SP1-Cassette ™ for NucleoCounter SP-100 Cell Counter

Description

The SP1 Cassette is a small, disposable plastic device designed for optimal sample handling and safe disposal. The main features of the cassette are a piston, a flow system containing a fluorescent dye (PI), and a measuring chamber with a measuring window.

The sample is loaded into the cassette by lightly pressing the plunger, thereby creating a partial vacuum in the system. The cassette is loaded with approximately 60 μl of the lysate mixture.

PI is immobilized on the first three lanes of the flow system. When the lysate mixture is loaded into the SP1 cassette and transported through the flow system to the measuring chamber (transparent window), the PI dissolves and mixes with the lysate mixture. PI intercalates with DNA and stains cell nuclei. Due to the fluorescent nature of the PI, it absorbs green light and then emits red fluorescent light, which is used to detect colored nuclei. The actual cell count is performed in the measuring chamber of the SP1 cassette using a NucleoCounter SP-100 with built-in fluorescence microscope and automatic image analysis.

The total volume of the measuring chamber is approximately 3 μL. The analyzed volume is approximately 1 μl, that is, one third of the total volume of the measuring chamber is analyzed.

Note! To avoid contamination of the measuring window, it is important not to touch it when handling cassettes.