Benchmark Scientific NS1000 SmartDrop™ L Nano Spectrophotometer — Microvolume DNA, RNA & Protein Quantification, 115V

Product Description

The Benchmark Scientific NS1000 SmartDrop™ L is an affordable nano spectrophotometer for rapid, accurate microvolume quantification of nucleic acids and proteins — delivering results in approximately 5 seconds from just 1.0–2.0µL of sample, with no dilutions required. SmartDrop L is the affordable choice for laboratories needing to determine nucleic acid and protein concentrations and purity of samples. The LED light source and silicon photocell sensor provide readings at 260 and 280nm. Samples from 1.0 to 2.0µL are loaded directly on the pedestal. Results are provided in about 5 seconds. The software automatically calculates and displays 260/280 ratios. Includes a built-in printer, cuvette port, and two optical glass cuvettes for OD600 readings. 115V. Also available in 230V as NS1000-E.

No Dilutions Required — More Accurate Results from Tiny Samples Traditional cuvette-based spectrophotometers require sample volumes of 500µL or more, and concentrated samples typically need to be diluted before measurement — introducing dilution errors and consuming precious sample. The SmartDrop™ L eliminates both problems. Utilizing a small sample volume eliminates the need for dilutions, providing more accurate results. Just 1.0–2.0µL of sample is placed directly on the quartz pedestal — perfect for concentrated plasmid preps, RNA extractions, protein samples, and any application where sample volume is limited or highly concentrated samples would require dilution in a conventional instrument.

How It Works — Quartz Pedestal and Liquid Column Analysis Each unit features a quartz pedestal onto which a drop of sample is placed. The arm is lowered and the drop is stretched into a liquid column of specified length for spectral analysis. DNA, RNA and protein concentrations and purity numbers are displayed in a matter of seconds. The fixed 0.5mm path length is optimized for accurate readings across the concentration range most commonly encountered in molecular biology workflows — detecting up to 2,500 ng/µL of dsDNA without requiring dilution.

LED Light Source — 260nm and 280nm Readings The NS1000 uses a UV LED light source paired with a silicon photocell sensor to deliver readings at 260nm and 280nm — the two wavelengths essential for nucleic acid and protein quantification. The 260/280 ratio is automatically calculated and displayed for immediate sample purity assessment. The LED light source requires no warm-up time, is long-lasting, and provides consistent, reproducible output without the lamp replacement costs associated with traditional UV lamp spectrophotometers.

7-Inch Full Color Touch Screen — No PC Required A full color, 7-inch touchscreen with icon-driven menus and preprogrammed protocols gets users up and running quickly. No external computer is required. Preprogrammed measurement protocols for dsDNA, ssDNA, RNA, and protein are accessible directly from the touch screen — no software installation, no laptop, no IT involvement required. The large 7-inch display shows all measurement results clearly and immediately after each reading.

Built-In Printer — Instant, On-the-Spot Documentation All SmartDrop™ models include an integrated printer — allowing measurement results to be printed directly at the instrument without requiring a connected computer or external printer. This is particularly valuable in busy lab environments where immediate hard-copy documentation of sample QC results is needed before proceeding to downstream applications. Results can also be saved in the SmartDrop™'s onboard memory or exported via USB as an Excel file for electronic record-keeping.

Cuvette Port for OD600 — Bacterial Culture Measurements Each NS1000 includes a cuvette port and two optical glass cuvettes for OD600 measurements — allowing the same instrument to be used for both microvolume nucleic acid and protein quantification and routine bacterial culture density measurements. This eliminates the need for a separate colorimeter or spectrophotometer for OD600 work in labs that also perform bacterial expression or culture work.

SmartDrop™ Model Comparison — NS1000 L vs. X vs. XF:

Choose the NS1000 SmartDrop™ L for basic nucleic acid and protein quantification and purity assessment. Upgrade to the SmartDrop™ X for full-spectrum UV-Vis analysis including BCA, Bradford, and Lowry protein assays. Choose the SmartDrop™ XF for the highest sensitivity nucleic acid quantification using fluorescence detection.

Available NS1000 Configurations:

Key Features

• Microvolume nano spectrophotometer — 1.0–2.0µL sample volume
• No dilutions required — direct measurement of concentrated samples
• Readings at 260nm and 280nm — nucleic acid and protein quantification
• Fixed 0.5mm path length
• Detection up to 2,500 ng/µL dsDNA
• Automatic 260/280 ratio calculation and display
• UV LED light source — no warm-up, long life, no lamp replacement
• Silicon photocell detector
• Full color 7-inch touch screen — icon-driven menus
• Preprogrammed protocols — dsDNA, ssDNA, RNA, protein
• No PC or external software required
• Results in approximately 5 seconds
• Built-in integrated printer
• Onboard memory for data storage
• USB export as Excel file
• Cuvette port for OD600 measurements
• Two optical glass cuvettes included
• Quartz pedestal
• 115V, 60 Hz
• Also available as NS1000-E (230V)

Supported Applications dsDNA quantification and purity assessment, ssDNA quantification, RNA quantification and purity assessment, total protein quantification, nucleic acid extract QC prior to downstream applications (PCR, cloning, sequencing, transfection), plasmid DNA quality control, RNA-seq and NGS library QC, bacterial culture OD600 measurements, and any molecular biology application requiring rapid microvolume UV spectrophotometric analysis.

Technical Specifications