Romer Labs CytoQuant flow cytometer

CytoQuant is a handheld, mobile impedance flow cytometer. Using a simple swab test, users can detect and measure all bacteria and residues on food processing surfaces in 30 s.

Food safety depends largely on the cleaning and disinfection practices of food manufacturing facilities. The absence of bacteria (like Salmonella and Listeria) in food processing environments is essential for preventing illness and increasing shelf life and quality of food products. Current test methods, like ATP swabs, are a useful indicator of cleaning efficacy but do not tell the user if surfaces are properly disinfected. Traditional plate count methods also have limitations in that they take days to return a result and only 1% of all bacteria is culturable. CytoQuant enables the detection of all bacteria with an intact cell wall, and the results are available on-site instantly.

Bacterial cells have a non-conductive cell membrane and a conductive cytoplasm. It’s these unique electrical properties which act as a fingerprint allowing the device to distinguish between bacteria and all other particles in a sample. The device is designed to give separate, precise results for bacteria (intact cells/mL) and residues (particles/mL).

Simple to use, the test can be performed by anyone and requires no special training. Measurements are not influenced by disinfectants or temperature and there is no need for pre-treatment, incubation or chemical reagents.

It can be used as a tool by QC managers to make fast and informed decisions during food production and improve the efficiency of their cleaning procedures.

The product has been developed and manufactured by Romer Labs and is available in Australia exclusively through Vendart Diagnostics.