Handheld Device Revolutionizes Cell Counting

A remarkable handheld cell counter and analyzer is now commercially available and is being shipped to researchers worldwide.

Before-sale information regarding the Millipore (Billerica, MA, USA) "Scepter Handheld Automated Cell Counter” generated excitement in the community of researchers working with cell cultures.

The instrument, which looks and feels much like an electronic pipette, reports the cell count and average cell volume within 20 seconds of inserting the sensor into a cell culture sample.

The Scepter tip draws precisely 50 μL of sample into its liquid handling microchannel. By drawing a precise volume every time, the Scepter cytometer ensures reproducible counts. By sampling accurate volumes, the Scepter cytometer eliminates pipetting errors and uneven sample loading that can occur with other devices. The tip has a precision drilled orifice through which cells pass, one by one, and are counted based on the Coulter principle of impedance changes across a steady current, which is established by the electrodes in the tip. The consistent size of the orifice ensures accurate cell size and volume data.

In addition to a raw count and cell concentration, the Scepter screen displays a histogram showing the population distribution of the culture. The real-time histogram monitors changes in the health and quality of the cell culture from one cell preparation to the next.

The Scepter can be connected to a personal computer with the included USB cable. Uploaded data may be manipulated through the Scepter software to view histograms on the computer screen. Histograms can be saved as raw files or can be imported into Microsoft Excel to merge counts, overlay histograms for comparison, or perform statistical analyses of the data.

"We continue to move aggressively to bring innovation and productivity enhancements to the life science research market,” said John Sweeney, vice president of Millipore's life science business. "With the introduction of the Scepter instrument, we now have a range of tools that help life scientists simplify tedious, repetitive tasks and improve the reproducibility of their experiments.”

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