Microplate-reader with a controlled gas atmosphere, corresponding method and use of same

A microplate reader, comprising:

• a) at least one measuring device for measuring light received from samples in wells of a microplate accommodated in the microplate reader;
• b) a holding device which is adapted to accommodate and hold at least one microplate containing samples in wells during measuring with the at least one measuring device;
• c) a zoning means which subdivides an interior space of a housing of the microplate-reader into an appliance compartment, and a sample compartment with a gas atmosphere surrounding the sample containing wells of the microplate in the microplate reader, which zoning means is immovably fixed within the housing of the microplate reader and comprises at least one opening that is designed such that light emitted by samples arranged in wells of said microplate accommodated in the microplate-reader can pass there through from the sample compartment to the appliance compartment;
• and
• d) a control unit adapted to control the composition of the gas atmosphere in the sample compartment;
• wherein the microplate reader further comprises a first illumination device comprising a flash lamp, a first fiber optical line, and a first wavelength selective monochromator, the first illumination device being designed for transilluminating or irradiating samples in the wells of said microplate accommodated in the microplate reader with light of a selected wave length, the first illumination device of the microplate reader comprising at least a first optical system located in the opening of the zoning means;
• wherein the first optical system within the opening of the zoning means is height-adjustable in the direction of a Z-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system;
• wherein the holding device is adapted to position the microplate with the sample containing wells with respect to the at least one measuring device, and wherein the holding device is movable in relation to the zoning means and its opening along at least one axis of a Cartesian coordinate system;
• the holding device being entirely located in said gas atmosphere and surrounded by the sample compartment.