Stories & Features

Spectral flow cytometry requires filters covering the UV, visible, and NIR in discrete steps, which may lead to a desire to balance instrument cost and optical filter performance. IDEX Health & Science understands these needs, and we are proud to announce our latest Semrock bandpass optical filters: Nanopede™. These essential performance and cost-effective filters cover the near UV and visible spectrum in even and odd 20 nm Full-Width, Half-Max (FWHM) steps.
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Although it is possible to combine filters from different families, doing so may require trade-offs because each family is optimized with its own design assumptions and priorities. Depending on the application, mixed-family configurations can deliver acceptable results, or may benefit from additional evaluation to ensure optimal performance. Read this tech note to learn how.
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When working with fluidic systems in life science applications—whether in chromatography, diagnostics, or analytical instrumentation—threaded fittings play a critical role in system integrity and performance. Yet, identifying and understanding fitting threads is often overlooked until an issue arises.
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The right pump for your instrument depends on your reagents, your flow path, and your integration requirements. These questions cover the decisions that matter most in early-stage design.
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There is a common misconception in instrument development: that custom always means expensive. For many engineers, this leads to sticker shock when they see a custom quote, causing them to default to off-the-shelf (OTS) components. However, the cost delta between custom and off-the-shelf is often a myth when you look at the efficiencies gained across the entire Development Pathway from IDEX Health & Science.
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When you set out to build a fluorescence microscope, the focus is often on the components: which lens, which filter, and which camera. However, a high-performance system is not just a collection of parts—it is a series of interconnected architectural decisions. Many developers fear that moving away from off-the-shelf components into a custom design will be overwhelming. The goal of collaboration is to demystify the instrument development process by providing a clear, phased roadmap.
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Advancing the world’s health starts with precision at every level—from cellular insights to the fluidics powering instrumentation. The critical work behind every life science platform, including flow cytometry fluidics, often begins with the right fittings and tubing, but also a reliable partner.
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Inspiring the next generation of scientists, one photon at a time. We’re proud to highlight one of our Application Scientists, Elizabeth Bernhardt, PhD, who volunteered at the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) 2026 using Semrock optical filters from IDEX Health & Science for a hands-on learning activity,
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Watch the replay! This session explores two primary strategies for increasing imaging speed—large-field “step-and-shoot” imaging and ultra-fast line scanning with Time Delay Integration (TDI) sensors—and the optical demands associated with each.
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There is a natural tendency to over-specify. If a 1% tolerance is good, a 0.1% tolerance must be better, right? Not necessarily. For optical filters, "better" may mean increased cost without necessarily providing any benefit to your application requirements.
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