LI-COR Biosciences Transforms Western Blotting with Innovative New System

Today, LI-COR® Biosciences continues to demonstrate its position as a leader in laboratory instrument systems as it announces the launch of the C-DiGit™ Blot Scanner. A technological advancement for biotechnology laboratories, C-DiGit Blot Scanner is a digital replacement for film-based chemiluminescent Western blots that eliminates the need for a traditional darkroom. The C-DiGit Blot Scanner does not require changes to existing protocols yet delivers film-quality chemiluminescent images.

LI-COR Biosciences Transforms Western Blotting with Innovative New System. New system replaces film-based Western Blots and eliminates need for darkroom.

“The future availability of film, processing hassles and environmental issues, coupled with budget restraints, are significant concerns for labs,” says Jon Anderson, LI-COR senior scientist. “With the C-DiGit Blot Scanner, researchers now have an effective solution that is priced below capital expenditure thresholds.”

LI-COR Biosciences’ patent-pending technology pairs quality chemiluminescent images with the versatility of a personal scanner. The scanner, which is approximately the size of a lab notebook, can easily be placed on a lab bench or carried to a personal workspace.

“Beta users are not only seeing the C-DiGit scanner as a replacement for film, but as a means to convert darkroom space to other purposes,” says Anderson.

A single image file from the C-DiGit Blot Scanner captures the full range of chemiluminescent data for that blot. Image display settings can be adjusted to render a wide range of different ‘exposures’ and do not alter or affect the raw data or signal intensities.

“At LI-COR Biosciences, we look at the market and the needs of our customers and create solutions to further science,” says Bill Biggs, LI-COR President and CEO. “We saw a need to transform Western blotting, and believe the C-DiGit Blot Scanner will greatly impact the scientific community.”

About LI-COR Biosciences LI-COR Biosciences develops the highest quality fundamental research tools for cellular and molecular biology and environmental sciences, based on the core technologies of light, optics and electronics.

LI-COR is the leading manufacturer of near-infrared imaging platforms, analysis software and IRDye® infrared dye reagents for quantitative Western blotting, small animal imaging and DNA fragment analysis.

LI-COR pioneered the development of near-infrared fluorescence detection systems for DNA sequencing, and today provides systems for drug discovery, protein research, small animal imaging, and undergraduate training.

For the environmental sciences research community, LI-COR develops instruments for photosynthesis, carbon dioxide analysis and light measurement. These instruments are recognized worldwide for standard-setting innovation in plant science research and environmental monitoring.

Founded in 1971, the privately held company is based in Lincoln, Nebraska, with subsidiaries in Germany and the United Kingdom. LI-COR systems are used in over 100 countries and are supported by a global network of distributors.