FAS Digi

DNA Detection and Documentation with red or green DNA dyes

The FastGene^® Blue/Green LED technology enables the detection of red dyes, such as Ethidium Bromide and of our next generation green dyes Midori Green. Both dyes can be visualized using the amber filter on top of the unit.

New LED Technology

Figure 1 - The absorbance spectrum of Ethidium Bromide (red), Midori Green Advance (green) and Midori Green Direct (light green)

See the sharpest bands, even at low signals

The FastGene^® FAS Digi Imaging System uses Pentax' flagship digital camera the MX-1. Its lens has an optimal zoom range and has a big aperture (f/1.8-f2.5), therefore allowing bright bands, even in the darkest situations.

Very easy to handle and perfect results out of the box

Get great results right after you start. The simplicity of the system guaranties a quick learning process. Images are saved in the established jpeg format, allowing you to use any imaging program to review your image.

Advanced options are available

The Pentax MX-1 is able to record images in a RAW format, so that advanced users can get the most information out of the images.

Robust and Durable

The FastGene^® FAS Digi Geldocumentation System is very robust due to its metal body and high quality components.

Access your gel and cut your DNA Bands easily thanks to the separable components

Images taken with the FastGene® FAS Digi Imaging System

Figure 3 - PCR-Products separated on a 1% TBE-Agarosegel. The DNA stain used was the Midori Green Advance.

Figure 4 - PCR-Products separated on a 1% TBE-Agarosegel.The DNA stain used was the Midori Green Advance.

"Our research group purchased a FAS-Digi, being composed of a Blue/Green LED transilluminator, hood and camera, in October 2014. It replaced a much larger gel documentation, which had UV-light and was being used with EtBr. The old gel doc system had more function but these functions were not being used. We enjoyed the fact that the FAS-Digi was a compact gel documentation system. Due to its size and changing to an alternative dye, we placed it next to our mini-gel tanks. We are using “DNA-Dye Non Tox” from AppliChem. This dye can be directly added to the sample making it possible to cut the unused part of the gel and storing it for later.

The FAS-Digi is manageable and useful and is enough for our applications. We are using the system for the documentation of DNA mini and maxi gels (mainly PCR and analysis of restriction digests of mini-preps), as well as the white light table for SDS-gels. There is a possibility to move the camera backwards, enabling a look through the build-in amber filter to check if a gel worked without having to turn on the camera. Additionally, the included amber goggles can be used to excise pieces of the gel for cloning, which works great (both the excision of gels and the cloning). The sensitivity is at least as with the old UV-light system, although we were not able to perform an exact test.

The regular consumer camera, goes back to its original setup even if a user has changed it previously. We have changed the settings to include a date setting when taking an image. The gel documentation system is working for the last 2.5 years and does show only little signs of wear-off. We have not connected it a laptop but to save an image we remove the SD-card instead and use a normal card reader on a PC. Additionally, I back up all the images every 6 months. Until now, the back up was not necessary.

There are some drawbacks. The system should be placed on a leveled surface. Otherwise, the door opens very quickly and hits the back part the instruments. Many users also believe that the cable coming from the back powers the camera. This is not the case, since it only powers the nicely working LED-table. The camera has its own battery which lasts for several months. I remove the battery occasionally to charge it with the included charger. In the end, we can say that the purchase was not regretted and that we would buy the system again."

Dr. Stefan Rahlfs; Chair for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; University Gießen