What is Direct Waveform Recording™?

Direct Wavefrom Recording™ is our name for our method of capturing and comparing fluorescence lifetime waveforms generated by a pulsed laser directed onto the sample of interest. Utilizing ultra high speed digitizers, timing electronics, and proprietary software we record the entire waveform generated from every pulse of lasers that pulse at up to 10,000 times per second. We therefore acquire as many as 10,000 waveforms per second. This means that even at read speeds of 25 wells per second in a plate reader format we can average hundreds of waveforms per well, resulting in exceptional signal to noise.

Why compare fluorescence lifetime waveforms?

Traditionally, the fluorescence lifetime decay curve has been reduced to a single number, the fluorescence lifetime. This is unfortunate because the waveform contains information which is discarded during this process. By automatically comparing waveforms mathmatically with our proprietary software we are able to use the information inherent in the waveform to reduce many sources of noise and generate a confidence factor for each sample. The net result is we can better distinguish hits from noise and have confidence that hits are real and not from some artifact.

With Direct Waveform Recording, the nanoseconds duration fluorescence lifetime decay curve is captured thousands of times per second. The average of waveforms collected in a few milliseconds is extremely reproducible leading to highest quality data even at high read speeds.

I use other fluorescence-based sceening methods. Will fluorescence lifetime work for me?

If you see a change in fluoresence intensity or emission spectrum there is usually a corresponding change in the fluorescence lifetime waveform. Even a small change in this waveform yields excellent results with Direct Waveform Recording. Refer to our applications or contact us regarding your specific needs.