News, trends, and insights from the world of labware and laboratory instrumentation.

While water activity (aw) analysis has been an established standard in the food industry for decades to ensure safety and quality, its adoption in the pharmaceutical sector is undergoing a decisive turning point. The introduction of dedicated chapters in international pharmacopoeias has transformed the measurement of water activity from a simple optional test into a critical control parameter for drug stability, safety, and formulation.

The activity of reading plates in the laboratory can be particularly demanding when performed for prolonged and repetitive periods. The operator is exposed to a significant visual load due to the need to observe and interpret plates with high attention, often maintaining static postures and repeating the same movements over long periods. Added to this are eye strain, stress on the cervical muscles and upper limbs, and a progressive decrease in concentration, which can affect both operator well-being and reading accuracy. 

A particularly effective solution consists of introducing automated plate reading and interpretation systems capable of capturing images, analyzing samples in a standardized manner, and supporting the operator in identifying and classifying results.

The Scan 3000 AI and Scan 5000 AI automatic colony counters from Interscience use artificial intelligence to automate and standardize this analysis phase, making plate reading faster, more repeatable, and traceable.

In the brewing process, yeast is the true engine of fermentation. However, to achieve fast, reproducible, and fault-free fermentations, simply knowing how many cells are alive is not enough.

Effective yeast control also requires evaluating its cellular vitality, which means assessing the physiological and metabolic state of the cells and their actual ability to properly initiate and sustain fermentation.

The Amphasys Ampha X10 analyzer, available through Sacco System Labware, uses Impedance Flow Cytometry (IFC) to quickly analyze yeast without dyes or reagents, providing objective data on vitality, live/dead cell ratio, concentration, and cell size.

As of 1 July 2026, Regulation (EU) 2024/2895 has entered into application, amending Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 and strengthening the microbiological criteria regarding the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods.

This regulatory update particularly affects ready-to-eat products, or RTE, capable of supporting the growth of the microorganism during storage. For food businesses, it becomes even more crucial to have reliable data to classify the product, validate its shelf life, and demonstrate the maintenance of microbiological safety until the end of the declared storage period.

Testing for Bacillus cereus in food represents an important step in microbiological control programs, especially for companies processing raw materials or products subjected to cooking, cooling, storage, or handling following heat treatment.

Thanks to Neogen's Petrifilm™ Bacillus cereus Count Plate, laboratories can now perform the enumeration of microorganisms belonging to the Bacillus cereus sensu lato group through a faster and more standardized procedure compared to traditional culture methods.