Food testing labs gain productivity boost with new 3M™ Petrifilm™ Plate Reader Advanced

Rhea-AI Summary

3M Food Safety has unveiled the 3M™ Petrifilm™ Plate Reader Advanced, a cutting-edge technology designed for food safety professionals. This device automates the counting of microbiological colonies on 3M Petrifilm Plates, enhancing productivity by processing up to 900 plates per hour and delivering results in 4-6 seconds. The introduction aims to help food labs optimize operations amidst increased demands due to COVID-19. Notably, a study showed a 94% reduction in time for enumeration. This marks 3M's second automation product in two years to assist food and beverage manufacturers.

Positive

• 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced automates colony counting, enhancing lab productivity.
• Processes up to 900 plates per hour, significantly reducing operational time.
• 94% reduction in enumeration time noted in studies, indicating improved efficiency.

Negative

• None.

ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 3M Food Safety today introduces the 3M™ Petrifilm™ Plate Reader Advanced, a new automation technology that gives food safety professionals new options to rapidly and accurately image, count and document microbiological colonies on 3M™ Petrifilm™ Plates indicator tests. By rapidly automating the colony-counting step of 3M Petrifilm Plates, the 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced saves food safety labs time and increases productivity.

The new 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced is a small, peripheral device containing a five-megapixel camera and versatile bar code reader. The device utilizes fixed artificial intelligence networks to enumerate 3M Petrifilm Plates. 3M Petrifilm Plates are inserted into the device, with imaging and information automatically displaying on a USB-connected computer in less than six seconds, processing up to 900 plates per hour. The device can enumerate 10 3M Petrifilm Plates and the Staph Express Disk and includes software that allows technicians to edit results and add other relevant sample information. A study conducted found up to 94% reduced time to enumerate 3M Petrifilm Plates when using the 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced.^*  

"Food safety is always a top concern globally, but challenges related to COVID-19 have put additional pressure on organizations to maximize resources," says Elliott Zell, 3M Food Safety global new product marketing manager. "3M is in a unique position to help the food-and-beverage industry maximize the efficiency of the critical tests it manages each day, and we have invested in advanced hardware and software to help labs reduce tedious tasks in favor of strategic activities. The 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced — the latest innovation in our iconic 3M Petrifilm solution — uses automation to help increase throughput in testing labs."

This introduction of the 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced is 3M Food Safety's second automation offering within the last two years for food-and-beverage manufacturers looking to streamline their operations and modernize their laboratories. In 2019, 3M announced it had partnered with Hamilton Company to offer food testing laboratories interoperability between the Hamilton^® foodInspect™ NIMBUS^® automated multichannel pipetting technology and the award-winning 3M Molecular Detection System.

3M Food Safety is a leader of innovative solutions that help organizations in the food-and-beverage industries to optimize the quality and safety of their products, enabling consumer protection and improving bottom lines. Individuals interested in ordering or learning more about 3M's expanding portfolio of automation-enabled tests and technologies should visit 3M.com/PetrifilmProductivity.

*Observed on the 3M Petrifilm Aerobic Count Plate with High Counts.

©3M 2021. All rights reserved. 3M, the 3M logo and Petrifilm are the worldwide trademarks or registered trademarks of 3M. Trademarks of other parties are identified wherever possible, and 3M acknowledges their rights.

About 3M 
At 3M (NYSE: MMM), we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily as our employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M's creative solutions to global challenges at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews. 

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SOURCE 3M

FAQ

What is the 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced?

The 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced is an automation technology that images, counts, and documents microbiological colonies on 3M Petrifilm Plates, improving lab productivity.

How quickly does the 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced provide results?

The device delivers results in under 6 seconds for each plate processed.

What impact does the 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced have on food safety labs?

It enhances productivity by processing up to 900 plates per hour, allowing for quicker and more efficient testing.

Why was the 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced developed?

It was developed to help food safety professionals maximize efficiency in response to increased testing demands due to COVID-19.

Is the 3M Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced part of a broader innovation strategy?

Yes, it is the second automation product introduced by 3M Food Safety in two years, aimed at modernizing food testing labs.