Affordable Colony Counting

aCOLyte 3 is the latest affordable, automated colony counting device from Synbiosis. The aCOLyte 3 is available in one configuration and features new simple-to-use software that greatly improves efficiency, reliability and productivity over previous models.

The new aCOLyte 3 software uses a powerful new algorithm for colony counting on pour and spiral plates which until now, were only found on the advanced ProtoCOL 3 models. Plates are automatically counted with results directly transferred to Excel or Open office.

The new style aCOLyte 3, recognizable by its black and silver color, accepts plates up to 90mm diameter. Lighting is provided by LEDs mounted above and below the sample area for both transmitted and epi illumination. A detachable shield can be used to eliminate strong ambient light if required.

aCOLyte 3 can be used with any conforming laptop or desktop PC and connects simply by using a USB port.

Applications

aCOLyte 3 can be used for total viable counts in many environmental, food monitoring, pharmaceutical, clinical, and molecular biology applications.

• E.coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella spp, and mixed organisms on plate count or nutrient agar.
• Staphylococcus aureus, and mixed organisms on plate count agar, columbia blood agar, or nutrient agar.
• E.coli on LB medium, and yeast on potato dextrose agar.

Technical Information

PC connection

USB 2.0

Resolution

For standard 90mm petri dishes, smallest detectable colony better than 0.1mm

Illumination

Long-life upper and lower LED arrays with darkfield and brightfield

Power input

110/240v

Minimum PC
specification

• Processor: Intel Core 2 or Core i processor 2.13 GHz or better
• 2Gb RAM, 4Gb recommended
• CD-Rom drive (required for software installation)
• 2 free independent USB 2.0 ports, at least one of which supports hi-speed mode.
  Note that there are three possible port speeds with USB 2.0: Lo-speed (1.5Mbps), full-speed (12Mbps) and hi-speed (up to 480Mbps).
  The aCOLyte camera requires a hi-speed port Graphics: Intel X4500 or better (Windows 7 Experience rating for graphics should be a minimum of 3.0, ideally higher)
  Hard drive: 160GB (or larger)
• Operating system: Operating system: Windows 7/10 compatible
  (Home versions not suitable, Windows Vista not supported)
  Monitor: 1280 x 1024 minimum resolution (not comptabile with lower resolutions as some elements of the application become inaccessible)
  Note: the combination of the minimum display resolution and the USB ports will preclude most laptops

Why buy this product?

Low Cost

aCOLyte is a low cost entry into electronic colony counting. Results and plate images are saved to a PC enabling traceability, consistency and report generation in Excel.

Automated

With the aCOLyte 3 HD plates can be counted rapidly. Typically plates can be counted accurately in under 1 second.

Image display

Unlike any manual system the aCOLyte 3 displays the image on your computer screen with counted colonies clearly marked. The zoom function allows the user to closely view plates, confirming accurate counting.

Powerful algorithm

The aCOLyte 3 uses the powerful Synbiosis algorithm for accurate counting. A colony separator automatically splits touching colonies to further improve the accuracy of the counting process.

Sensitive CCD camera

An integral CCD colour camera can be adjusted to increase the sensitivity of the detection, enabling colonies as small as 0.1mm to be imaged and counted.

Switchable lighting

The LED lighting can be switched from upper to lower options, enabling counting on both light and dark media.

Database

MS SQL Server Express database automatically stores all data.

ProtoCOL 3 is the next generation instrument for colony counting, zone measurements (inhibition and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), membranes, Petri-film and a range of other applications including: spiral plates, OPKA (opsonophagocytic killing assay), SBA (serum bactericidal assay), Multi-sector, Multi-well, SRD (single radial immunodiffusion) and Ames. The new design now enables plates of up to 150mm diameter to be automatically read at the press of a button. Designed for use across a wide range of applications, ProtoCOL 3 will count colonies as small as 43 microns (0.043mm) or measure zones accurately to 0.1mm.

ProtoCOL 3 has a unique LED lighting system configured for exceptional illumination of all sample types. High definition, color images taken with a scientific grade CCD camera ensure that even the smallest colony can be seen and counted, while zone measurements are fast, accurate and reproducible.

ProtoCOL 3 is available with a mounted touch screen processor which enables ease of control while the easy-to-use software produces highly accurate results. Alternatively, the ProtoCOL 3 can now be used with a new or existing stand-alone desktop or laptop computer via USB connection – no additional PCI cards are required.

The new ProtoCOL 3 comes inclusive with both colony counting and zone measuring ability. To extend its range of applications, inexpensive additional modules can be added to the software for Spiral, OPKA, SBA, Multi-sector, Multi-well, SRD and Ames. Results can be automatically transferred to Excel or a LIMS system. The system can also be used with 1D and 2D barcodes. All data generated is GLP/GMP compliant with a full audit trail and can be used to produce professional reports. Each system comes complete with 2 validation plates.

The ProtoCOL 3 software has an extensive array of features and can cover a wide range of applications. Colony counting and zone measurement are standard on the ProtoCOL 3. ProtoCOL 3 software is fully Windows 7 compatible and is available in a range of different languages.

Features:

• All functions are accessed from a single window for each step
• Automatic imaging functions ensure perfect images without the need for any optimisation of contrast and sensitivity
• Automatic separation of touching colonies is included
• Advanced grid elimination function is included for filters and Petri film
• Colonies can be marked with choice of shapes, including cross, circle, square or triangle, for clear and precise visualisation
• An advanced polygonal exclusion tool is available to eliminate specific areas
• The system can be ‘trained’ to exclude writing on plates, debris, bubbles or other unwanted features
• Full editing functions for the adding or deleting of colonies and the manual measurement of zones are included
• Colonies as small as 0.043mm can be detected while zones can be measured to 0.1mm accuracy
• A built-in database enables the sharing of results across individuals, laboratories and even facilities
• All results are automatically archived and can be printed
• All results are fully traceable and have an audit trail
• Compliant with the requirements of 21 CFR Part 11

Featured Software Module

The revolutionary AST software (measuring antibiotic susceptibility testing easily and rapidly) is designed for use with ProtoCOL 3 automated zone measurement system. The software quickly and simply measure zones around antibiotic discs and then automatically predicts antibiotic resistance from results.

At the touch of a button the results can be automatically compared to data from all the tested organisms that have breakpoint values in the EUCAST database.

The AST software lists which antibiotics the bacteria are sensitive to, in less than half the time it takes to perform these tasks manually.

The software is GLP compliant and generates zone measurements and plate images which can be transferred and stored in Excel to eliminate keying and data transfer errors, as well as provide a full audit trail and reports.

AST Module Benefits

• Saves hours of time and removes any subjectivity associated with manual zone reading
• Gives automatic comparison with EUCAST breakpoint values
• Displays Expert rules
• Produces rapid, objective interpretation of results
• Gives a guidance for antibiotic treatment options
• Integrates into GLP and GMP environments with full traceability

Why buy this product?

High throughput

ProtoCOL 3 is typically used when large numbers of plates need to be counted or measured rapidly and accurately. The ProtoCOL 3 is therefore perfect for high throughput applications. All counting and measuring functions are automatic with results instantly sent to the internal reporting system.

Color imaging

The unique LED lighting in the system gives full color images. The color classification feature of the ProtoCOL 3 software allows for an infinite range of color options on the same plate. A choice of sample holders is included for both light and dark backgrounds, depending on sample type.

Wide range of
applications

The system can be configured for a wide range of plate types. These include pour plates, spiral plates, multi-well, SBA, OPKA, Ames, inhibition zones, AST and SRD. Plates up to 150mm can be used on the standard unit, while an optional external scanning device can be added should larger plates need to be processed.

Extensive report
generation

One of the major benefits of an automated system is that reports can be generated within the device. ProtoCOL 3 will produce reports that can easily be exported to Excel at the touch of a button.

Traceability

All the data generated has a full audit trail. All report generation is traceable and has an audit ‘lock’. Data is CFR compliant and the system can be connected to a LIMS if required.

Sensitivity

ProtoCOL 3 uses a highly sensitive CCD camera with a high resolution. Colonies as small as 43 microns (0.043mm) can be easily counted and zones can be accurately measured to 0.1mm.

Protos 3 is a revolutionary automated colony counter and chromogenic identification system. Using its sensitive CCD camera and unique lighting coupled with powerful analysis software, Protos 3 counts colonies in seconds and automatically identifies microbial species by their color on chromogenic plates. This provides accurate, objective and fully traceable results.

The compact Protos 3 attaches via USB to a computer, where microbiologists can input their plate identification and with the one-click colony counting and chromogenic ID software can rapidly analyze a wide range of plate types. The count results can be automatically transferred to Excel where the count, plate ID and images can be saved. This GLP compliant process, with its full audit trail eliminates transcription errors to provide accurate, objective data, which can be reviewed at any time and used to produce professional reports.

Protos 3 can be used with both small and large plates (up to 150mm) to read a range of format types including spiral, pour, spread and dilution series plates. The system’s camera is so sensitive, it can routinely detect colonies as small as 43 microns and the unique LED lighting system and Protos 3 software allows analysis of an infinite number of colonies on one plate in seconds, making this an ideal system for use in busy food and environmental microbiology laboratories.

Key Features:

Fully traceable results

• Can input plate identification using 1D or 2D barcode
• Automatic capability to transfer and print results and images
• Saves counts to Excel to eliminate keying errors
• Saves images in TIFF, Excel and report formats
• Archives results in accessible SQL database

Increases throughput

• Accurately detects colonies as small as 0.043 mm
• Precisely counts an infinite number of individual colonies in seconds
• Analyzes 75 plates in 5 minutes

Excellent detection performance

• True color recognition using unique 3 color lighting
• Identifies multiple colony colors on one plate
• Analyzes all plate colors with a choice of light and dark backgrounds
• Classifies by size, color and shape
• Objectively identifies species by color on CHROMagar™

Reproducible results

• Provides objective color results
• Eliminates keying errors with direct results transfer
• Automatically identifies species on chromogenic plates

Simple to use

• Intuitive software
• Corrects for agar defects, touching colonies or sample debris
• Marks colonies with symbols to show each counted
• Easy to exclude areas from a count
• Adjustable counting area

Multiple plate reading functions

• Pour plates
• Spiral plates
• Multi-sector plates
• Gridded plates
• Streak plates
• Dilution series plates
• Species identification
• Large plates (up to 150mm)

Specs:

Construction

Ergonomic housing constructed in high density foam Integral CCD camera and lens

Light shield

2 sliding doors to prevent excessive ambient light

Camera

1.4m pixel scientific grade CCD camera USB integral camera with f1.2 lens

Resolution

For standard 90mm plates, smallest detectable colony is 43 microns

Imaging

3 channel capture for color images

Lighting

Unique 3 channel (red, green, blue) LED lighting (patent pending) Multi-array LED lighting (computer controlled) Lower lighting with upper reflective lighting for all applications

Detection modes

Colony counting and Chromogenic ID

Count modes

Separation of touching colonies, exclusion areas, color mode, shape mode, size mode

Software

Win7/10 compatible

Database

SQL database stores all data and image locations

Dimensions

450mm(h) x 500mm(d) x 400mm(w)

Weight

20 kg