NanoEntek Automated Cell Counters: Enhancing Accuracy and Reproducibility in Cell Analysis
Accurate cell counting is a critical step in many fields of biological research and clinical diagnostics. It provides key information for applications ranging from cell culture maintenance and tissue engineering to drug development and cancer research. Historically, manual methods like hemocytometry have been widely used; however, automated cell counting systems have become the standard in modern laboratories due to their speed, precision, and ability to minimise human error. Among the various automated systems available, NanoEntek cell counters stand out for their their speed, the low sample volume needed and Fluorescence as an alternative to Trypan blue.
The shift toward automated cell counting
The adoption of automated cell counters has transformed cell counting workflows, relieving researchers and diagnosticians from the laborious and error-prone manual counting methods. Manual techniques, particularly hemocytometers, are prone to subjective errors, especially in samples with high cell densities or debris. They are also time-consuming and labour-intensive, impractical for high-throughput applications or when high accuracy is required.
Automated cell counters offer significant reproducibility, efficiency, and standardisation advantages, all of which are critical for modern scientific research. By eliminating the variability associated with manual counting, these systems provide more reliable results necessary for downstream applications like cell-based assays, therapeutic development, and clinical diagnostics.
Correlation of PBMCs total counting between flow cytometry, manual count and ADAMTM MC Plus & CellT Plus. Data were compared between flow cytometer and ADAMTM MC Plus & CellT Plus results in 20 different PBMCs concentration samples.
Data were compared between manual count and ADAMTM MC Plus results in 20 different PBMCs concentration samples (source: ADAM MC Plus & CellT Plus Brochure by NanoEntek).
Increasing precision through image-based counting technology
NanoEntek’s cell counters are designed around advanced image-based counting technology. Unlike impedance-based counters, which measure changes in electrical resistance to estimate cell count or manual methods that rely on visual inspection, NanoEntek’s counters capture high-resolution images of cells. These images are then analysed using sophisticated algorithms to count cells and assess viability accurately.
This approach is particularly beneficial for samples that are difficult to analyse using other methods, such as those containing small or irregularly shaped cells or samples with high debris content. Image-based technology minimises the impact of debris and allows for precise discrimination between live and dead cells, a crucial factor in applications like cell viability assays, which are fundamental in cytotoxicity studies and therapeutic research.
Source: Adam MC Plus & CellT Plus by NanoEntek
The power of fluorescence-based cell viability analysis
Fluorescence-based viability analysis surpasses the capabilities of standard bright-field counters. Fluorescent staining allows counters to accurately distinguish between live and dead cells by targeting cellular structures like DNA. This method provides a more precise and definitive assessment of cell health than trypan blue based counting. The fluorescence-based approach reduces the risk of miscounting, which is particularly important in applications requiring precise viability data, such as general cell culture or cell line development.
Source: ADAM MC Plus & CellT Plus Brochure by NanoEntek
Specialization in Mammalian Cell Counting
Automated cell counters are evaluated based on their accuracy in counting specific cell types, and this is where NanoEntek excels. NanoEntek cell counters are specifically designed for mammalian cells, ensuring their applicability in multi-disciplinary laboratories that focus on these cell types.
For instance, the ADAM series offers specialized models for various applications, including ADAM-CellT, which is optimized for T-cell counting. This specialization in mammalian cells makes NanoEntek counters particularly valuable for research fields such as cancer immunotherapy and vaccine production.
Automated cell counting and standardisation in research
The introduction of automation into cell counting workflows addresses one of the most critical issues in biological research: data reproducibility. Inconsistent data across laboratories and experiments is often due to variability introduced by manual processes. Automated cell counters, including those from NanoEntek, play a crucial role in promoting standardisation by ensuring consistent protocols and measurement parameters. This standardisation is essential for reproducibility, allowing experiments to be replicated with confidence across different studies, a vital requirement in large-scale clinical trials and multi-centre research collaborations.
NanoEntek’s counters, with their pre-defined and customisable protocols, contribute to this reproducibility. Users can save protocols for specific cell types or assays, ensuring consistent sample preparation, staining, and analysis, reducing variability arising from human error or differing user techniques.
Advanced liquid handling platforms, such as our Opentrons pipetting robots, can help reduce variability further and boost reproducibility.
A high-concentration (1.8E+07cells/mL) of PBMCs was diluted and a dilution series was counted by ADAM MC Plus & CellT Plus. It shows excellent dilution linearity and reproducibility (Source: ADAM MC Plus & Cell T Plus Brochure by NanoEntek).
Conclusion
The evolution of automated cell counting has significantly improved laboratory workflows by increasing accuracy, speed, and reproducibility while minimising human error and labour costs. The automated cell counters from NanoEntek, with their image-based technology, fluorescence capabilities, and versatile application range, offer considerable advantages over manual and competing automated systems.
NanoEntek Instruments
ADAM™ MC Plus
The ADAM™ MC Plus is a highly accurate automated fluorescence cell counter optimized for research and development applications. It features bright field and two fluorescent channels (AO/DAPI) to effectively measure total cell count, viability, and non-viable cells, while also analyzing cell size and aggregation ratio.
ADAM CellT Plus
The ADAM™ CellT Plus is specifically designed for cGMP production environments, offering the same advanced capabilities as the MC Plus. This machine ensures precise measurements of cell count and viability, making it ideal for regulatory-compliant production processes while maintaining high accuracy in cell analysis.
EVE HT™
The EVE™ HT is a high-throughput automated multi-sample cell counter designed to deliver accurate cell counts and viability measurements for up to 48 samples in just 3 minutes. Its efficiency makes it ideal for cell line development and large-scale production, effectively processing small sample volumes.
EVE™ HT FL
The EVE™ HT FL incorporates fluorescence capabilities, enabling enhanced analysis and differentiation of cell populations using specific fluorescent markers. This added functionality provides deeper insights into cell characteristics, making it an excellent choice for applications requiring precise population analysis alongside high-throughput efficiency.
JuLI™ Stage
The JuLI™ Stage is a compact, fully automated live cell imaging system designed for real-time monitoring within any standard CO₂ incubator. With multi-channel fluorescence and intuitive software, it simplifies time-lapse imaging and provides precise analysis across various cell culture formats, from plates to 3D spheroids. Perfect for efficiently tracking cell growth and confluence.
