Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

A Novel Technique for Generating and Observing Chemiluminescence in a Biological Setting
Published on: March 9, 2017
Acquisition of chemiluminescent signals from immunoblots with a digital single-lens reflex camera
Mitri K Khoury1, Ian Parker, Dana W Aswad
1Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
Abstract:
We found that certain mid-range consumer-level digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras using full-frame complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors outperform X-ray film in acquiring signals from immunoblots that use enhanced chemiluminescence for detection. These cameras exhibit a sensitivity comparable to X-ray film, yet they provide a 3-fold increase in linear dynamic range and substantial cost savings over time, are more convenient to use, and eliminate the chemical waste associated with processing film.

