Agilent BioTek Epoch2 Microplate Spectrophotometer

Overview

The Agilent BioTek Epoch2 Microplate Spectrophotometer is a filter-free, grating-based UV-Vis absorbance microplate reader engineered for precision, reproducibility, and workflow flexibility in life science laboratories. It operates on the principle of monochromator-based spectral dispersion—using a high-efficiency holographic grating to select discrete wavelengths from 200 to 999 nm in 1 nm increments—eliminating the need for physical filter sets and enabling true full-spectrum characterization without hardware reconfiguration. Unlike fixed-wavelength or filter-based systems, the Epoch2 delivers continuous spectral coverage ideal for applications requiring wavelength optimization (e.g., nucleic acid A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ ratio analysis), broad-spectrum microbial growth monitoring (e.g., OD₆₀₀ kinetics across temperature gradients), or method development where empirical peak identification is critical. Its optical architecture complies with ISO 17025 traceability requirements for photometric instruments and supports GLP/GMP-aligned data integrity when paired with compliant software configurations.

Key Features

• Grating monochromator optics delivering 1 nm wavelength resolution across 200–999 nm—no filters required
• High-speed reading: 8 seconds per 96-well plate, 14 seconds per 384-well plate at single-wavelength mode
• Onboard touchscreen interface with preloaded protocols for endpoint, kinetic, and spectral scan assays
• Integrated 4-zone temperature control (ambient to 65 °C) with condensation management to ensure assay stability during extended kinetic runs
• Universal sample compatibility: supports 6–384-well microplates, standard 1 cm pathlength cuvettes (via optional cuvette port), and Take3™ micro-volume plates for 2 µL direct nucleic acid/protein quantification
• Optical performance certified to ±1% ± 0.01 OD linearity over 0–2 OD range—validated per ASTM E275 and ISO 8573-1 standards for photometric accuracy

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Epoch2 accommodates diverse sample formats without mechanical adaptation: standard microplates (SBS-compliant), quartz or plastic cuvettes (10 mm pathlength), and Take3 microplates featuring integrated 0.5 mm and 1 mm pathlength pedestals. This eliminates cross-platform calibration drift and ensures consistent Beer-Lambert law application across formats. The system meets IEC 61010-1 safety standards for laboratory equipment and is designed for use in environments adhering to FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when operated with audit-trail-enabled Gen6 software. All thermal profiles are validated per ISO/IEC 17025 Annex A.5 for temperature uniformity and ramp fidelity—critical for enzyme kinetics, cell viability assays, and fermentation monitoring where thermal homogeneity directly impacts reaction rate reproducibility.

Software & Data Management

Controlled via Agilent BioTek Gen6 software (v3.11 or later), the Epoch2 supports role-based user access, electronic signatures, and full audit trail functionality—including timestamped parameter changes, raw data export (CSV, XML, PDF), and instrument configuration history. Gen6 includes over 40 pre-validated assay templates aligned with USP , CLSI EP17-A2, and ISO 15197 for absorbance-based quantitation. Data reduction supports multi-point curve fitting (linear, quadratic, cubic, 4PL, 5PL), outlier detection (Dixon’s Q-test), and plate mapping with well-level QC flags. Raw spectral scans export as .spc files compatible with third-party chemometric tools (e.g., MATLAB, Unscrambler) for multivariate analysis. Instrument logs and calibration records are stored in encrypted SQLite databases compliant with ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available).

Applications

• Nucleic Acid & Protein Quantification: Direct 2 µL measurement using Take3 plates; simultaneous A₂₆₀, A₂₈₀, A₂₃₀ acquisition for purity assessment per NanoDrop-equivalent workflows
• Cell-Based Assays: Real-time OD₆₀₀ monitoring of bacterial/fungal cultures under controlled 65 °C incubation for biofuel strain screening
• Enzyme Kinetics: Continuous monitoring of NADH/NADPH absorbance shifts at 340 nm with integrated shaking and thermal stabilization
• Colorimetric ELISA & BCA Assays: Dual-wavelength correction (e.g., 450 nm/620 nm) to minimize well-to-well meniscus artifacts
• Food & Beverage Safety Testing: Nitrate/nitrite detection via Griess reaction (540 nm), mycotoxin screening (450 nm), and turbidity-based spoilage indicators

FAQ

Does the Epoch2 support regulatory compliance for GxP environments?
Yes—when configured with Gen6 software v3.11+, it provides full 21 CFR Part 11 compliance including electronic signatures, audit trails, and data integrity controls.
Can the instrument perform spectral scanning across the full 200–999 nm range in a single acquisition?
Yes—scan speed is adjustable (1–5 nm/sec); typical full-range scan takes ~12 minutes with 1 nm resolution and 0.5 sec integration time.
Is the 4-zone temperature control independently programmable per zone?
No—the four zones maintain uniform setpoint temperature; gradient control is not supported, but uniformity is guaranteed to ±0.3 °C across all zones at 65 °C.
What validation documentation is provided with the system?
Factory-installed IQ/OQ documentation per ASTM E2500, plus wavelength accuracy verification (NIST-traceable holmium oxide filter), photometric linearity report, and temperature uniformity mapping.
How is carryover mitigated during cuvette-based measurements?
The optional cuvette port uses a dedicated, non-contact aspiration system with positive-pressure air purge between samples—validated to <0.001% carryover per CLSI EP10-A3 guidelines.