Advantages of BactoBox®

Easier than Flow Cytometry 

In less than 60 minutes new users can learn to operate BactoBox® and start experiments. 

Works for All Bacteria

BactoBox® can measure nearly all bacterial species, including those that are difficult to stain.

Faster and More Affordable 

BactoBox® has no incubation steps in the workflow and is priced at around $10,000.

Affordable and Effortless

BactoBox® offers an easy-to-use solution for rapid bacteria measurement. With its compact design BactoBox fits in even tight labs and cabinets.

The user-friendly interface guide the user to next step, minimizing training required to achieve highly precise total bacteria counts in minutes.

BactoBox® offers the simplicity close to that of OD600 paired with the capabilities close to those of fluorescence flow cytometry. 

Correlation to Fluorescence Flow Cytometry

Together with Probiotical S.p.A. and Advanced Analytical Technologies Srl, we investigated the comparability of fluorescence flow cytometry and BactoBox® when measuring viable bacterial concentrations.

Our study revealed a close match between these methods, with minor variability due to different labs and operators. BactoBox®'s operator-independent design ensures reliable results. Plate count data and the colony forming unit results align with fluorescence flow cytometry and BactoBox for most samples, but emphasizes the need for advanced flow cytometry-based techniques to complement traditional methods and their shortcomings.

Viable bacterial concentrations are in excellent agreement when measured with FFC and BactoBox. The height of the grey bars represents average active fluorescent units (AFU) for fluorescence flow cytometry. The white bars represent plate counts (CFUs), and the violet bars represent BactoBox intact cell concentrations (ICC). Individual data points are shown with crosses. Error bars represent standard deviation.

Impedance Flow Cytometry Explained

BactoBox® utilizes impedance flow cytometry to analyze bacterial membrane intactness at varying electrical measurement frequencies.

By examining the electrical properties of bacterial cells, BactoBox® can differentiate between living and dead bacteria based on their ability to conduct electricity. 

The BactoBox® approach to quantifying viable bacteria bears similarities to live/dead staining kits used in conjunction with fluorescence flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.

By evaluating the intactness of cell membranes, BactoBox® produces a unique signal that indicates the viability of bacterial cells.

BactoBox uses impedance flow cytometry to analyze membrane intactness at various frequencies, differentiating live bacteria with intact lipid membranes from dead ones with compromised membranes. Fluorescence flow cytometry (FFC) with commonly available cell viability kit employs Thiazole Orange (TO) and Propidium Iodide (PI) stains, which fluoresce green and red for viable and non-viable bacteria, respectively.

Enumerate Bacteria with BactoBox®

Please submit your contact and application details using the form below. A specialist from our team will contact you within one business day to discuss the technical compatibility of BactoBox® with your needs and outline potential trial opportunities. Alternatively, reach out directly to our CEO, Gustav.

Gustav Skands

CEO & Co-founder
[email protected]
+45 2076 5773

Explore Trial Opportunities