We've replaced the metal 10AU housing with a new plastic one. The 10AU is still the same reliable, rugged instrument, but is now 20% lighter in weight. Request a quote for the 10AU or view the datasheet.

Cyclops-7 Wiper Now Available
There is now a wiper available for use with Cyclops-7 Submersible Fluorometers. Zebra-Tech Ltd is a New Zealand based company that specializes in the design and manufacture of instruments and equipment for environmental research and monitoring. The company has been manufacturing submersible wipers for over 6 years and supplied over 300 Hydro-Wipers around the world, into both marine and freshwater environments. Zebra-Tech recently added a C7 wiper to their Hydro-Wiper line. For more information visit their website at http://www.zebra-tech.co.nz/hydro-wiper.htm.

Minicell and Minicell Adaptor for the Aquafluor
Turner Designs released the Minicell (P/N 7000-950) and Minicell Adaptor (P/N 8000-936) for the Aquafluor Handheld Fluorometer. The minicells allow users to read higher concentrations which would normally cause the fluorometer to saturate when standard size cuvettes or test tubes are used. The minicell holds 200uL and is also good for situations where limited sample volumes are a concern. The short optic path of the minicell increases the dynamic range. The minicells are sold in packages of 1000 pieces. Contact accessories@turnerdesigns.com for pricing and availability.

Poster: In Situ Measurements: Versatility of the C3 Submersible Fluorometer

Poster: Using Turner Designs' C3 Submersible or PhytoFlash Active Fluorometers for In Vivo Monitoring of Algal Fluorescence

Case Study: Robust and Accurate Monitoring of Guadalquivir Estuary Waters: a High-Resolution and Low-Maintenance System for Water Quality and Hydrodynamics

Poster: SMART Protocol

Calibration Tips

Calibrating a fluorometer is not as complicated as it may seem. It is actually quite simple if you know a few helpful tips. Listed below are 5 tips on how to properly set up and calibrate a fluorometer for sample analysis:

1) Determine a Range - take some time to think about the concentrations you expect to see during your sampling period. Setting your fluorometer to a range that will be fully utilized during sampling is the best way to increase your resolution and accuracy. For example, it is better to read a 15 ppb concentration on a range of 0-25 ppb utilizing 60% of the full scale, than a range of 0-250 ppb utilizing only 6%.

2) Know your Limits - by what is your analysis limited? Some fluorophores such as chlorophyll have a maximum linear range of 250 ug/L due to quenching effects. Rhodamine WT, a tracer dye, has a saturation point of ~350 ppb. All fluorophores have some point at which their response becomes non-linear. Knowledge of effects such as quenching or saturation and the minimum detection limits of the method and fluorometer used may help determine what volumes to use during analysis to keep measurements within a specific range.

3) Obtain a True Blank - a true blank is a sample which represents your source water or background without your fluorophore of interest. This is the best representative of the background signal in your system. Although the background signal may change over time, keeping track of this change may help minimize error in measurement.

4) Use Good Standards - old or degraded standards should never be used for calibrating fluorometers. Making new standards and performing QC checks for your standards will ensure that your measurements are as accurate as possible.

5) Record All Values - the most important values to record prior to or during calibration are Raw Fluorescence Values (RFU) for each standard or sample used in the calibration. Comparing these values to values obtained from future calibrations will help you determine if the fluorometer has changed with respect to degrading optics, lamp, PMT, electronics, or mechanics.

Once a fluorometer is properly calibrated you should keep track of how the signal changes over time. Turner Designs sells stable signal referenced standards (Solid Secondary Standards) for the purpose of determining if your fluorometer's calibration or signal has drifted over time. If a change in signal >5% is observed, from the time of your calibration, it indicates that your instrument's components may be degrading or need replacing and you should contact the manufacturer for further assistance.

We now offer renewable extended warranties for all our fluorometers. Although our products are known to be extremely reliable, failures can happen. An extended warranty enables you to protect yourself and minimize repair costs if a failure does occur. Warranties can be renewed yearly, but must be purchased before expiration of an existing warranty. We are sending out reminders 60 days before your warranty expires. Contact accessories@turnerdesigns.com for more information.

C-Soft Firmware and Software Update

C-Soft Firmware and Software version 2.1 is available for download from our website. We strongly recommend all customers who purchased C3 or C6 fluorometers prior to November 6, 2009 upgrade to the new version.

ISO 9001:2008 Certification
We are happy to announce that we are now ISO 9001:2008 certified! Every member of the Turner Designs team works hard to ensure that we maintain the level of quality required for ISO certification.

Don't forget to check out our Knowledge Database. It is a robust search engine to use if you have technical questions about Turner Designs' products or applications.

Your feedback and input are not only welcome but also essential for us to continually improve our KDB. Please feel free to use the "Add case" link at the bottom of the main screen to submit ideas for future articles or suggest inclusion of information you feel would be of interest. Also the "Feedback" link provides a means to contact the technical support team on any question you have regarding Turner Designs products or services.