Automated microbiology.
Enumeration + detection.
The full microbiology panel in 3 days — automated enumeration and real-time PCR detection.
Automated enumeration and real-time PCR replace subjective, manual judgment calls with automated, standardized science — so every result holds up to scrutiny, every time.
Enumeration and detection, both automated
Quantitative counts and qualitative pathogen screening — the complete microbiology picture, without the manual variability.
Automated MPN enumeration
Condenses the gold-standard multi-tube MPN method into a single automated card. Dilution, filling, and reading happen in one closed system — no manual counts.
Enumeration · Automated MPN
3 days- Aerobic mesophilic total flora (incl. thermophilic 55 °C)
- Bacillus cereus
- Campylobacter
- Coliforms
- E. coli
- Enterobacteriaceae
- Lactic acid bacteria
- Staphylococcus (coag +)
- Yeast & mold
Real-time PCR detection
Molecular detection of foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms. our validated PCR assay is AOAC-validated as statistically equivalent to FDA and USP reference methods.
Pathogen detection · PCR
1–2 days- Salmonella spp.
- Salmonella Typhimurium / Enteritidis
- Listeria spp.
- Listeria monocytogenes
- E. coli O157:H7
- STEC / EHEC
- Cronobacter
- Campylobacter spp.
- Enterobacterales
- Aspergillus
Built for supplements. Our optimized Automated Enumeration + Real-Time PCR workflow uses AOAC-validated assays statistically equivalent to USP and FDA reference methods — designed for the complex matrices of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals.
3
days — full microbiology panel
PCR pathogen detection in as few as 1–2 days.
5–7+
days, often
Longer hold times mean more cost and slower release.
Accuracy that's proven, not promised
Automation removes the human error sources — dilutions, pipetting, and plate-reading — that quietly undermine traditional microbiology.
Accuracy that's proven, not promised
Automated enumeration condenses the gold-standard multi-tube MPN method into a single automated card with an extended reading range. Real-time PCR goes further — our validated PCR assay is AOAC-validated as statistically equivalent to both FDA and USP reference methods.
Precision built into every card
it automates dilution, filling, and reading in a single closed system — the guesswork of manual pipetting and visual plate-reading disappears, replaced by validated, repeatable performance backed by a formal precision dossier.
Consistency your team can rely on
No result-to-result drift based on who's reading the plate. Automated fluorescence detection calls it the same way every time — freeing your analysts to focus on judgment that actually needs a human.
Reproducibility that travels
Different day, different operator, different shift — automated enumeration's automated workflow delivers results your team and your customers can trust to match, run after run.
Automated platforms vs. dry-film plating
How automated enumeration and real-time PCR compare with Petrifilm on the factors that drive accuracy, labor, and throughput.
| Dimension | Petrifilm (dry-film) | Vertex · Automated Enumeration + Real-Time PCR |
|---|---|---|
| Automation | Low–moderate; manual inoculation & reading | High; automated filling, reading & MPN calculation |
| Hands-on labor | Higher — manual plating per sample | Lower — single card load, no manual reading |
| Reading subjectivity | Moderate — visual colour/gas interpretation | Low — automated optical / fluorescence call |
| Throughput at scale | Scales with manual labor; bottlenecks at volume | Scales well — minimal operator time per sample |
| Data integration | Limited natively; needs add-on reader | Native automated data capture & export |
Comparison of method categories for general guidance. Petrifilm® is a trademark of its respective owner; validation and fit vary by organism and matrix.
Methods
- Automated MPN enumeration
- Automated real-time PCR
- our validated real-time PCR assay assay
- Culture-based confirmation where required
Matrices
- Botanicals & Fungi
- Powders & Blends
- Beverages
- Capsules, Tablets, Softgels, Gummies
- Environmental samples
Turnaround
3 days
full microbiology panel
PCR pathogen detection: 1–2 days · Rush available
Rapid microbiology FAQ
Automated automated enumeration and Real-Time PCR detection shorten time-to-result — the full microbiology panel in 3 days, versus 5–7+ for conventional culture. Both platforms automate reading, removing the manual pipetting and visual plate-interpretation that Petrifilm-style dry-film methods still rely on.
Automated enumeration condenses the gold-standard multi-tube MPN enumeration method into a single automated card. It automates dilution, filling, and reading in a closed system — eliminating the manual dilutions and colony counts that are the main sources of error and variability in traditional microbiology.
PCR pathogen detection can be as fast as 1–2 days, and the full microbiology panel returns in 3 days. Rush service is available — ask about your specific panel.
Yes. Our workflows use AOAC-validated assays — our validated real-time PCR assay is validated as statistically equivalent to both FDA and USP reference methods. our validated PCR assay, automated enumeration and real-time PCR are trademarks of their respective owners.
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