BugLab Launches Optical Density Sensor for Academic and Industrial Applications

BugLab has launched the world’s first handheld sensor that measures optical density. This novel sensor directly detects the substances in a container via its walls without opening the container. This reduces the risk of contamination or exposure to the contents and also eliminates the requirement for dilution and sampling.

The handheld sensor gives accurate results for vessels made up of polycarbonate, glass or polyethylene terephthalate and having a size range of between 125 and 2000 mL. The sensor can be used to detect small volumes of up to 1 cm and can document approximately 1000 measurements, which can be downloaded later. The measurement and time tracking number are also recorded along with the data for easy use.

The optical density sensor is tested to determine the volume of microorganisms including E.coli, yeast and animal cell culture within a closed container. The investigators found that the method was effective and the results were precise. They concluded that the sensor can be used in biofuels, industrial, academic and biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing applications.