YOUR APPLICATIONS.

YOUR WAY.
The Tristar 3 Multimode Microplate Reader
YOUR APPLICATIONS. YOUR WAY.
Application flexibility you can count on

Today’s research is in constant change. Assay technol­ogies, including ELISA, luminescence, fluorescence and
interaction chemistries don’t stop to progress. The same applies to the continuously developing applications.

Perhaps you are looking to perform ultra-fast injections for reliable flash-kinetics today. Maybe your project
requires studying protein:protein interactions tomorrow. Your research is unique. That’s why you deserve a
multimode plate reader that provides you with the technologies you need to master your research today and
upgrade when you need it.

The Tristar 3 pro­vides you with application flexibility for today, to­­morrow, and beyond to master your changing
plate reading applications. With over 70 years experience in developing sensitive and reliable analytical systems
we continue to support you on your mission to optimize your work processes and to improve life in meaningful
ways.

2
THE TRISTAR 3
Simplicity and sensitivity for all levels of experience

The Tristar 3 is a user-friendly and affordable filter-based multimode

plate reader that offers the high-performance analysis you expect Tristar 3 benefits at a glance
from Berthold Technologies instruments. Equipped with ONE-4-ALL
Optics for uncompromised performance of all detection modes, the ■ Highperformance filter
system is ready to perform absorbance, luminescence and fluorescence system for optimal sensitivity
measurements. ■ ONE-4-ALL Optics for

    uncompromised performance

  of all detection modes
■ JET injector technology

  (optional) for highest accuracy,

  speed and cell-friendliness
■ Broad wavelength range selection

   from UV through the visible range

■ BRET/BRET2 and NanoBRET™

upgradeable

3
INNOVATIVE MULTIMODE READING
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGIES
Superior performance for both routine and
challenging applications

The Tristar 3 enables you to move from application to application

with ease. Designed to perform, Tristar readers are equipped with
various technologies to support your work and are ideal for labs
with multiple applications.

Designed to support your work

The ergonomic design of the system provides full front access
for all key operations (e.g., plate loading, filter change and
connecting re­a gents). Reagent vials can be placed in the
integrated front compartment, providing easy access and visibility.
It contains a removable trough that can be filled with water or ice
to keep all reagents cooled. The system has a flat surface on its
top, providing enough space to put down a laptop.

Absorbance Fluorescence Luminescence & BRET

ONE-4-ALL Optics for
uncom­promised performance
Berthold’s patented ONE-4-ALL Optics
have been optimized to combine the
stability and user-friendliness of a
ONE-4-ALL Optics – no compromises in performance in any mode multimodal optical system with the
sensitiv­ity and versatility of dedicated
optical devices.

ONE-4-ALL Optics - no compromise in

Best-in-class luminescence performance in any mode.
Berthold’s highly-sensitive dual mode PMT detectors
in combination with the optimized ONE-4-ALL optical
path design provide best-in-class luminescence detec-
tion of less than 6 amol ATP per well.

4
High performance filter system – when sensitivity counts
The quick-change filter technology of the Tristar series provides you with the flexibility required to meet your
application needs: up to 40 different excitation and emission filters can be easily mounted on exchangeable
filter sliders.

The filters are characterized by high transmissions properties which can be up to 25-fold that of monochromators.
Technologies like Time-Resolved Fluorescence (TRF) can be measured more efficiently with filters.

Furthermore, filters with a large bandwidth are available to analyse fluorophores with wide spectra and all
luminescence-based assay that require filters, e.g., BRET, BRET2 or NanoBRET™ assays.

5
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
Engineered to help you expand the boundaries
of your research

No matter what your application, the Tristar 3 offers you additional technical features
to meet your advanced application needs, engineered to perform.

Ultra-fast injectors delivering highest precision

Tristar readers can be equipped with up to 3 injectors.
Two injectors each can be installed in measurement
position as well as in pre-position, to support different
assay requirements and formats.

Berthold JET Injectors are made out of teflon and

operate virtually friction-free, offering the following
benefits actual volume [µL]

■ Highest accuracy and reproducibility (< 2%)

100
■ Low reagent consumption – Low dead volume.
R² = 0.9999
80
   Recovers up to 60 % of the reagent in the injector
   line. A single priming   sequence is sufficient to 60

    achieve a 99 % homogeneous mix at the tip. 40

■ L ow maintenance costs – friction-free operation
20
enables more than 3 million injections without
mechanical failure. 20 40 60 80 100
target vol [µL]
■ Optimal performance in flash-kinetics – ultra-fast

   injection enables the measurement of the first JET injectors enable the injection of
liquids with an accuracy and precision
   150 ms of a kinetic assay (e.g., Fura-2 or Acridinium better 2 %.
   ester-assays).
■   Worry-free injection of cell suspensions – negligible

   shear forces ideal when working with living cells,

   e.g., in Aequorin-based Calcium assays.

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SOFTWARE
Get productive right away

The LightCompass® Software

LightCompass® is a flexible software enabling easy data acquisition, analysis and reporting using Berthold
Technologies' instruments. It has been optimized for different microplate and tube formats. LightCompass®
features all the functions you can expect from an advanced scientific software, such as flexible creation of
measurement protocols, curve fitting, qualitative analysis and compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11.

LightCompass® allows the flexible creation of measurement protocols, including dispensing of reagents,
incubation and measurement with many different readout technologies. It supports all the measurement modes
required by modern microplate readers, e. g., Endpoint, Kinetics and wavelength scans.

7
8
VALIDATION TOOLS, SERVICE & SUPPORT
For more productivity and better reproducibility
For many laboratories, validation, qualification and ensuring compliance with a number of GMP and GLP require­
ments is essential. We offer a range of tools and services to help you ensure that your system runs at peak
performance.

Validation Tools Service Support

We provide a variety of tools to Berthold Expert Services provide Our team of technical support
help you check and confirm the a team of dedicated and factory- scientists is your partner to over­
performance of your products trained engineers and experts to come the unique challenges your
over time. optimize your productivity. We application brings. Contact our
and our local partners are always team to discuss
■ Absorbance test plates at your disposal.
■   Luminescence test plates ■ Your assay or experiment

■     QC luminescence ■ Maintenance & repair services    design

   per­­for­­mance kit ■  IQ / OQ / PQ services ■ Data analysis questions

■ Calibration certification & more ■ Troubleshooting

9
APPLICATIONS
Access your favourite applications with ease
The Tristar 3 provides the technology required to perform a broad range of applications. Simply choose the
technologies that best support your research – or upgrade your system whenever it becomes necessary.

Applications Assay Formats

Biomarkers quantification Binding
Cell viability/proliferation/ Biochemical
toxicity Colorimetric assays
Drug discovery Cell-based
Environmental testing ELISA/Immunoassay
Epigenetics Flash luminescence
Food monitoring Kinases
Gene expression Kinetics
Pathway analysis Quantification
Protein:protein interaction (DNA/RNA, protein)
Receptor panning Reporter gene/GFP
…and many more

PRECONFIGURED MODELS
Meet your application needs today and customize
your device whenever required
The Tristar family offers you a growing number of models and possible configurations to meet your current and
future application requirements.

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 Tristar 3 models

Functions Tristar 3 Tristar 3 Tristar 3 Tristar 3 Standard Features Optional Features

Research Research Plus Research FL Research Plus FL
69173-10 69173-20 69173-30 69173-40

Absorbance l l l l Xenon flash lamp 1 – 3 ultra-fast JET Injectors

(200 – 1000 nm) delivering highest precision

Luminescence l l l l ONE-4-ALL optics for High-performance filters to meet your

uncompromised performance specific application needs

Fluorescence Intensity l l High-performance filter system LightCompass® software providing 21 CFR

(incl. FRET) Part 11 compliance and other features

Fluorescence Intensity l l Ergonomic design including

(incl. FRET) up to 850 nm inte­grated front compartment

BRET/BRET2 /NanoBRET™ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Top reading for plate formats

up to 384-wells

Temperature Control l l Shaker with three modes

(linear, orbital and double orbital)

LightCompass® Software l l l l

Ordering Information
Optional Features

Software
JET Injector #1, pre-position 70379-31

LightCompass ® Basic 37854-402

JET Injector #2, reading- or pre-position 70379-32

LightCompass ® Professional 37854-403

JET Injector #3, reading-position 70379-33
LightCompass Plus
®
37854-404
BRET/BRET2 Package 39350

BRET High Efficiency Package 53431 Validation Tools

BRET2 High Efficiency Package 53432 LB 9515 luminescence test plate for QC 40105-10

nanoBRET™ Package 63140 LB 9516 test plate for absorbance check (VIS 50895-10
validation)
Chroma-Glo Package 43544
Luminescence Performance Kit 55101

Accessories

μDrop Microvolume Plate 64154

Gas connection, cpl. 55408

Consumables

Reagent filter set (10 pieces) 43193

Cleanit Daily – Injector cleaning solution 45218

(2 × 250 ml)

11
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Tristar 3

Detection Low-noise photomultiplier tube in dual mode, spectral Shaking 3 modes, variable amplitude and speed
Unit range 280 – 650 nm (up to 850 nm with extended range PMT)
Photo diode, spectral range 200 – 1000 nm Temperature +5 °C above room
Control temperature up to 45 °C

Excitation Xenon flash lamp: spectral range Microplate For- 6 to 384 well, solid and strip, Dimensions 128 × 86 mm (L × W)
Source 200 – 1000 nm mats height 14.0 – 21.0 mm (adapters necessary)
Petri dishes 35 and 60 mm
Wavelength High quality µDrop™ Plate for low sample volumes down to 2 µL
Selection interference filters
Standard cuvettes (with cap)

Interface USB
Measurement Luminescence
Technologies BRET/BRET2, NanoBRET™ PC Operating Windows 10 (32/64 bit)
Fluorescence (top) System
Absorbance UV & VIS
PC Requirements Pentium like CPU (2 GHz or better / Intel Core iX
recommended), 1 free USB port
Performance:
Luminescence <6 amol/well ATP (96 well) Regulations CE, NRTL
Fluorescence <7 amol/well FITC (384 sv)
Power 100 – 240 VAC ±10 %
Absorbance Accuracy better 2 %, Supply
Precision better 0.6 % 50 / 60 Hz
TRF Not available Class I

Operating Vol- 24 VDC ±5 %

tage
Dynamic 6 orders of magnitude (photon counter)
Range 0 – 3.5 OD (photodiode)
Power 140 VA
Consumption
Crosstalk Low crosstalk due to crosstalk reduction design:
10 –6 (black plates)
Temperature Storage: 0 – 40 °C
Range Operation: 15 – 35 °C
Injection Unit Up to 3 injectors, JET injection technology
Variable volumes: 10 – 100 µL
Humidity 10 – 80 % non-condensing
Speed 200 – 440 µL/sec
Maximum relative humidity of 80 % for temperatures
Accuracy better 2 % up to 31 °C
Precision better 2 % Decreasing linearly to 50 % relative humidity up to 40 °C
Injections into microplates with up to 384 wells
Altitude Max. 2000 m (above sea level)

Dimensions 391 × 470 × 344 mm

(W × D × H)

Weight Approx. 20 kg

LightCompass® Data acquisition: Endpoint, Kinetics, repeated and scanning

Software Data analysis: quantitative (curve fitting), qualitative (cut-off)
Result reporting: fully customizable
Multi-user: different access levels

TRANSFORMING SCIENCE
INTO SOLUTIONS
Berthold Technologies
* monochromator is amodel
configuration global technology leader in life sciences. Our extensive range of analytical
dependent
system solutions made in Germany has been trusted by scientists since 1949. These range from small
standalone readers, such as microvolume spectrophotometer and luminometers to various dedicated
Tristar 3 · Id.-Nr. 69173PR2 · Rev. 03

and multimode readers, microplate washers, microplate workstations, RIA and ELISA automation
products to high-end imaging systems, HPLC radio detectors and gamma-counters. It is our mission
to create a healthier world, a safer environment and more efficient manufacturing processes.

© Berthold Technologies. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the

Berthold Technologies GmbH & Co. KG property of Berthold Technologies or their respective owners. Berthold
Technologies reserves the right to implement technical improvements
Calmbacher Straße 22 · 75323 Bad Wildbad · Germany and/or design changes without prior notice.
12 7081 1770 · [email protected] · www.berthold.com/bio
+49 FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. NOT FOR USE IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES.