New Scanner to Assist Automation of Large Plates and Increase Throughout of Vaccine and Anti-Microbial Compound Testing

Synbiosis today announced ProcScan, its full colour plate scanning accessory for the ProtoCOL 2 system is available. This high resolution scanner will allow microbiologists to automatically count colonies or measure inhibition zones on large bioassay plates in seconds.

The ProcScan, designed to be easily integrated to the ProtoCOL 2 system via USB port, can accommodate round or square plates of up to 30cm x 30cm and can even scan large grid arrays. The ProcScan generates an accurate 22G pixel equivalent plate image that is rapidly imported into the ProtoCOL 2. The system then analyses the image to provide data which can be directly exported into statistical analysis packages to determine vaccine or antibiotic potency. Using the ProcScan to image bioassay plates means a larger number of vaccines and anti-microbial treatments can be processed per unit of time, further increasing the productivity of the ProtoCOL 2 system.

The ProcScan comes with IQ, OQ and PQ documentation ensuring faster installation and validation in a manufacturing site. Additionally, the ProtoCOL 2 can be integrated into any 21 CFR Part 11 environment, making the ProtoCOL 2 ideal for generating secure data in a GMP/GLP facility, whilst still saving time with repetitive counting or measuring tasks.

Martin Smith of Synbiosis commented: “Many users of the ProtoCOL 2 want to work with larger sample formats such as bioassay plates for testing antibiotics. This is why by developing the ProcScan, we have extended the capability of our advanced ProtoCOL 2 system to take colony counting and zone measurement technology to a new level of functionality and performance.”

Martin Smith concluded: “We are confident that any pharma or biotech using the combination of ProcScan and ProtoCOL 2 system to automate analysis of bioassay plates will determine the efficacy of vaccine and anti-microbial drugs faster and thus reduce their manufacturing timelines.”