Innovatis on the case with CASY cell counters
range of bench-top systems that boasts a standardised cell counting
and analysis of the quality of cell culture samples in as little as
10 seconds.
The speed in which the company claims the CASY Cell Counter and Analyzer Series achieves this ups the ante for the competition, which includes Guava Technologies, Beckman Coulter and Nexcelom Bioscience. Cell counting and cell viability is an expanding area in lab research as determinations are routinely required for basic cell culture passaging and standardised cell samples. It is also a key step in cell-based assays used in cancer research and drug discovery. Automation of cell counting generally gives better results than manual counting because everything is standardised, from the mixing of the sample, to the amount of blood that is drawn up by the machine. Counting through a microscope inevitably results in tired eyes and human errors eventually. While lab technicians nowadays have less manual work to do than their predecessors, understanding the functioning of the new instruments and the interpretation of the results generated has become mandatory. Innovatis commented that the range uses a technique of size determination with an especially wide dynamic measurement range. The ultra-sensitive technology used measures the changes in a cell membrane's electrical properties to determine cell viability. The systems specifically uses the electrical sensing area method for particle measurement boosted by Pulse Area Analysis, a processing technique that guarantees reproducible and accurate analysis for all types of mammalian cells, Dye-free cell viability measurement is achieved with Electrical Current Exclusion (ECE), a non-invasive assay technique that is well suited for sensitive and pre-damaged cells. The CASY cell analysis instrument offers essentially a complete cell breakdown, combining information such as total cell count, dye-free viability with cell aggregation. To make interpretation of results easier and quicker, cell sample data is presented in an easy-to-read graph that clearly differentiates between viable cells (free and aggregate), dead cells, and cell debris. The instruments are therefore ideal for mammalian cell counting, size distribution, baculovirus studies and viability of fibroblasts.
