Arcturus Laser Capture Microdissection System

Accuva Cellect is the latest iteration of the Arcturus laser capture microdissection product line. It carries the same workflow forward — visualize, select, capture, and transfer to a cap for downstream analysis — in a modernized instrument design with updated optics, electronics, and software. Labs already familiar with Arcturus LCM can continue working the way they always have, without relearning the technique or rebuilding validated protocols.

Yes. Accuva Cellect uses the same consumables as the Arcturus product line, including the familiar caps and slide formats, so existing inventory and ordering processes carry over. Because the workflow and consumables are unchanged, established sample-preparation, capture, and extraction protocols remain valid on the newer system.

The technique, consumables, and step-by-step workflow stay the same; the difference is in the platform around them. Accuva Cellect brings a modern design with refreshed optics, an updated user interface, current-generation imaging, and integration with today's software and AI-powered analysis tools — addressing the support and obsolescence concerns that come with running an aging legacy instrument.

Laser capture microdissection, or LCM, is a microscopy-based technique used to isolate specific cells or defined tissue regions from a prepared sample. Accuva Cellect uses a gentle IR laser for contact capture of single cells and a UV laser for cutting dense structures such as bone and plant tissue, then the captured material is used for downstream analysis. This enables DNA, RNA, protein, or other molecular analyses to focus on a selected population rather than a mixed tissue sample.

Microdissection is the careful separation of small structures, cells, or tissue regions for closer examination or analysis. It may be performed manually under a microscope or with specialized tools such as laser capture microdissection systems. In molecular research, laser-based microdissection improves selectivity by allowing researchers to collect visually identified cells while minimizing unwanted surrounding material.

Accuva Cellect primarily supports FFPE and fresh-frozen samples, and also supports H&E stained, LCM-optimized stain, immunofluorescence, unstained, and cell culture samples — the same sample types labs prepared for Arcturus systems. Suitability depends on sample preparation, staining method, the intended downstream assay, and the amount of target material required. Researchers should align capture conditions with their extraction and analysis protocol.

Tumors contain malignant cells alongside normal tissue, stroma, and immune populations, which can obscure molecular signals in whole-tissue homogenates. LCM helps researchers isolate tumor cells or distinct microenvironment compartments separately. This more defined input can improve genetic profiling, biomarker discovery, gene-expression analysis, and investigation of mechanisms related to progression, immune evasion, and treatment resistance.

Yes. Accuva Cellect's gentle IR laser enables contact-free capture down to picogram quantities or single cells for single-cell genomic and molecular workflows. The key considerations are accurate visual identification, gentle capture conditions, nucleic acid preservation, and downstream methods designed for limited input. Amplification and library-preparation protocols may be needed to generate sufficient DNA or RNA for sequencing from tiny samples.

LCM begins with visual review of a tissue section under a microscope, so researchers can choose cells according to their location, morphology, or relationship to nearby structures. The captured material can then be analyzed separately while retaining a documented connection to its original anatomical region. This supports spatial biology studies that compare adjacent cell populations or distinct tissue compartments.

Yes, captured cells can be prepared for RNA sequencing, DNA sequencing, qPCR, microarrays, and other molecular methods when workflows are optimized for low-input material. For RNA studies, preservation and extraction steps are especially important because transcripts can be fragile. For DNA studies, whole-genome amplification and sequencing library preparation can help produce sequencing-ready material from small, targeted captures.

Because the workflow and consumables are unchanged from the Arcturus line, teams generally transition with little disruption and can keep using their existing protocols. Laxco, Inc. provides on-site applications training, virtual applications training, live technical support, and 48-hour response times to assist with system optimization and issue resolution. The company also offers Grant Language Kits and technical support intended to help researchers incorporate precision LCM workflows into competitive proposals for NIH, NSF, HHMI, and DOD funding opportunities.