iMark™
Microplate Absorbance Reader
Instruction Manual
Warranty Statement
This warranty may vary outside of the continental United States. Contact your local Bio-Rad office for the
exact terms of your warranty.
Bio-Rad Laboratories warrants to the customer that the iMark Microplate Absorbance Reader will be free
from defects in material and workmanship, and will meet all performance specifications for a period of one
year from the date of shipment. This warranty covers all parts and labor.
In the event that the instrument must be returned to the factory for repair under warranty, the instrument
must be packed for return in original packaging. Please contact your local Bio-Rad representative for the
necessary return documents. The required documentation includes a decontamination certificate.
Bio-Rad shall not be liable for any incidental, special, or consequential loss, damage, or expense directly or
indirectly arising from the use of the iMark Microplate Absorbance Reader. Bio-Rad makes no warranty
whatsoever in regard to products or parts furnished by third parties, such being subject to the warranty of
their respective manufacturers. Service under this warranty shall be requested by contacting your nearest
Bio-Rad office.
The following items are considered customer-installable consumables: thermal printer paper and light
bulbs. These parts are not covered by this warranty. All customer-installed parts are warranted only to be
free from defects in workmanship. This warranty does not extend to any instrument or parts thereof that
have been subject to misuse, neglect, or accident, or that have been modified by anyone other than Bio-Rad
or that have been used in violation of Bio-Rad instructions.
The foregoing obligations are in lieu of all other obligations and liabilities including negligence and all
warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or otherwise expressed or implied in fact or
by law, and state Bio-Rad’s entire and exclusive liability and buyer’s exclusive remedy for any claims or
damages in connection with the furnishing of goods or parts, their design, suitability for use, installation or
operation. Bio-Rad will in no event be liable for any special, incidental or consequential damages
whatsoever, and Bio-Rad’s liability under no circumstances will exceed the contract price for the goods for
which liability is claimed.
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Regulatory Notices
Electro Magnetic Compatibility:
This instrument is designed to meet the Class-A emissions and immunity levels of the EN 61326 product
family standard for the CE mark. This rating requires that it only be used in a laboratory environment.
NOTE: These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of equipment in a residential area is likely to
cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his/her own
expense.
Safety
This instrument is designed to meet EN 61010-1 requirements for the CE mark, which are internationally
accepted safety standards for electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use. EN
61010-1 applies to equipment which is used under the following conditions:
• Indoor use
• Altitude up to 2,000 m
• MAINS supply voltage fluctuations up to ±10%
This instrument has been tested, and its compliance has been confirmed under the following environmental
conditions:
• Overvoltage category II
• Pollution degree 2
If the instrument is used in a manner not specified in this manual, the protection provided by the instrument
may be impaired. This instrument should not be modified or altered in any way. Alteration of this
instrument will result in the following:
• Void the manufacture’s warranty.
• Void regulatory compliance.
• Create a potential safety hazard.
Protective Ground
This instrument has a detachable, three-wire power cord for connection to both the power source and
protective ground. The protective ground contact is connected to the accessible metal parts of the
instrument. To prevent electrical shock, always use a power source outlet that has a properly grounded
protective-ground contact.
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Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................. 1
Description .........................................................................................................1
USB Interface .....................................................................................................1
Built-in Printer ....................................................................................................1
External Features.................................................................................................3
Keypad Guide .....................................................................................................4
Instrument Setup ............................................................................................ 5
Unpacking the Instrument.....................................................................................5
Initial Instrument Startup......................................................................................5
Instrument Shutdown ...........................................................................................6
Software Overview......................................................................................... 7
Capabilities.........................................................................................................7
Quick Guide to Reading a Plate ............................................................................7
Instrument Functions ...................................................................................... 8
Calculations ........................................................................................................8
Security password................................................................................................8
Memory Back-Up................................................................................................8
Limits ...............................................................................................................9
Report Types ............................................................................................... 10
End-point Protocol Reports.................................................................................10
1. Raw data report..........................................................................10
2. Absorbance report ......................................................................10
3. Limit report ...............................................................................10
4. Matrix report .............................................................................10
5. Cutoff report..............................................................................11
6. Curve Fit Report ........................................................................12
7. Concentration Report..................................................................12
8. Difference Report.......................................................................12
9. TeSeE Screening Report .............................................................13
Kinetic Protocol Reports ....................................................................................15
1. Absorbance Report .....................................................................15
2. Kinetic Plots Report ...................................................................15
3. Linear Regression Report............................................................15
4. GALT Report ............................................................................15
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Screen by Screen Procedures......................................................................... 17
Initial Startup ....................................................................................................17
Configuring the System......................................................................................18
Printing Reports and Protocol information............................................................20
Memory Recall Operation ..................................................................................21
Editing the Kinetic Protocol................................................................................22
Checkmark Value Setting (Administrator only).....................................................24
Editing End Point Protocol .................................................................................25
Cutoff Setting Procedure ....................................................................................26
Standard Setting Procedure.................................................................................29
Mode Setting Procedure .....................................................................................32
Plate Map Setting Procedure...............................................................................33
Instrument Maintenance................................................................................ 36
Installing Interference Filters ..............................................................................36
Changing the Lamp ...........................................................................................36
Troubleshooting and Error Messages.............................................................. 37
Instrument Specifications.............................................................................. 39
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iMark Microplate Absorbance Reader Instruction Manual
Introduction
Description
The iMark™ Microplate Absorbance Reader (catalog #168-1130) is an eight-channel, vertical pathlength
photometer that measures the absorbance of the contents in the wells of a 96-well microtitration plates. It can
perform single or dual wavelength measurements and can report absorbance values to three decimal places.
The iMark reader can be programmed by entering commands through the membrane keypad to define plate
reading and data analysis parameters as testing protocols and select report types. Hard copy reports can be
produced by an optional on-board thermal printer or external printer.
The iMark reader can also be controlled by the Windows-based Microplate Manager® software (catalog #
168-9520) program, through its built-in USB 2.0 interface device. Microplate Manager software provides a
complete, user-friendly solution for protocol programming as well as data analysis, for all microplate absorbance
readers from Bio-Rad Laboratories.
USB Interface
The iMark Microplate Reader has a built-in USB interface. This allows external computers to control the
instrument. When an external computer is in control of the microplate reader, the printer and the membrane keys,
except for the Start/Stop and Open/Close keys, are automatically deactivated, and the LCD display appears as
below.
Remote mode
The reader will remain in remote control mode until it is released or until the Start/Stop key is pressed on the
reader.
Built-in Printer
The iMark Microplate Reader has a built-in printer. It can generate all types of reports, including graphs and
kinetic plots.
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iMark Microplate Absorbance Reader Instruction Manual
Catalog # Description
168-1130 iMark Microplate Absorbance Reader with built-in printer
168-1135 iMark Microplate Absorbance Reader with built-in printer,
including Microplate Manager 6 software
168-6940 Checkmark Absorbance Reader Performance Validation Kit
Accessories
Catalog # Description
168-1011 405 nm filter
168-1013 415 nm filter
168-1020 450 nm filter
168-1028 490 nm filter
168-1038 540 nm filter
168-1040 550 nm filter
168-1044 570 nm filter
168-1049 595 nm filter
168-1054 620 nm filter
168-1056 630 nm filter
168-1061 655 nm filter
168-1080 750 nm filter
168-1006 Replacement lamp for iMark Microplate Absorbance Reader
168-2007 Replacement printer paper, package contains 3 rolls
Custom filters between 400 and 750 nm may be ordered. Corresponding catalog numbers can be found on
www.bio-rad.com
, or you can order by specifying the wavelength and the model number of the reader.
Checkmark Absorbance Reader Performance Validation Kit (catalog item 168-6940) consists of a plate with
absorbance standards and software to calculate the accuracy and precision of the iMark Microplate Absorbance
Reader.
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