A compact benchtop desitometer designed to help life scientists accurately measure cell concentration in fermentation processes has been developed by UK-based Grant Instruments.
The Grant-bio DEN-1 densitometer is factory calibrated and able to measure turbidity in the range of 0.3 to 5.0 McFarland units with a small standard deviation. The range can be extended up to 15 McFarland units but with a concomitant increase in the standard deviation. It can also be user calibrated with commercial standards or cell suspensions prepared in the laboratory. Accurate to ±3%, the unit features a light diode at 565nm wavelength and boasts a measurement time of around one second per sample.
Typical applications for the new densitometer include detecting the susceptibility of micro-organisms to antibiotics, identifying micro-organisms with various test systems, and measuring optical density at fixed wavelength.
The DEN-1 measures 165 x 115 x 75mm, has a bright two-digit LED display and is compatible with 16 or 18mm test tubes. The unit is mains powered; a battery-powered version will be available in the near future.
Speaking about the product, Rob Thorburn, commercial manager for Scientific Products at Grant, said: "It will be popular with life scientists and microbiologists working in the general laboratory as well as those in the brewing industry. Also, because the wavelength monitored is 565nm, the DEN-1 is ideal for industrial customers that need to monitor processes that involve dyes or solutions that absorb green light."