Personal image-based cell analyzers integrate the basic principles of high-end cellular imagers and flow cytometry systems into compact, lower-cost instruments, which are oftentimes designed for multiparameter cellular analysis. These instruments utilize fluorescence or trypan blue as the primary form of detection, allowing scientists to detect and obtain a wide array of cellular parameters, including cell count, concentration, viability, apoptotic status and cell cycle, among others.

Sales of personal image-based cell analyzers have been growing in recent years, as they give scientists an advantage in cell analysis accuracy and speed over the labor-intensive, manual and error-prone cellular-imaging and hemocytometry methods. Although these systems do not directly compete with high-end flow cytometers and high-content imagers, they can provide much of the same cellular data at a fraction of the price. Another benefit of personal image-based cell analyzers is their small footprint, which increases portability, saves lab space, and allows researchers to use them in fume hoods and incubators.

Due to the novelty of the technology, there are only a handful of vendors in this market. Invitrogen’s (Life Technologies) Tali and Millipore’s (Merck) Muse are two of the personal image-based cell analyzers that are available. The Tali is an image-based fluorescent cytometer, which analyzes cells in suspension and can detect cells with diameters of 5–60 µm. The system uses only 25 µL of sample and has an approximate run time of up to 75 seconds. The Tali is priced at less than $15,000, which also includes 50 cellular analysis slides.

The Muse, similar to the Tali, uses laser-based fluorescence detection and can simultaneously evaluate up to three cellular parameters. The system has an acquisition speed of 1–2 minutes but, unlike the Tali, uses a tube-based sample format. The system is capable of analyzing both adherent cells and cells in suspension.

Roche’s Cedex XS system utilizes the trypan blue exclusion method to provide cellular analysis data, including cell concentration and viability. The system requires a sample volume of 10 µL and can analyze cells with diameters ranging from 2 µm to 180 µm, with an acquisition time of less than 30 seconds. Digital Bio offers the JuLi live-cell analyzer. It can fit in an incubator, with applications ranging from live-cell imaging to cell viability determination.

The market for personal image-based cell analyzers is still small but growing rapidly. Two of the biggest growth drivers for this market are the systems’ cost and compactness, which is especially attractive to budget-conscious researchers who are not ready to invest in high-end cellular content imagers or flow cytometers. The majority of sales growth for these low-cost imagers is expected to come from the academic market, particularly for basic research, and from the biotech markets.

Personal Image-Based Cell Analyzers at a Glance:

Leading Suppliers

• Roche

• Life Technologies

• Merck Millipore

Largest Markets

• Academia

• Government

• Biotechnology

Instrument Cost

• $5,000–$20,000