An Introduction to OD600 Unless you are a trained microbiologist, or have additional experience working with bacteria and other organisms, the concept of OD600 might be unfamiliar to you. In this article, we are going to give you an overview of what exactly OD600 is, how to measure it and some real-life applications. What is OD600 and What Does it Mean? OD600 is an abbreviation of two parts; ‘OD’ is short for ‘optical density’, whilst ‘600’ is in reference to the 600 nm wavelength used to measure said optical density. The term ‘OD600’ is used in reference to a spectrophotometer method that is ..read more

What is Spirulina? Spirulina is a microscopic cyanobacteria that can be consumed by both humans and animals, as either a whole food or food supplement. The distinctive blue-green bacteria is often touted as a ‘superfood’, due to its high density of proteins, vitamins and antioxidants. The nutritional profile of the food means that it may help to lower cholesterol, improve diabetes management and prevent heart disease as well as all-round health. For animals, spirulina is often used as a fish feed or as a livestock supplement. With plenty of applications for Spirulina, the commercialisation of ..read more

What Exactly Are Enzyme Assays And Why Do We Use Them? An enzyme assay is the name given to any laboratory technique that measures enzyme activity within a sample. Enzyme assays can be used for a variety of purposes, which include identifying the presence of an enzyme, investigation of specific enzyme kinetics or the activity of inhibition within a sample. Measuring Enzyme Activity When it comes to measuring enzyme activity, both qualitative and quantitative methodologies can be used. Qualitative assays are used to identify the presence (or absence) of a particular enzyme. On the other hand, a ..read more

Tip Biosystems is very pleased to announce the most versatile member of the Photopette® spectrophotometer family to date – the Photopette® Aqua.  The handheld and portable “Aqua” is the result of a collaborative effort with Merck to produce a device that can measure numerous aqueous parameters, including Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonium, Phosphate, and Chlorine, among others. As with all Photopette® models, the Aqua automatically attaches a geotag and timestamp to measurement results as well as optionally a photo or note, which dramatically streamlines data collection/documentation of samp ..read more

Webinar: Pain Points in Spectrophotometric Workflows Watch our webinar session from the 28th of September 2021 here. Follow Us Linkedin Facebook Twitter Blog Categories Applications News Spectrophotometry White Papers Spectrophotometers Photopette® Photopette® Aqua Photopette® Bio Photopette® Cell Photopette® OD600 Photopette® Turbidity Photopette® Custom Spectropod® UV ..read more

What is Turbidity and How is it Measured? An Introduction to Turbidity Turbidimetry is an analytical technique that is used to measure the cloudiness or haziness of liquid samples. For example, consider the differences in water from a tap and water from a muddy river. The water from the tap is colourless and clear, with a very low turbidity. On the other hand, a muddy river is brown and opaque and therefore has a high turbidity. When we consider these two samples and what makes the water appear so different, we have to consider the suspended solids that affect the clarity of the water ..read more

Home > Blog Spectrophotometry The basics of spectrophotometry Colour is everywhere. Every chemical compound absorbs, transmits, or reflects light over an electromagnetic spectrum in wavelengths. When light passes through any solution a section of it is absorbed. Spectrophotometry allows both qualitative and quantitative analysis. As the concentration of a substance increases light absorption increases, and light transmission decreases. Spectrophotometry is used in chemistry, biochemistry (for enzyme-catalysed reactions), physics, biology, and clinical studies (examining haematology or ..read more

Tip Biosystems introduces Photopette® Aqua Tip Biosystems is very pleased to announce the most versatile member of the Photopette® spectrophotometer family to date – the Photopette® Aqua.  The handheld and portable “Aqua” is the result of a collaborative effort with Merck to produce a device that can measure numerous aqueous parameters, including Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonium, Phosphate, and Chlorine, among others. As with all Photopette models, the Aqua automatically attaches a geotag and timestamp to measurement results as well as optionally a photo or note, which dramatically ..read more

Detecting & Measuring Chlorine in Water What is Chlorine? Chlorine is a chemical element that is a yellow-green gas at room temperature. The element is part of group 17 in the periodic table – the halogens – which accounts for many of its chemical properties, including its high reactivity. Because of its high reactivity, chlorine is naturally present as ionic compounds. Although it is commonly found within the earth’s crust, chloride is also found in sea water in the form of brine. The majority of elemental chlorine that is commercially produced comes from brine, before it is u ..read more

Enzyme Kinetic Assays and Enzyme Assays What Exactly Are Enzyme Assays And Why Do We Use Them? An enzyme assay is the name given to any laboratory technique that measures enzyme activity within a sample. Enzyme assays can be used for a variety of purposes, which include identifying the presence of an enzyme, investigation of specific enzyme kinetics or the activity of inhibition within a sample. Measuring Enzyme Activity When it comes to measuring enzyme activity, both qualitative and quantitative methodologies can be used. Qualitative assays are used to identify the presence (or a ..read more