The SmartDrop™ L is the entry-tier microvolume spectrophotometer in the Accuris SmartDrop series — designed for labs that need routine nucleic-acid concentration and 260/280 purity assessment from a 1–2 µL sample droplet without paying the premium for a xenon-lamp full-spectrum instrument. The "L" naming = LED light source + silicon photocell detector pair at 260 nm and 280 nm — a fixed-wavelength architecture that handles the dominant routine workflow (concentration + purity ratio) at meaningfully lower price point than the xenon-based SmartDrop X and XF. Built-in thermal printer for instantaneous result documentation and integrated cuvette port for OD600 culture-density readings are standard across the SmartDrop line, including the L.
Voltage options: This unit can be ordered with European voltage requirements (230V/50Hz). Contact us to order.
Key Specifications
| Sample volume | 1.0 to 2.0 µL on quartz pedestal |
| Path length | Fixed 0.5 mm |
| Light source | LED |
| Detector | Silicon photocell at 260 nm and 280 nm |
| dsDNA detection range | Up to 2,500 ng/µL |
| Calculated outputs | Concentration, A260/A280 ratio (auto-calculated and displayed) |
| Read time | < 6 seconds |
| Display | 7-inch full-color touchscreen, icon-driven menus |
| PC required | No — touchscreen on-instrument operation |
| Built-in printer | Yes (thermal) |
| Cuvette port | Yes (OD600 reading; two optical glass cuvettes included) |
| Data export | USB |
| Power input | Universal voltage |
| List price | $6,813 |
Application Profile
Routine nucleic-acid concentration determination. Drop a 1–2 µL sample on the pedestal, close the arm, and read DNA / RNA concentration in less than 6 seconds. The 260/280 purity ratio is auto-calculated and displayed alongside the concentration.
Purity assessment for downstream workflows. A260/A280 ratio is the primary purity indicator for nucleic-acid samples — typical "good" range is 1.8 to 2.0 for DNA and ~2.0 for RNA. The SmartDrop L displays the ratio automatically, supporting go/no-go QC decisions before downstream PCR, sequencing, or transfection.
Up to 2,500 ng/µL dsDNA quantification. The fixed 0.5 mm path length and LED + silicon-photocell detector pair work at high concentrations directly, without needing the auto-ranging path lengths of the xenon-lamp SmartDrop X / XF. For high-concentration miniprep eluates and concentrated genomic DNA preps, the SmartDrop L handles them at full concentration.
OD600 culture-density readings via cuvette port. Standard 1 cm path-length cuvettes (two included) for bacterial / yeast culture-density monitoring. No separate spectrophotometer required for routine OD600 work.
Hard-copy result documentation. Built-in thermal printer outputs concentration + ratio + date/time stamp on a small thermal-paper strip — useful for clinical-research workflows that require attached hard-copy records on lab notebooks or sample-prep documentation.
Teaching and training labs. The SmartDrop L's lower price point relative to the X and XF, combined with the simple touchscreen + auto-print workflow, makes it a practical instrument for biology and biotechnology teaching environments where students need to learn microvolume nucleic-acid quantitation as a hands-on skill.
Design Architecture
LED light source. Long-life LED at the 260 / 280 nm wavelengths required for nucleic-acid quantitation and purity assessment. LED lifespan exceeds typical lab-instrument operating life — no scheduled lamp replacement.
Silicon photocell detector. Optimized for the 260 / 280 nm wavelength pair; not a full-spectrum array. This architecture is the price-vs-capability trade-off vs the SmartDrop X / XF: the L handles the dominant routine workflow (concentration + purity) at lower cost, but cannot perform full-spectrum scans across 200–800 nm or detect non-260/280 contaminants.
Fixed 0.5 mm path length. No mechanical path-length adjustment — the pedestal geometry is engineered for the 1–2 µL sample volume at fixed 0.5 mm. Concentration calculation factors in the fixed path length automatically.
Quartz pedestal microvolume measurement. Sample droplet is suspended between the pedestal and the closing arm; optical path runs vertically through the droplet. Same pedestal geometry across the SmartDrop family (L / X / XF), so the operator-handling experience is consistent across the line.
Touchscreen with on-instrument operation. No PC required for routine reads. Preprogrammed protocols cover DNA / RNA / Protein quantitation; results display + auto-save to internal memory + optional USB export.
Built-in thermal printer — print results on a small thermal-paper strip. Useful for hard-copy documentation; the printer is integrated into the chassis (no separate cabling).
Cuvette port + two included optical glass cuvettes for OD600 work using a standard 1 cm path-length geometry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the NS1000 SmartDrop L measure? Nucleic-acid concentration and A260/A280 purity ratio from a 1–2 µL sample droplet, using an LED light source and silicon photocell at 260 and 280 nm.
What is the highest DNA concentration the NS1000 can read? Up to 2,500 ng/µL dsDNA at the fixed 0.5 mm path length, without dilution.
How fast is a reading? Less than 6 seconds, displayed on the 7-inch color touchscreen; no PC is required.
Can the NS1000 do OD600 culture-density readings? Yes — via the integrated cuvette port using standard 1 cm cuvettes (two optical glass cuvettes are included).
When should I step up to the NS1010 or NS1020? When the workflow needs full-spectrum 200–800 nm scanning (NS1010 SmartDrop X, $12,601) or integrated fluorometry for picogram-class DNA (NS1020 SmartDrop XF, $14,895).
Ordering & Configuration
Standard configuration. The NS1000 ships with the instrument, two optical glass cuvettes (for the cuvette-port OD600 workflow), built-in thermal printer with starter paper roll, 115 V power cord, operator's manual, and packaging materials.
Voltage variants:
- NS1000 — 115 V plug (this SKU)
SmartDrop family alternatives:
- NS1010 SmartDrop X ($12,601) — xenon + linear-array CCD, full-spectrum 200–800 nm scans, auto-ranging path lengths
- NS1020 SmartDrop XF ($14,895) — xenon + CCD + integrated fluorometer for picogram-class DNA quantitation
Consumables: Thermal-printer paper rolls per usage rate (confirm pack SKU at order); cuvettes for OD600 work if the included pair runs through.
Use the quote request to specify: voltage and plug type, expected throughput (drives thermal-paper inventory recommendation), and training. Confirm whether full-spectrum scanning or fluorometer integration is needed — if yes, step up to NS1010 or NS1020.
Warranty: Manufacturer's standard Accuris warranty applies.
SmartDrop L vs X vs XF selection: the L is the right pick when (a) routine workflow is concentration + 260/280 purity at concentrations up to 2,500 ng/µL, and (b) full-spectrum scanning or fluorometric DNA quantitation is not part of the workflow. The L's $5,800 price advantage over the X earns its slot when the workflow doesn't need xenon-lamp full-spectrum capability.
