Overview

The Sirius 2 LB 9526 is a high-performance tube luminometer developed by Berthold Technologies for sensitive detection of flash and glow luminescence signals. By placing the sample in close proximity to the detector and surrounding it with optimized light reflectors, the Sirius 2 maximizes light collection efficiency for exceptional sensitivity and signal-to-noise performance.

The instrument detects less than 0.5 zeptomoles of firefly luciferase and less than 1 attomole of ATP per tube, making it one of the most sensitive tube luminometers in its class. The low-noise photomultiplier tube is operated in photon counting mode, ensuring a very low background signal, excellent signal-to-noise ratio, and the highest linearity across a broad dynamic range.

Applications

The Sirius 2 LB 9526 supports a wide variety of luminescence-based research and diagnostic applications:

Key Features

• Low-noise photomultiplier tube in single photon counting mode
• Detects <0.5 zmol firefly luciferase and <1 amol ATP per tube
• 6 orders of magnitude linear dynamic range
• Optimized light reflectors for maximum photon collection efficiency
• Outstanding sample format flexibility: tubes, vials, and Petri dishes
• Automatic quickstart — measurement initiates when the sample drawer closes
• Automatic light shutter protects the detector from ambient light
• No long delay required after drawer closure — immediate measurement readiness
• Intuitive 7-inch capacitive touchscreen with gesture control
• Optional integrated computer for standalone operation without external PC
• Up to 2 syringe-type automatic reagent injectors (20–500 µL)
• Data export to USB stick or network printer in CSV, PDF, and HTML formats

Sample Format Flexibility

The Sirius 2 sample chamber is engineered for both performance and flexibility. From small microcentrifuge tubes to 20 mL scintillation vials and 35 mm Petri dishes, the instrument accommodates the sample format that best fits your application without compromising detection sensitivity.

• Standard luminescence tubes, 12 × 55 mm
• Standard luminescence tubes, 12 × 75 mm
• Microcentrifuge tubes, 1.5 mL and 2 mL
• Scintillation vials, up to 20 mL
• 35 mm Petri dishes

Optional sample holders enable accurate injector positioning for both microcentrifuge tubes and standard luminescence tubes, ensuring precise reagent delivery into the sample regardless of vessel format.

Automatic Quickstart

A standout feature of the Sirius 2 is its automatic quickstart functionality. Closing the sample drawer automatically initiates the measurement sequence — no button press is required. An integrated automatic light shutter protects the highly sensitive photomultiplier from ambient light exposure, eliminating the need for a long post-closure delay that is typically required with other tube luminometers to allow background levels to stabilize.

Touchscreen Operation & Software

The Sirius 2 is controlled through an intuitive 7-inch capacitive touchscreen operated by familiar touch gestures. The easy-to-use onboard software provides advanced features including handling of replicates, dual assay calculations, and graphical display of results.

Two system configurations are available:

• PC-Controlled: Connected to a Windows computer via USB, with software options including Quick Measurement, Single Assay, Dual Assay, Single Kinetics, Multiple Kinetics, and Cut-Off protocols.
• Standalone (Integrated Computer): The optional built-in computer runs the full software suite directly on the instrument, featuring Quick Measurement, Single Assay, and Dual Assay protocols without requiring an external PC.

Data can be downloaded easily onto a USB stick, sent to a network or USB printer (PCL6 or PostScript 3 compatible), or exported in CSV, PDF, and HTML formats for further analysis in Excel or other programs.

Flexible Injector Solutions

The Sirius 2 can be equipped with up to two syringe-type automatic reagent injectors. The exceptionally broad injection volume range of 20–500 µL allows the system to adapt to virtually any flash luminescence assay requiring rapid reagent addition.

Ready-to-use sample holders ensure precise injector alignment for 1.5 mL and 2 mL microcentrifuge tubes, as well as for 55 mm and 75 mm luminescence tubes in the standard 12 mm diameter format.

Technical Specifications