Choice of Backgrounds Reduces Glare, Making Plate Counts Quick and EasySynbiosis, has announced its aCOLade, affordable, manual colony counter is being used at major UK food manufacturer, Pukka Pies, to ensure that their pies are top quality and free from microbial contaminants.The easy to use aCOLade colony counter is being used in the Onsite Microbiology Testing Laboratory at Pukka Pies to accurately count mixed colonies on TVC (Total Viable Count) plates, as well as bacterial colonies including coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter spp. and Clostridium perfringens on a range of different media. Scientists at Pukka Pies are able to perform so many different counts using the aCOLade because this versatile system has interchangeable backgrounds, as well as an adjustable plate ring, making it suitable for counting shiny colonies and colonies on different plate sizes.

Val Burton, Laboratory Supervisor at Pukka Pies said: "Our previous colony counter was white light based, which gave us a reflection problem, especially when we were counting white colonies on TVC media. We saw the aCOLade advertised as being anti-glare because it offers two different backgrounds and decided to give this counter a try in our lab."

Val continued: "We have been using the aCOLade for almost a year to count around 50 plates every day. The aCOLade is brilliant. The system is reliable, sensitive and has a nice viewing magnifying glass so suits our needs perfectly. We'd definitely re-order another aCOLade for colony counting."

Martin Smith of Synbiosis commented: "We're delighted that a pie manufacturer with such a good reputation for quality is using our technology to accurately ensure their products are in tip top condition. Their use of the aCOLade shows food microbiologists looking for a simple to use, inexpensive manual colony counter, which is versatile enough to use with a variety of different plate and colony types that aCOLade is a 'pukka' choice."