Invitrogen™ Countess™ 3 FL Automated Cell Counter 

Description

The Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counter is a benchtop brightfield and fluorescence cell counter with advanced optics, automated focus and lighting, and image analysis software driven by a neural network-based machine-learning algorithm for rapid automated cell counting of primary and immortalized cell lines. The Countess 3 FL counter allows brightfield or fluorescence cell counting with three-channel flexibility (brightfield and two optional fluorescence channels), enabling researchers to count cells and isolated nuclei, monitor fluorescence, examine apoptosis, and measure cell viability.

Features of the Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counter include:

• Accurate—highly accurate machine-learning algorithm applied to automated cell counting, eliminates the subjectivity of manual cell counting and user-to-user variability
• Flexible—accepts up to two EVOS light cubes, user selectable from fifteen fluorescent channels; compatible with both disposable and reusable cell counting chamber slides
• Fast—counts live and dead cells, measures viability, reports average cell size, calculates percent cell aggregates, and saves data with a single touch, in about 20 seconds
• Convenient—requires no cleaning, routine maintenance, or calibration; high-resolution capacitive touchscreen and simple user interface provide quick startup and requires minimal training
• Versatile—perform automated counting of single cells and isolated nuclei for RNA sequencing and gene expression applications in single-cell analysis workflows

The Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counter works in two simple steps:

1. Mix 10 μL of sample with 10 μL of trypan blue or other desired reagent, including ReadyCount stain, and pipet into a disposable or reusable Countess chamber slide.
2. Insert the slide into the instrument. Rapid Capture and Auto-Save modes allow automated cell counting with a single touch. Focus, lighting, and file saving are executed automatically.

Obtain accurate cell counts

The Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counter uses trypan blue staining combined with auto-focus and lighting driven by a machine-learning image analysis algorithm to obtain accurate cell and viability counts. The measurement range extends from 1 x 10⁴ to 1 x 10⁷ cells/mL (the optimal range is 1 x 10⁵ to 4 x 10⁶ cells/mL), which is broader than that of a hemocytometer.

Simple operation with fluorescent application versatility

Operated using an intuitive user interface, automated cell counting with the Countess 3 FL counter gives you the data you need to prepare your sample for the next passage or experiment and allows you to multiplex with a variety of fluorescent dyes and proteins excited and detected via EVOS light cubes. With both brightfield and fluorescence cell counting options, you can perform cell counts for routine cell culture applications along with more extensive fluorescence analysis of cells such as live vs. dead, nucleated vs. non-nucleated, and transfected vs. untransfected. You no longer need complex, expensive instruments to obtain reliable data.

Transfer data and images to your PC or cloud

Using the USB port on the Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counter and any USB drive, you can save your cell count results and images and transfer them to your PC. For your convenience, a USB drive and WiFi dongle are supplied with the Countess 3 FL instrument.

Improve downstream single-cell analysis

Ensure accurate single-cell analysis and RNA sequencing results by minimizing cell aggregates and obtaining precise viable cell counts. For optimal single-cell data output, use the percent cell aggregates on the Countess 3 FL to confirm <5% aggregates in the starting sample before single-cell analysis. Staining with fluorescent dyes such as the ReadyCount stains and using the Countess 3 FL-based count mode offers more accurate counts and viability measurements for samples with debris or out-of-focus cells in brightfield. The Countess 3 FL and ReadyCount stains are also recommended for counting isolated nuclei in scATAC-Seq studies. View the single cell and nuclei counting application note for more details.

The Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counter can be purchased as the instrument (Cat. No. AMQAF2000) or a variety of packages bundled with additional accessories, extended warranties, or software, such as the Countess 3 FL Starter Package (Cat. No. A49866), which includes:

• Countess FL Automated Cell Counter
• EVOS GFP and TexasRed light cubes
• Reusable slide
• 500 disposable slides with trypan blue

Extended warranty instrument and starter packages

The Countess 3 FL Automated Cell Counter comes with a standard 1-year warranty that covers all costs for shipping, parts, and labor for repairs. Service plans can be bundled with new instrument purchases in an extended warranty package that extends the standard warranty by 2 years for a total of 3. Additional years of coverage can also be purchased to extend the standard 1-year or extended 3-year warranty. The Countess 3 FL instrument and starter packages are offered with two different types of bundled extended warranty packages:

• 3-year Rapid Exchange (REX) Extended Warranty (1 year standard warranty + 2 years Rapid Exchange, 3 years total exchange entitlement)
  • Replacement shipped out in 1 business day for labs with critical timelines
  • Available with the instrument only (Cat. No. A49892) and the Countess 3 FL Starter Package (Cat. No. A50299)
• 3-year AB Repair Center (ABRC) Extended Warranty (1 year standard warranty + 2 years extended repair coverage)
  • Instrument repaired and returned in ~3 weeks for regulated labs required to maintain asset tagging consistency (loaner instrument shipped within 1 business day with upgrade to an ABRC Support Plus contract)
  • Available with the instrument only (Cat. No. A49893) and the Countess 3 FL Starter Package (Cat. No. A50303)

Countess 3 FL with 21 CFR Part 11 Software Module (Cat. No. AMQAF2001)

The included Countess 3 21 CFR Part 11 Software Module 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 electronic (SAE) signatures using an SAE administration console. The 21 CFR Part 11 software can also be purchased separately (Cat. No. A51025).