Sysmex Europe GmbH and vermicon AG, have entered into a business partnership. The first result of this alliance, a combination of flow cytometry and gene probe technology known as the “Flow VIT® Solution” detection system, will provide highly sensitive and sector-specific solutions for industrial microbiology with the aim of raising quality control to a new level.

For almost 50 years, Sysmex Partec GmbH, a subsidiary of the Sysmex Corporation, has been developing modern high-performance flow cytometers and, as a global expert and market leader, pioneered the establishment and development of this measurement technology. Using VIT® (vermicon identification technology) gene probe technology, vermicon AG has been active in developing and distributing innovative and powerful solutions for industrial microbiology for 20 years. This analysis technique delivers fast and highly specific identification, visualisation and quantification of microorganisms.

Sysmex Partec GmbH, Sysmex Europe GmbH and vermicon AG have already been cooperating closely for several years to create new microbiology solutions by combining the gene probe technology VIT® with flow cytometry. Sysmex Europe GmbH and vermicon AG present the Flow VIT® Solution to demonstrate the official start of their international cooperation. The goal of this new detection system is to raise microbiological quality control to a new level and to enable fast and cost-efficient monitoring of production processes.

Dr Jiri Snaidr, founder and CEO of vermicon AG: “VIT® gene probe technology allowed us to set new standards regarding speed and specificity of microbiological detection methods. By collaborating with Sysmex Europe and Sysmex Partec GmbH, the pioneer in flow cytometry, we are creating new technologies which will also deliver fast and automated evaluation of analysis results. This cooperation opens completely new avenues in modern microbiological quality control.”

Dr Martin Heiden, Director Flow Cytometry, Sysmex Europe GmbH, adds: “The industrial microbiology market requires fast, specific and automated systems that can be relied upon in a variety of applications. With vermicon AG, the founder of industrial gene probe technology, we have the support of a partner with whom we are going to develop highly effective all-in-one-systems for our targeted market segments.”

Sysmex Europe GmbH and vermicon AG are working together to establish the Flow VIT® Solution as a key technology for industrial microbiology. The first application for the beverage industry – Flow VIT® Alicyclobacillus – is now available on the market and enables manufacturers in the beverage industry to quickly and reliably detect microbial causes of off-flavors. This increases the quality of beverage products and prevents economically damaging product recalls.

Through the new partnership, both partners are working continuously to further improve microbiological quality control with the Flow VIT® Solution.