Countess Automated Cell Counter Features

When you let an automated device count cells for you, you have to trust that it’s as accurate and precise as you are—or better. Accuracy means that it will count the cells correctly, and precision means that it will produce the same result every time, no matter who operates it.

Incorporates artificial intelligence. You can trust the Countess 3 (brightfield) and Countess 3 FL (brightfield and fluorescence) Automated Cell Counters because they were developed using a deep-learning neural network algorithm to generate accurate brightfield- or fluorescent-mode counts every time. The algorithm was taught to recognize cells by expert cell biologists based on hundreds of plates containing dozens of different cell types and sample conditions.

The result is a cell counter that “thinks” like a cell biologist, even for challenging cell samples like peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), clumpy cells, and samples with debris. On the high-resolution Countess screen, you can see the cells that are being counted and the debris that is not.

Compared to manual hemocytometer counts, automated cell counting with Countess 3 instruments can reduce data errors and variability from many causes, including operator subjectivity and fatigue, counting area, and challenging samples. Countess 3 cell counters achieve both the accuracy of manual cell counts and the precision of flow cytometer counts, without the expense or training required by flow cytometry.

Expands the counting area. To save time during manual counts, many operators count only one or two squares on a hemocytometer grid. Counting more squares (a larger area) typically achieves more accurate results, but it takes extra time. Countess 3 Automated Cell Counters interrogate an area of almost four squares, increasing accuracy by reducing the effects of cell distribution variation. And they can complete autofocus, autolighting, image capture, and counting in less than 30 seconds.

Manages cell clumping and debris. Clumped cells can be challenging to count manually, or even with automated counters, because it’s difficult to discern borders between the cells. Samples that contain debris add further complexity to counting. Countess 3 Automated Cell Counters automatically exclude debris from cell counts and their advanced algorithms can clearly identify cell boundaries within cell clumps, resulting in highly accurate cell counts.

Reports cluster analysis. In addition to identifying singlets within cell clumps, Countess 3 Automated Cell Counters detect these cell clusters to further measure the total percent aggregation within a sample. The on-screen display uniquely distinguishes aggregates with a different color compared to the singlet cell to reflect the identification, and brightfield mode provides visual confirmation of cells within each aggregate.

Counting cells in brightfield mode with a Countess 3 or Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counter is simple and easy. Simply prepare the slide, enable Rapid Capture and Autosave, and insert the slide. The instrument does the rest automatically: illuminate, focus, and count.

Automated cell counting is not only simpler and less tedious than manual counting, it also requires less training. 

Responsive touchscreen and intuitive interface. The Countess 3 Automated Cell Counter software is intuitive and easy to navigate. The responsive LCD touch screen doesn’t require an external computer. The screen’s 1280 x 800 resolution provides high-quality cell images, which can be supplemented with aids for identifying live/dead cell counts and, with the Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counter, the ability to visualize fluorescence. The display is flush across the instrument, making it easy to keep clean. 

Disposable Invitrogen Countess Cell Counting Chamber Slides remain available, eliminating the need to clean the reusable slide and wait for it to dry between cell samples. The disposable slides are convenient for quickly processing cell samples when there are many to process, or to simplify the disposal of contaminated or hazardous samples.

The Countess SAE Software Solution is an optional software module that supports electronic record-keeping that is compliant with the US Food and Drug Administration’s Electronic Records and Signatures Rule, Part 11 of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR Part 11). This rule defines the requirements for use of electronic documents in place of paper documents. 

21 CFR part 11 compliance is composed of both procedural and technical requirements.  

• Procedural requirements are the standard operating procedures established by the end user’s institution.  

• Technical requirements are the functional characteristics of the compliance management software used.  

Satisfying the technical requirements does not guarantee 21 CFR part 11 compliance alone.  Compliance is the consequence of both the institution’s work process and systems used.

Capabilities of the software include restriction of unauthorized users, password policies and expiration dates, defined user permissions and roles, tracking of all data changes through an audit log, audit reports, and on-board e-signature workflows. All Countess 3 and Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counters can run in SAE Mode after purchase of the Countess SAE Software License. To achieve 21 CFR Part 11 compliance, your institution will also need to establish and document standard operating procedures in a compliant way.

The SAE Administrator Console is the component of the Countess SAE Software Solution for 21 CFR Part 11 Compliance Support that allows configuration of the Countess instrument to meet user-specific requirements. Another component, the Countess Application Profile, must be installed on the SAE Admin Console before the SAE settings on the Countess instrument can be used. Once the Countess Application Profile software is installed on the SAE Administrator Console, an SAE server (network computer) is used to connect to the Countess instrument. The SAE Admin Console must operate from a network computer with a static IP address. 

The Countess SAE Software License for 21 CFR Part 11 is for use with the Countess 3 and Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counters and supports compliance with 21 CFR Part 11 FDA guidelines for security, auditing, and e-signatures (SAE) using the SAE Admin Console. One SAE Software License is required to activate SAE Mode on each Countess Automated Cell Counter.  

The SAE Admin Console software allows 21 CFR Part 11 support by enabling the SAE Mode on the Countess instrument. When SAE Mode is enabled, the Countess instrument connects to the SAE Admin Console via the SAE server. Security, Audit and E-signature settings, as defined in the SAE Admin Console, are implemented on the Countess instrument.  

Features include restriction of unauthorized users to the system, password policies and expiration dates, defined user permissions and roles, tracking of all data changes through audit log, available audit reports, and on-board e-signature workflows. All Countess 3 and Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counters can run in SAE Mode through purchase of the Countess SAE Software License.

Access is restricted to authorized personnel via user ID and password. 

The auditing function of the SAE Admin Console tracks actions by users and any changes to SAE settings. Actions tracked silently include signing in and out, image acquisition, and image exports.

Within the auditing function, there are options to select specific user actions to audit and whether the audits will be silent, optional, or required. In addition, reports can be generated for user actions, SAE module changes, and software or instrument actions and events.

The e-signature function of the SAE Admin Console determines the functions for which users must fulfill signature requirements.  

Within the e-signature function, you can configure how many users in different roles must sign each e-signature event. You can also create separate meanings and customize the signature requirements for each.

Countess 3 Automated Cell Counters do much more than simply count cells. With trypan blue staining, you can assess the percentage of cells in your sample that are viable. Or, by staining your samples with one of the many fluorescent dyes that can be detected with the Countess 3 FL system, you can perform more sophisticated viability analysis, detect different stages of apoptosis and cell death, measure transfection efficiency, and much more. 

Single-cell data. Countess 3 cell counters analyze and store data for every cell in your sample. You can zoom in on any cell and display its size, brightness, circularity, and fluorescence values. You can also generate a dot-plot in Flow Cytometry Standard (FCS) format and analyze, transform, and reformat the data in many flow cytometry software analysis programs.

Counting isolated nuclei. Nuclei isolation allows characterization of heterogeneity among samples for single-cell assays like gene expression or ATAC sequencing. The Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counter enables small object counting of as small as 3 microns when using fluorescence-only counting mode to facilitate an accurate count of isolated nuclei for downstream applications.

Diverse cell lines and cell samples. Because Countess 3 counting algorithms have been trained on a diverse set of cell samples, you can be confident that your cells will be counted accurately. The table shows cell types and cell lines that have been tested and verified on the Countess 3 and Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counters. 

To use the Countess SAE Software Solution with your Countess 3 Automated Cell Counter, you can purchase a software license independently or as part of a bundled Countess 3 FL instrument and software license package.