reliable. I would recommend this equipment for any lab."

"I find this product to have a very clear and distinct imaging. "

"It quantifies expression of your protein precisely. However, it is very pricy for the service that you get. I'd recommend waiting a bit for the price to come down before purchasing a $57,000 machine. "

"It sometimes becomes difficult to clarify the two wavelengths because there cross-produce to get one wavelength at high intensity while opaquing the second intensity."

"The Odyssey imaging system allows me to do multi-epitope imaging. Allowing for easy quantification of changes of post-translational modifications. The software interface has improved greatly over the years and is great and easy to use. There are so many things available now that make it easy to get the best image possible every time. If you are not using this and still using ECL and film, you should really switch over to this technology. While it is not as sensitive, the fluorescence vs ECL, you can order specific models that allow you to image using ECL without film. When I start a lab, if I do, I will buy one of these imagers without question."

"Very handy device for multiplexing. Results are very quickly obtained compared to traditional WB (ECL). However, scanning time is not that fast. Some time must be invested to find a good membrane blocking agent. The detection limit, in my opinion, is not as high as in traditional ECL."

"This imager allows for detection and comparison of multiple antibodies on a single blot. It gives more valuable information than the standard chemilumiescence/film combination."

"We use the Odyssey primarily for western blots and love our machine! The scan is a bit slow depending on the resolution. Sales support and tech support are very happy to assist with any problems or questions."

"This product is easy to use. Both the machine and software are fairly intuitive, and one can begin using the machine after very little instruction. Labs may need to adjust their regular protocols to accommodate infrared signals, but the initial effort is worth the time."

"This scanner is really easy to use. Also, the possibility of using dry membranes is good. Therefore, I would definitely recommend this product."

"An excellent and easy to use scanner. I have mainly used it to do SDS-PAGE coomassie quantification. The baseline is very flat and results are consistent."

"This is a good improvement for the WB technique. They work very well with high dilutions and the signal stay for a long time. "

"This has a precise detection technique and highly sensitive. This works fine with Western Blot with minimum amount of protein transferred to the membrane. I also like the analysis software which is great to work with and easily controllable."

"The sales representative and installation team were great at demonstrating how to work the machine as well as giving other insights on how to better our techniques. The equipment cuts down so much time and produces a great image. I would recommend this equipment to my colleagues."

"The Odyssey system is fast to use and sensitive. I have found it to be good value for money."

"Easy to use and saves time. It's accurate and I would recommend to other researchers."

"Easy to use and produces clear images. Accurate results for binding assays and HPLC. Good customer service from LI-COR."

"The Odyssey is very user friendly. I've used it in multiple applications and have noticed a higher quality output compared to traditional techniques. The availability of LI-COR Odyssey antibodies makes detection of multiple proteins very easy."

"LI-COR Odyssey makes life so much easier, quicker and more accurate. Image Studio 2.1 software enhances that even more."

"Having used the Odyssey CLx Infrared Imaging System, I will never go back to chemiluminescent!"

"I have enjoyed using the Odyssey-it is easy to use, the software is intuitive, and the quantitation is easier to acquire than typical chemiluminescent methods. Some antibodies do not work well with fluorescence and therefore don't work as well on the Odyssey-but those that do work, work well and the antibodies can typically be re-used at least 3 times (if you adjust the gain). I recommend the Odyssey, but keep some of your chemiluminescent reagents around in case the antibody doesn't work well for fluorescence."

"Equipment is fit for purpose- it is easy to use and after sales service & delivery is brilliant."

"I use the Odyssey CLx primarily for Westerns. It is cleaner, easier, and faster. It's easy enough to use that I send my undergrads to work with it unsupervised. The LI-COR staff are great and have helped me figure out any problems I have encountered."

"I have been using the Odyssey for two years and love it! I will never go back to X-rays for detection. Advantages for Western Blotting: 1. Sensitivity : Need less protein loading and antibodies 2. If using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, can detect the two in the same blot (I hate stripping blots) 3. Ease of quantitation 4. Less background as we can adjust the scanning intentities Advantages for In-Cell Western : 1. Detection and quantitation of proteins in primary cells where starting protein is less 2. Less antibody required, so save money 3. Perform experiment in replicates, so statistics are easy after quantitation. Advantages of On-Cell Western : 1. Can detect and quantitate expression of "extracellular" proteins. This technique gives it an advantage over traditional Western Blotting . 2. Less cumbersome and easier than membrane extraction and western blots. "

"Gives us faster and cleaner results from simple gel staining to any southern or western blot analysis. Allows us to analyze the bands in a more accurate system."

"Wonderful equipment, easy to use and gives consistent results. You don't have to work in the dark room anymore to develop x-ray films."

"I have been using the Odyssey since 2010. I love it and haven't used ECL since. I was sold on it when I found out there was no more substrate, no more film, no more developer problems, and no more getting jumped in line for the dark room. The improved sensitivity and the flexibility of being able to scan repeatedly, not to mention hours, days, or even weeks later without signal loss is definitely a bonus. There was a little bit of a learning curve, but now I find it easier to quantitate than other methods I have used in the past. Overall, the Odyssey has improved the quality and reliability of my data."

"Have been working with Licor Odyssey infrared imager for more than a year and its great. No more hassles with ECL, running to dark room before the intensity fades or films. The system is sensitive and specific. The availability of two colors makes it possible to probe for two different antibodies with different secondary at the same time, even if the molecular size is the same, for eg. AKT and pAKT. Less stripping so less loss of protein from the blot and more accurate results. It’s also very cost effective as we save on the secondary, ECL and Films. The band intensity can be quantified, saved and transferred right away, to save time. The results are stored on the machine and you can transfer it to your computer as well so there is backup. Over all the machine is great and worth the money. Would highly recommend."

"The machine is amazing! Although it has been out for quite some time, my first experience with the Odyssey was about 2.5 years ago. The ability to visualize more than one protein per membrane cuts valuable time. Although you are limited to using the blocking buffer that is manufactored by Li-COR, the reliabilty and effectiveness of this machine makes the cost well worth it. I also want to praise the technical assistance team. Anytime we have had issues, we call the 1-800 number and the problems are resolved quickly. This equipment is well worth the cost."

"Very reliable, linear response, we've had no problems for two years."

"It is a very nice machine which is fast and reliable."

"Great instrument for running Western Blots."

"Easy to use with good software."

"Excellent system for WB quantification allowing double labelling as well as slice quantification imaging."

"Easy to use, can quantify data easily. Is able to do duo-color Western Blots."

"This machine is just ok in my opinion. It is hard to use the antibodies. I prefer using chemiluminescence."

"Easy to use and maintain. Easy to contact the company."

"Easy to use, fast and powerful."

"Relatively easy to use, service is good and is received quickly when requested. I have found it to be good value for money."

"Fast, sensitive and very easy to use."

"Very easy to use, easy to clear and maintain. Very fast and sensitive."

"A great system for quantitative western blots, it can be combined with chemiluminescence. However, I did find that the software prior to the version 4 is not intuitive."

"It is easy to use and has sharp imaging."

"We are a postmortem lab so tissue is very precious. The LI-COR Odyssey allows us to veiw our Western Blots quickly and efficiently. Being able to double label with the 700 and 800 IR laser also allows us to save blots and time. Thank you LICOR Odyssey."