FastGene® FAS-X: The Next Generation of Gel Imaging with Safe Blue/Green LED Technology
The FastGene® FAS-X is an impressive stand-alone gel documentation system designed to replace complex darkroom setups with a compact, user-friendly powerhouse. Its elegant design and small footprint (only 40 cm) allow it to fit into any laboratory environment without requiring an external computer.
At its core is a scientific-grade 20 MPixel colour camera paired with a massive 26 cm x 21 cm transilluminator. Unlike traditional systems that rely on harmful UV light or low-sensitivity blue LEDs, the FAS-X utilises proprietary Blue/Green LED technology. This innovation ensures the detection of nucleic acids at concentrations as low as 2 ng while eliminating UV-induced DNA damage and protecting the user from hazardous exposure. With a 13.3″ Full HD touchscreen, the FAS-X streamlines your workflow from gel to publication-quality image in just three taps.
Key Benefits:
- Maximum Safety: Eliminate UV hazards. The unique Blue/Green LED technology (470–520 nm) operates within the visible spectrum, preventing UV-induced skin/eye damage to the user and eliminating thymine dimer formation in your DNA samples.
- Unmatched Sensitivity: Superior to standard Blue LEDs. While standard blue LEDs struggle with red dyes, the broad emission spectrum of the FAS-X efficiently excites a wide range of dyes—including Ethidium Bromide, GelRed®, and MIDORI Green™—delivering brilliant signal intensity.
- Versatile Performance: One system for all applications. The large 26 cm x 21 cm illumination area accommodates multiple small gels or large 2D gels simultaneously. An integrated filter wheel allows effortless switching to Epi-White LED mode for documenting protein gels and Western blots.
- Intuitive Workflow: Image in 3 taps. The simplified software interface allows you to Turn On, Adjust, and Capture in seconds via the high-resolution touchscreen. Pre-focused optics remove the need for manual adjustments.
- Data Security: Protect your research. Designed for multi-user labs, the system offers password-protected user accounts and 128 GB of internal storage, ensuring data integrity and secure management.
Supporting Data
Figure 1. Superior Compatibility with Green and Red Dyes
In addition to its remarkable safety, the integrated Blue/Green LED light effectively excites a wide range of common red (incl. EtBr) and green DNA dyes as well as fluorescent proteins with very high intensity. This is achieved by accumulating the light energy absorbed by the fluorophores. Shown above: DNA gels stained with green (MIDORI Green Xtra) and red (GelRed®) DNA dyes, and a protein gel stained with fluorescent protein dye (SERVA Lightning Red).
Figure 2. Effortless Mode Switching
Documentation beyond fluorescent gels is possible with the additional white light. The filter wheel in the FAS-X offers the advantage of effortlessly switching between fluorescence (Blue/Green LED light) and the white light mode using the touchscreen buttons.
Figure 3. White Light Plate Integration
The FastGene® FAS-X with open drawer. A Coomassie stained PAGE protein gel is placed on the included white plate, transforming the Blue/Green transilluminator into a white light table for visible light applications.
Figure 4. High-Resolution White Light Imaging
High-resolution images of a Coomassie stained PAGE protein gel, a colourimetric Western blot membrane, and a bacterial colony plate obtained using the Epi-white light mode.
Specifications
- Camera: 20 MPixel Scientific-grade CMOS sensor
- Display: 13.3″ Full HD Touchscreen (1920 x 1080)
- Light Sources: Blue/Green LED Transilluminator (470-520 nm) & Epi-white LED
- View Area: 26 cm x 21 cm
- Sensitivity: Detects nucleic acids > 2 ng
- Internal Storage: 128 GB SSD
- Connections: 3x USB 3.0, 1x LAN (Ethernet)
- Dimensions: 53.2 cm (H) x 44.3 cm (D) x 37.5 cm (W)
- Included Accessories: Amber Goggles, White Light Plate, Agarose Gel Band Cutter