Millipore Corporation, a US supplier of technologies for the life sciences industry, has introduced the Scepter handheld automated cell counter, which it claims is a "breakthrough" for scientists.
"Unlike any other cell counter, this handheld device provides researchers with a simple and affordable automated option for counting cells and monitoring the health of their cultures," said John Sweeney, vice president of Millipore's life science business.
Scepter miniaturises Coulter cell counting technology found in larger instruments into a portable device that looks and works like a pipette. The instrument contains electronics for cell sensing, signal processing and data storage. A graphical display reports the cell count and average cell volume within 20 seconds of inserting the tip into a cell culture sample.
Currently, cells are typically counted manually under a microscope using a hemocytometer. However, loading a hemocytometer can be a tedious task and operator skill can affect the accuracy and precision of results. Although automated cell counters are available, Millipore says these benchtop instruments are not portable and are more expensive than the Scepter.
In addition to showing cell counts and average cell volume, the instrument displays a histogram of cell distribution by volume or diameter, which can provide an instant snapshot of the health of the culture. Up to 72 histograms can be stored on the instrument or downloaded to a computer.
The Scepter instrument will be commercially available during the first quarter of 2010.