Thermo Scientific Multiskan™ FC Microplate Reader

Overview

The Thermo Scientific Multiskan™ FC Microplate Reader is a fully automated, multimode benchtop instrument engineered for precision, reproducibility, and regulatory readiness in life science research and clinical diagnostics laboratories. Based on over four decades of microplate reader development expertise, the Multiskan FC employs dual optical pathways—optimized for both absorbance (photometric) and luminescent/fluorescent detection—to deliver consistent performance across endpoint, kinetic, and spectral assays. Its core architecture integrates a high-stability tungsten-halogen lamp for absorbance measurements (340–850 nm) and a low-noise photomultiplier tube (PMT) for sensitive luminescence and fluorescence detection. Designed for ELISA validation workflows, the system supports full IQ/OQ/PQ qualification documentation packages and includes built-in self-diagnostic routines that continuously monitor optical alignment, lamp intensity, filter wheel positioning, and detector response—ensuring measurement integrity before, during, and after each run.

Key Features

• Fully automated operation with integrated plate handling, incubation, shaking, and multi-mode detection—reducing manual intervention and operator-induced variability.
• Temperature-controlled incubation up to 50°C with ±0.5°C uniformity across 96- and 384-well plates, enabling stringent thermal management for enzyme kinetics, cell-based assays, and immunoassay development.
• Programmable linear and orbital shaking modes with adjustable amplitude and duration, supporting homogeneous mixing for suspension-based assays and antigen-antibody binding optimization.
• High-resolution color touchscreen interface with intuitive icon-driven navigation and multilingual firmware (English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Simplified Chinese), eliminating dependency on external PCs for routine operations.
• Native support for µDrop™ Microplate technology—enabling direct quantification of nucleic acids and proteins from 2–4 µL samples without dilution or transfer steps.
• Comprehensive detection flexibility: absorbance (endpoint and kinetic), fluorescence intensity (top- and bottom-read), chemiluminescence (glow and flash), time-resolved fluorescence (TRF), and AlphaScreen®—all accessible via a single platform without hardware modification.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Multiskan FC accommodates standard SBS-format microplates (6-, 24-, 48-, 96-, 384-well), as well as specialty formats including opaque white/black plates for luminescence, clear-bottom plates for bottom-read fluorescence, and UV-transparent plates for nucleic acid quantitation. It complies with ISO/IEC 17025 calibration traceability requirements and meets essential design criteria outlined in ISO 13485:2016 for in vitro diagnostic medical devices. The IVD-certified variant carries CE marking under Regulation (EU) 2017/746 (IVDR) Class B and includes pre-validated SkanIt™ software modules aligned with CLSI EP17-A2 and FDA guidance for assay verification. All data acquisition, processing, and export functions adhere to 21 CFR Part 11 requirements—including electronic signatures, audit trails, role-based access control, and immutable raw-data archiving.

Software & Data Management

SkanIt™ PC Software v5.x provides a validated, workflow-centric environment for method setup, plate mapping, real-time monitoring, and statistical analysis. Its modular architecture supports customizable protocol templates for ELISA, BCA, Bradford, MTT, LDH, and endotoxin assays—with embedded reference curves, 4PL/5PL curve fitting, and outlier detection algorithms. Raw absorbance values, fluorescence units (RFU), and relative light units (RLU) are stored in vendor-neutral .csv and .xls formats, while structured metadata (user ID, timestamp, instrument serial number, calibration logs) is embedded per file. Cloud synchronization via Thermo Fisher Connect™ enables secure remote access, collaborative review, and long-term archival compliant with institutional data retention policies. Integration with Microsoft OneDrive™ allows seamless backup and version-controlled sharing within cross-site research teams.

Applications

The Multiskan FC serves as a primary analytical tool in academic, pharmaceutical, and clinical laboratory settings for quantitative and qualitative applications including: ELISA-based serology and biomarker screening; protein concentration determination (BCA, Lowry, Bradford); enzymatic activity profiling (kinase, phosphatase, protease assays); cell viability and cytotoxicity assessment (MTT, XTT, resazurin); microbial growth monitoring; endotoxin quantification (LAL assay); nucleic acid purity and concentration analysis (A260/A280 ratios); and AlphaScreen®-based protein-protein interaction studies. Its multimodal capability eliminates the need for dedicated single-mode instruments—streamlining lab footprint, maintenance scheduling, and staff training protocols.

FAQ

Does the Multiskan FC support GLP-compliant data handling?
Yes—the SkanIt™ software includes full 21 CFR Part 11 compliance features: electronic signatures, audit trail logging, user permission tiers, and encrypted raw-data storage.
Can it read 1536-well plates?
No—the Multiskan FC is optimized for 6- to 384-well formats; 1536-well compatibility requires the Varioskan LUX platform.
Is incubation available during kinetic reads?
Yes—temperature-controlled incubation remains active throughout kinetic measurement cycles, with configurable intervals from 5 seconds to 60 minutes.
What validation documentation is provided?
Factory-installed IQ/OQ/PQ protocols, calibration certificates traceable to NIST standards, and a complete validation toolkit with test scripts and acceptance criteria.
How is optical performance verified over time?
The built-in self-diagnostic routine performs daily optical checks and generates pass/fail reports; optional annual PM service includes wavelength accuracy verification and lamp energy calibration.