Synbiosis Novel Application of åCOLyte Colony Counter - Improves Quality Control at AstraZeneca

21st May 2003 Cambridge, UK: Synbiosis, a world-leading manufacturer of automated microbiological systems, is pleased to announce that major pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca is using an åCOLyte automated colony counter to save time when acquiring and sending high quality images of culture plates.

Microbiologists at AstraZeneca in Macclesfield, UK are using åCOLyte to automatically capture images of pour and contact plates showing contaminants isolated from pharmaceutical products, water and environmental samples. These images are emailed to production managers, where they are used to assess whether the sterility levels of manufacturing sites are acceptable. 

Karen Capper, a Quality Manager in the Microbiology Department at AstraZeneca explained: “Since many microbiologists in this department are not experts in photography, we found it difficult and time consuming to set up the digital camera to produce consistently good plate images. Therefore, three members of our team were trained to use the camera to take photographs. They did this in batch on a weekly basis, a process that took around one-two hours a week. The problem with this was positive plates were not being photographed immediately and we were worried that plant staff were not being alerted to contamination as soon as they could be.” 

“We chose åCOLyte because it offered a simple, affordable way of acquiring QC plate images. As a result, our alerting process is better because everyone finds åCOLyte easy to use so results are photographed and emailed as they come out of the incubator. This gives plant personnel a much better idea of what corrective action to take before contamination problems escalate,” Ms Capper added. 

Simon Johns, International Product Manager for Synbiosis commented: “We are pleased to see åCOLyte being used by a leading pharmaceutical company in such an innovative way. Their work shows the system is a cost-effective alternative to a light box and digital camera arrangement, which can help save microbiologists in any QC environment valuable time when capturing and sending plate images.”
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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 site: www.synbiosis.com 

Karen Capper, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield Works, Charterway, Hurtsfield Estate, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2NA, UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 1625 582828 Fax: +44 (0) 1625 422266
Email: karen.capper@astrazeneca.com  www.astrazeneca.com 


Editor Contact:
Dr Sue Pearson, 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. Synbiosis’s ProtoCOL and åCOLyte 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 55 people in its UK and US subsidiary operation and has profitable revenue of almost $10 million, which continues to grow rapidly.

About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of ethical (prescription) pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the world with healthcare sales of over $17.8 billion and leading positions in sales of oncology, gastroenterology, anaesthesia (including pain management), cardiovascular, central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory products.