Automated Zone Measuring System used at Major Vaccine Company To Reduce the Timelines for Release of Flu Vaccines

17th July 2009: Cambridge, UK: Synbiosis, a world-leading manufacturer of automated microbiological systems, is delighted to announce that one of the world’s largest WHO pre-qualified vaccine suppliers, Bio Farma in Indonesia is using a ProtoCOL system to speed up the quality testing of its seasonal flu vaccines.

The ProtoCOL system is being used in the Quality Control Department at Bio Farma to rapidly measure inhibition zones on 16-zone SRD (Single Radial Immunodiffusion) plates of flu vaccines. Scientists at Bio Farma can now analyse 10 SRD plates in the time it would take to manually perform one analysis, while also producing a more accurate and reproducible indication of vaccine potency. This is ensuring Bio Farma can deliver its vaccines to healthcare professionals as, and when, they are needed.

Mrs Iin Susanti, Head of Quality Control at Bio Farma stated: “We originally tested influenza vaccine potency on SRD plates by measuring zones with a ruler. This was so time consuming that we knew we had to automate. We consulted scientists at the NIBSC and they recommended the ProtoCOL so we purchased the system in 2008.”

Mrs Susanti continued: “The ProtoCOL came with good IQ and OQ documentation and our local agent, Besha Analitika was very helpful so much so that we installed and validated the system’s performance to use it from August to October 2008 to test our seasonal vaccine batch. Using the ProtoCOL we measured thousands of zones on SRD plates in much less time than we did in 2007, which meant we released our vaccines to market sooner.”

Martin Smith of Synbiosis concluded: “There is only a short time when there is a large demand for seasonal flu vaccines, so we are pleased that our ProtoCOL automated zone sizing system is helping Bio Farma to maximise the market opportunity. Their excellent improvement in vaccine testing throughput confirms that a ProtoCOL automated zone sizing system can really benefit pharma and biotech companies looking to make flu vaccines available more rapidly.”

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For Further Information Contact:
Jayne Arthur, Synbiosis, Beacon House, Nuffield Road, Cambridge, CB4 1TF, UK.
Tel: +44(0) 1223-727125 Fax +44 (0) 1223-727101
Email: jayne.arthur@synbiosis.com  Web: www.synbiosis.com 

Mrs Iin Susanti, PT. Bio Farma, Jl. Pasteur no. 28, Bandung - 40181, Indonesia
Tel: +62-22-2033755 Fax: +62-22-2041306 Email: mail@biofarma.co.id
Web: www.biofarma.co.id

Editor Contact:
Dr Sue Pearson, Director, International Science Writer, PO Box 170, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3GD, UK.
Tel/Fax +44 (0) 1462-635327 Email: sue6.pearson@ntlworld.com

Note to Editors

About Synbiosis

Synbiosis is a world-leading supplier of integrated imaging solutions for automatic counting and analysis of microbial colonies and zone measurement. The ProtoCOL and åCOLyte systems from Synbiosis are installed in food, pharmaceutical, environmental and research microbiology laboratories world-wide. Synbiosis uses established distribution channels to market its products internationally.

Synbiosis, founded in 1998 is a division of the Synoptics Group based in Cambridge UK. The Group’s other divisions, Syncroscopy and Syngene, specialise in digital imaging solutions for microscopy and molecular biology applications respectively. Synoptics currently employs 40 people in its UK and US subsidiary operation.

About Bio Farma

Bio Farma, a state owned enterprise in Indonesia, is now one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturers and suppliers. The company, which is the sole supplier of all Indonesia’s WHO pre-qualified Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) basic childhood vaccines has a production capacity of around 1.1 billion doses.

Established in 1890, Bio Farma has supplied vaccines to many countries through UNICEF, PAHO, as well as other buyers since 1997 and currently employs 800 staff in Bandung in Indonesia.