Synbiosis - New Colony Counting Study Shows åCOLyte SuperCount Matches Manual Counting for Accuracy

November 13 2003 Cambridge, UK: Synbiosis, a world-leading manufacturer of automated microbiological systems, is pleased to announce that independent research has verified the åCOLyte SuperCount automated colony counter is as accurate as manual counting for enumerating a variety of different bacterial colonies.

The study carried out at Don Whitley Scientific’s GLP compliant laboratories in Shipley, UK compared the åCOLyte SuperCount with manual counting to enumerate a range of bacterial colonies on opaque and clear agar plates. All the bacteria were serially diluted and spiral plated using a Whitley Automatic Spiral Plater (WASP). Colony counts were performed using both methods and the agreement between counts for each plate type was examined statistically using the paired T test.

Helen Jolliffe, Study Director at Don Whitley Scientific explained: “We plated bacteria such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, as well as a mixed population of unidentified organisms from raw minced beef onto a range of agars, including plate count agar, Columbia blood agar and nutrient agar.”

“We counted over 160 plates manually and with the åCOLyte SuperCount to ensure we had a representative sample size. Comparison of the counts showed there was no significant statistical difference between these counting methods, so we can confidently say the åCOLyte SuperCount can be used as an alternative to manual counting of spiral plates,” concluded Jolliffe.

Simon Johns, International Product Manager for Synbiosis added: “We are extremely pleased the åCOLyte SuperCount system has fared so well in this independent study. The report clearly shows automated counting does not compromise accuracy, and will give microbiologists using an åCOLyte SuperCount greater confidence in their results. The fact that it has been extensively tested with a range of commonly found bacteria and plate types, indicates it is an excellent time saving tool for any busy microbiology laboratory.”

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Steve Robertson, Business Development Manager, Don Whitley Scientific Limited, 14 Otley Road, Shipley,

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. Synbiosis’s ProtoCOL systems 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 50 people in its UK and US subsidiary operation and has profitable revenue of almost $10 million, which continues to grow rapidly.

Don Whitley Scientific Limited develops, manufactures and sells products for microbiological applications, as well as provides microbiological contract services to the public and private sectors. The Company based in Shipley, West Yorkshire, UK, was founded by Don Whitley in 1976 and remains an independent family owned business.

Don Whitley Scientific enjoys a wealth of experience in microbiology, design, engineering and marketing and has rapidly grown to be a major supplier of innovative equipment. In recognition of this, the Company was awarded Millennium Product status for both its MACS range of anaerobic and variable atmosphere workstations and its WASP spiral plater systems.