| Three detection capabilities united in one system.
Storm® gel and blot imaging system unites Molecular Dynamics' superior storage phosphor autoradiography technology with two nonradioactive detection capabilities. Now you can make the move to emerging fluorescent gel and blot analysis methods -- without giving up popular radioisotope techniques. The Storm system gives you proven PhosphorImager® capability for autoradiography, plus direct fluorescence for nucleic acid and protein gel analysis, plus chemifluorescence for fast blot analysis without exposures.
Fig 1. Place your storage phosphor screen, gel, or blot on the sample area, and point-and-click to start your scan. The Storm system uses Variable Mode Imaging (VMI) architecture (patents pending) to activate the correct optical components for storage phosphor autoradiography, direct fluorescence, or chemifluorescence.
Based on proven performance
Molecular Dynamics' best-selling PhosphorImager systems were introduced in 1989 and continue to be the most popular filmless autoradiography instruments in the world. The wide, linear dynamic range of PhosphorImager systems yields useful data at every exposure intensity and enables researchers to see and quantitate data from their gels and blots on the first try -- even if there are both strong and weak bands on the same sample.
Because data quality is so important, the Storm system offers the same wide, linear dynamic range that PhosphorImager users have come to rely upon for their research.
Now -- along with high-resolution images, short scan times, large format capability, powerful software, and intuitive operation -- you'll get accurate data from radioisotopes, direct fluorescence, and chemifluorescence.
Intuitive operation
With the Storm system it doesn't matter whether you're doing autoradiography, direct fluorescence, or chemifluorescence -- you load and scan your sample the same way. Just place your gel, blot, or storage phosphor screen directly on the glass plate, then point-and-click on the scan control window to start your scan.
ImageQuant® software, included with Storm, works on both Macintosh and PC systems to give you a consistent user interface across platforms, plus powerful data analysis and reporting capabilities.
Direct access to all your data
The Storm system's three-in-one functionality also gives you the added convenience of having all your data and results saved in one place and in a common format. You can review and compare all the gels, blots, and autorads related to a single project on your computer screen, analyze them, then print out your results for documentation or publication. And you can electronically archive your data and results, organized by project, for quick retrieval and review.
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| Fig 2. Breakthroughs in mechanical and electro-optical design enable the Storm system to achieve both high sensitivity and high resolution at fast scanning speeds. |
Better blot analysis with chemifluorescence
Amersham Biosciences' ECL Plus Western blot imaging system yields high sensitivity images on Storm. Storm delivers additional non-radioactive Southern, Northern, and Western blot imaging through the technology of chemifluorescence.
Chemifluorescence is fast and sensitive. DNA and protein samples visualized by chemifluorescence are scanned directly in the Storm system without any exposures to film or storage phosphor screens. The fluorescent product of chemifluorescence is long-lived -- so it won't die out before you get your data.
Chemifluorescence works with both nucleic acid and protein blots and is also compatible with strip and re-probe procedures.
Blotting protocols for chemifluorescence are very similar to those used for chemiluminescence, but use a different final substrate. Chemifluorescence makes nonradioactive blot analysis simple, direct, and convenient. | 
