Evaluation of Instrument to Instrument Performance of the Vi-CELL BLU Cell Viability Analyzer

Click here for an updated comparison of the Vi-CELL BLU and the Vi-CELL XR cell counter and analyzer.

Beckman Coulter is proud to introduce our new Vi–Cell BLU Cell Viability Analyzer. The Vi–Cell BLU leverages the key performance features of the Vi–CELL XR but incorporates many design improvements that our customers have requested over the years. While a seemingly straightforward application, automated cell counting performance can be influenced by a variety of conditions and variables arising from both the sample and instrument. It is therefore important to ensure that the instrument is performing within specifications so that any instrument variability can be eliminated from the sample measurements. However, this becomes more complicated when multiple instruments may be in operation within a department as instrument to instrument variability is possible. One of the key strengths of the Vi–CELL BLU is the ability to fine tune the performance to minimize variability between different instruments. This is particularly valuable in facilities that utilize multiple instruments but can also be important when instruments are occasionally shared between departments. Due to the primary use of the Vi–CELL instruments being within regulated and GMP manufacturing environments, it is critical that the new Vi–CELL BLU provide acceptable instrument to instrument performance. The following information and data serves to illustrate that the Vi–CELL BLU has improved instrument to instrument variability by comparing several instruments using a series of standard test samples.

Figure 1: New Vi–CELL BLU Cell Viability Analyzer.

Bead and Cell Counting Data Comparisons

Sample materials utilized

6602796 (lot 9747455F) Coulter CC L10 Standard, nominal 10 μm, Latex Particle (NIST Traceable), 1 x 15 mL

Cell Type Profile: BCI L10 Beads

Instrument Settings for Bead Analysis

Data were recorded as averages of 24 samples for each dilution on a 96 well plate.

Data were recorded as an average of 20 runs per sample and reported as the average ± standard deviation of the results. Instrument settings are given below.

Control Bead Results

Sample Type: L10 Size Beads Control (3 instruments with replicate plates) 

Figure 2: Bead counts for 4 dilutions of L10 cells for 3 instruments (A, B, C). 24 samples per dilution.

Cell Counting Analysis

In addition to bead standards the instruments were compared using a variety of standard cultured cells. The cells were prepared following dilution guidelines outlined by NIST (Evaluating the quality of a cell counting measurement process via a dilution series experimental design. Sarkar, Sumona et al. (2017) Cytotherapy , Volume 19, Issue 12, 1509 – 1521). Some cell were run without dilution Data analyzed using standard protocols for the cell type. Cell type parameters for the protocols are given below.

Instrument Settings for Bead Analysis

Cell Count Results

A dilution protocol of 8 serial dilutions of CHO cells was established to test cell counting performance over different concentration ranges. The lower range concentrations were 3 replicate plates were run on 3 Vi-CELL BLU instruments. Higher concentration ranges were run as 3 sets of replicate samples of 10 tubes per dilution using the carousel due to limited sample availability.

Figure 3: Cell Concentrations for 8 serial dilutions of CHO cells 3 replicate plates, 12 samples per dilution.

Figure 4: Cell Concentrations for 7 serial dilutions of CHO cells~2.6M-13M Range. 10 samples per dilution.

Additional sample plates were run using a smaller range of dilutions to confirm the performance of the instruments for both plate and carousel.

Plate runs were repeated 3 times within a 16 hr period using the same stock supply of cells run on the same instrument. During this period cell population increase is considered minimal and the source material for analysis effectively the same.

3 plates were run in triplicate on 3 different Vi–CELL BLU instruments (9 plates total, n = 864 samples). The data below shows the 3 runs from one instrument.

The data collected from these runs was subjected to an ANOVA analysis to determine the degree of variability between the runs and within each run across sample replicates. The results show no statistical significance (p value >90) between all runs, across all instruments. The data is presented as the average cell concentrations and viability for all concentrations.

The charts below shows the averages from each instrument for each dilution across all 3 replicates.

Replicate plates

Figure 5: Cell Concentration averages for 3 instruments for 3 replicate plate runs (96 samples each).

Replicate plates

Figure 6: Cell Viability Averages for 3 instruments for 3 replicate plate runs (96 samples each).

Results

The counting performance of the Vi–CELL BLU shows excellent linearity over several dilutions. As expected cell counts below 0.5M cells per mL do show a higher variability due to low overall numbers of cells per image frame. Even so the variability remains within allowable limits (10%) for instrument performance. When using standard L10 size beads the variability in counts is significantly lower due to the more uniform nature of the sample material.

Replicate samples across 3 instruments consistently show no statistical difference between the replicates of equivalent samples indicating the instruments are performing equivalently with the samples provided.

The Vi-CELL MetaFLEX and Vi-CELL BLU make a perfect pair. Discover the Vi-CELL MetaFLEX

A cellular environment can change quickly. The Vi-CELL MetaFLEX is a bioanalyte analyser that quickly monitors changes in cell metabolic activity. It utilises thick film technology and miniaturised sensors to measure pH, pO₂, pCO₂, glucose, lactate, electrolytes and more parameters. All tests are carried out on just 65 μL of sample.