The sample retention system used by the Thermo Scientific NanoDrop^TM 1000 Spectrophotometer is one of the key features of the instrument. Not only does it enable the analysis of 1 ul samples, it also eliminates the need for cuvettes and capillaries. This saves on the cost of disposable cuvettes and/or on the time and effort spent in cleaning reusable ones. For busy laboratories, this feature alone can pay for the cost of the NanoDrop 1000! Click here to view application note on the technology.

How It Works

With the sample apparatus open, a droplet of sample is pipetted onto the measurement pedestal.

When the sample apparatus is closed, the sample arm slightly compresses the droplet and a sample column is drawn. Surface tension alone holds the sample in place. The spectral measurement is then made and quantification is made based on the tightly controlled path length of 1mm.

When the measurement is complete, the sample apparatus is opened and the sample is simply wiped from both the sample arm and sample pedestal using an ordinary dry laboratory wipe.

Since the sample is not contained in a secondary vessel, the sample directly wets the system optics, reducing the variations resulting from changing and/or repositioning cuvettes. When the sample is removed, the optics can be easily cleaned making it possible to measure successive sample concentrations varying by more than 1000 fold in concentration with no carryover (see performance data).