PHERAstar® FSX HTS Microplate Reader by BMG LABTECH

"The team spent a month evaluating multimode plate readers from all the major vendors across the various assay formats that we run (TR-FRET, AlphaScreen/LISA, FP, fluorescence, absorbance, luminescence). The PHERAstar FSX had the best combined performance with regards to speed and data quality. The sales reps that we worked with were incredibly knowledgeable and very responsive and continue to provide us with excellent service almost a year after purchasing our instruments. This is a premium instrument from a great manufacturer/team, and it has been worth every penny."

"PHERAstar FSX is a very versatile microplate reader that fulfills all my absorbance, luminescence, fluorescence intensity, and fluorescence polarization needs. I have used it extensively on a nearly daily basis since installment, especially the fluorescence polarization and fluorescence intensity functionalities and the instrument delivers results with high sensitivity and consistency. The software for controlling the instrument as well as for data analysis is easy to use and data generating and analysis workflows are easy to customize. The technical support and know-how both before and after purchase have been excellent as well, one of the reasons for selecting BMG labtech as the provider of microplate readers for our lab. Highly recommended for applications that require flexibility, esp, assay development."

"The PHERAstar was quick and easy to use and allowed for the screening of multiple compounds on a single plate. It was the backbone of many our our experiments and the entire research group would have fallen apart without it!"

"It's very effective and it's a sensitive machine."

"Our PheraSTAR unit is getting quite old now but it has been extremely reliable. Relatively easy to use in terms of protocol set-up. Will output data to an excel format which helps with downstream data processing, but also allows for some nice functions and real time data display within the software attached to the plate reader itself. Can be used for various fluorescence applications and stanard absorbance readings in a broad range. Can also be set to incubate at various temperatures, including 37°C. Results are reproducible across independent replicates."

"It is easy to use and I used it for both assay development and HTS. Great value."

"The PHERAstar is a great instrument, very sensitive with fast kinetics for both fluorescence polarization and bioluminescent resonance energy transfer experiments. Without it some of our publications in leading journals, including CELL, would not have been possible."

"Excellent machine, that is an integral part of our workflow for many projects. Very easy to use both in terms of hardware and software. Has been used for a variety of different purposes and allows us to do a wide range of both cell based and purified format assays. The BMG team are always helpful and couldn't have had a better experience."

"Fantastic instrument and even better support. Couldn’t recommend more."

"Very easy to use this machine, used throughout my PhD."

"Workhorse for multiple readouts. Easy to use and extract data."

"We are a BMG lab for readers!"

"Purchased FSX three years ago to go with FS. Excellent reliability and sensitivity. Go to instrument for HTS!"

"Best device on the market for HTS."

"Great instrument, multiple assay readout. Robust, low maintenance."

"Excellent instrument, ease of use was the best and great support after sale. Robust instrument, we have many of them."

"Replacement for our envisions in an uHTS robotic screening system. It was more sensitive and fast. Used now for over a year without major problems. Software takes some time to get the full benefit. "

"PHERAstars are easy to use and the customer support is excellent. They are always available to answer questions. "

"We have 3 BMG plate readers in my lab, the newest being the PHERAstar FSX. We also have readers from most top manufacturers. In my opinion, PHERAstar FSX is unbeatable due to its versatility, quality of manufacturing, ease of use and support."

"Great instrument!"

"This is a go-to instrument for our group in both walk-up mode and fully integrated screening. It performs well across a range of experimental modes (fluorescence, luminescence). It often out-performs other similar equipment in the category. Most of my experiments are FRET or BRET and I regularly see improved signal to noise compared to comparable systems. If you have multiple systems, I recommend having all of them calibrated at the same time to avoid system-to-system differences."

"PHERAstar is user friendly. Optic modules are great and un-intimidating. Good for a lot of platforms."

"A smart reader with many easy-to-use functionalities, including a range of possible readouts controlled by a user-friendly software. Technical support is admirable."

"PHERAstar is a great microplate reader for reading luminescence, FP, BRET, TR-FRET (HTRF), and absorbance assays. In addition to being a traditional microplate reader, it also offers UV readout so we can use it to quantify DNA/RNA. I especially like the modular design of the reader, which offers us the ability to add features (such as filter sets, lasers, reagent injector) when we might need them in the future without needing to spend money on modifying the device. The BMG sales rep is very knowledgeable and gave us a comprehensive training to use the device. He also helped us out in setting up all the assay templates and answered our e-mails promptly months after purchase. The reader is very easy to use after the templates are set up and so far our data has been reproducible with this reader and with another reader we have in-house. We are happy with the purchase."

"We love the BMG PHERAstar, the ease of use and sensitivity of signal is at the top of the market. Only negative is that it can't be cooled and falls prey to a high temperature lab. "

"I use this product routinely to generate high quality, reproducible data. BMG Labtech provide excellent aftercare and followup."

"The Pherastar FSX is extremely easy to use, performs flawlessly; and best of all it comes with excellent and friendly support!"

"PHERAstar was a great instrument to use. Great accuracy."

"Pherastar made our alphaLISA platform assays possible - not so with the suggested detection system."

"Easy to use, good service, flexible, good support, top-machine, high-sensitivty."

"Lots of applications and very easy to use reader."

"Much better than Envision, much easier, faster and more sensitive. Don’t need to buy all the filters."

"Used for: TR-FRET, FI, luminescence, absorption. Easy to use, sensitive, flexible, reliable. Added value: MARS data analysis software."

"The plate reader is easy to use and the instructions are easy to follow."

"This plate reader is very easy to use, very reliable, and it is perfect for assay development and HTS."

"It is a versatile plate reader which is very easy to operate and gives consistent readings. I would like recommend this plate reader to all involved in the screening of plant extracts / phyto-constituents in various in vitro biological assays."

"We have used the FSX reader for 2 years for a variety of cell based and cell free assays and could not be happier with the performance of the instrument or the after-sales support. We regularly run fluorescence, luminescence, HTRF and alpha assays in up to 1536 format for basic biology and screening applications using the plate stacker. We find the sensitivity of the reader and the ability to well-scan particularly important for iPSC based assays in which cells form clumps. The software is easily accessible for new users but we have several protocols that utilize the ability to code our own protocols e.g. live cell based kinetic assay followed by a fluorescence nuclear count. We regularly utilize the on-going support which has been invaluable for developing and troubleshooting assays."

"It is easy to use for beginners with repeatable results between assays. There were some software malfunctions but the support team was amazing."

"Very versatile with a wide range of possible applications such as luminescence fluorescence etc. Very robust with reproducible data over time"

"I find the PHERAstar very user friendly, protocols are easy to set up and the mars software is also good to use."

"The Pherastar is a great multimodality reader, it is easy to use, flexible and allows us to produce high quality reproducible data. "

"very user friendly. Optic modules are simple and easy to install and use. FP, fluorescence and luminescence data generated are repeatable and very robust. Injection module provides for ability to do kinetic studies. also included in the unit is a data analysis software package."

""Well scan" is un-expectedly effective way to assess transfection. Extremely easy to see whether you've got nice clones after limited dilution. Sensitivity is enough to substitute fluorescence microscope, avoiding, at the same time, cell damage, due to lower excitation light intensity."

"Increased sensitivity enables extremely low cost per data point"

"The Pherastar has revolutionized how we do medium throughput assays and has greatly expanded out ability to do many different outputs. It is a very diverse machine allowing for many many different cellular outputs. The data is always reliable and consistent especially compared to several competitors which we have also used in our group."

"PHERAstar FSX is one of the best plate readers currently in the market."

"I would certainly recommend the Pherastar FSA to other users, it is much easier to use and more user-friendly than other plate readers I have experience with. Excellent customer service and follow-up service"

"The instrument is very sensitive and enables high throughput. At the same time it is easy to use. I would highly recommend it to others."

"I looked at other instruments in the field and found the the PHERAstar was robust and reliable. We get consistent results and have had great support with optimizing our assays."

"The PHERAstar FSX offered the best sensitivity and speed of the instruments we tested and gives us the flexibility to tackle any future screen with confidence. The hardware and software capability coupled with the support we received from the application team at BMG LABTECH made this instrument our first choice."

"Pherastar FS is our third Pherastar reader following two of them, Pherastar Plus and Pherastar, we already had for the last few years. Buying for the third time clearly shows how impressed we are with their performance. Pherastar FS offers wide range of read outs like Fluorescence, FRET, Luminescence etc. It offers high sensitivity and using this reader, it provides higher signal window as compared to others. Its user-friendly software is an added advantage."

"We use the last three years without problems, very robust plate reader, and special for high throughput demand."

"A superb piece of hardware that was very easy to use. Performed a wavelength scan between 400-700nm over 24hrs and the data was easy to analyze to publishable results. I highly recommend it."

"Coupled with a simple interface and programming and a quick, efficient operation, the PHERAstar is a prime product for all types of assay. Aftermarket support is attentive and highly available, however the high reliability of the machinery means you might not need it!"

"This product is very easy to use and came with good after care service. Due to the interchanging optic modules we are able to use the PHERAstar for a number of different assays ranging from absorb acne based to HTRF."

"Excellent, perfect and easy to use. This is a wonderful product that must receive the whole-hearted support of the whole community for new drug discovery and lead identification."

"This has proven to be a good product in my translational research."

"We have had excellent experience with the sales reps, they came in on numerous occasions to train us and were always ready with a response if we struggled. It is simple to use, and has a lot of different functions available to choose from. We have the plate stacker attached which adds to the ease of use meaning we can walk away. The software also has the option of linking to other computers in different offices, removing the need to export the data from the computer the Pherastar is attached to. We are all very happy with this product in the lab."

"Our lab uses this device for absorption frequencies and its clarity is precise. Therefore, it is worth the price."

"The PHERAstar FS is an easy to use microplate reader that offers high sensitivity in a rapid manner. Side by side comparison to other microplate readers in the field have shown that the PHERAstar shows significant gains in speed compared to other well based readers, and sensitivity gains. Overall, a good bet for luminescence, fluorescence, and AlphaScreen assays."

"The BMG Pherastar is very easy to use. The software is user-friendly and intuitive. We have found it very useful for multiple applications over and above what we originally envisaged using the plate reader for. The different settings and features are very varied and we have had a lot of support in developing new techniques."

"The Pherastar is very easy to use and I find the software intuitive. It can read many different applications with sensitivity (lum, FI, FP, HTRF, Abs)The optic modules are easy to fit although if you are using many different applications in one lab they may need changing often. Support is very good, for bespoke requirements script modes can be written."

"Very easy to use, intuitive software. The system is reliable and robust. My applications include HTRF, FP, luminescent arrays as well as just fluorescence intensity arrays."

"Good product, good customer service and support. Can read luminescence and fluorescence."

"Love the Pherastar, it does everything I want it to."

"The new program makes data analysis relatively easy. Can take too long for each plate to read."

"One of the most reliable readers on the market, deals with high precision, all kind of readouts. Only it's software, not always user friendly, may seem a bit confusing."