Colony counter use method

Chapter 1: Introduction

Regulations and matters that should be noted before colony testing

1.1 Safety instructions

The safety code quoted in this instrument is specified by Safety Class I (the body has a grounding terminal for protection). Before turning on the input power switch of this unit, please select the correct input voltage (220V) specification.

Maintenance and maintenance

User maintenance

To prevent the occurrence of electric shock, do not open the back panel of the instrument. All parts inside the instrument are absolutely free of user maintenance. If an abnormality occurs in the instrument, please seek full control or its designated dealer for maintenance. The attached block diagram is for reference only.

Regular maintenance

The colony tester, input power cord, dark cabin light source and related accessories are inspected at least once a year to protect the safety of the user and the accuracy of the instrument.

User modification

Users are not allowed to change the wiring or parts of the instrument by themselves. If it is changed, the warranty of the instrument will automatically expire and the company will not be held responsible. Use of parts or accessories that are not approved by the company is not guaranteed. If the instrument returned for inspection is found to be changed, the company will repair the circuit or parts of the instrument back to the original design state and charge for maintenance.

operator

Operators must be educated and trained at all times to understand the importance of various operational rules and to operate the colony tester in accordance with safety regulations.

1.2 technical terms

Colony: A growth-producing growth of bacteria that grows on solid media. It is made up of tens of thousands of identical bacteria. When the sample is diluted to a certain extent and mixed with the medium, each of the bacterial cells capable of growing and reproducing can form a visible colony on the plate under certain culture conditions.

Total number of colonies: The total number of bacterial colonies grown per gram (per milliliter) of samples under certain conditions (eg, aerobic conditions, nutrient conditions, pH, culture temperature, and time).

Pixel: The smallest unit that makes up an image.

1.3 Preparation for use

Input voltage requirements and options: This colony counter uses a 220V AC ± 15% 50Hz single-phase power supply.

Ambient conditions used: temperature: 0 ° C - 40 ° C; relative humidity: between 20% and 80%; height: below 4000 meters above sea level.

Storage and transportation:

This colony tester can be stored and transported under the following conditions:

Ambient temperature..........................................-10 ° C to 65 ° C.

Relative humidity..........................................20% to 80%.

Height................................................The altitude is below 5000 meters.

Be sure to turn off the power when moving the instrument. Otherwise, the circuit inside the chassis may be short-circuited or the fuse may be burnt. The instrument must avoid sudden changes in temperature, which can cause moisture to condense inside the body.

Chapter 2: Technical Specifications

2.1 Product Specification

2.2 System parameters

Petri dish type: <160mm

Imaging

Ø CMOS specification: 10 megapixels, 32-bit true color Ø resolution: 0.05mm
Ø Image shooting: focal length, white balance, color temperature adjustable light source

Ø Shooting box: fully enclosed, no daylight interference, automatic centering, black box shooting Ø Light source: LED double cold light source shooting system

Statistical function

Ø Colony recognition technology: AutoCount colony intelligent recognition technology.
Ø Plate type: pouring, coating, membrane filter plate, 3M paper.
Ø Colony statistical speed: 300 colonies for about 3 seconds.
Ø Full colony statistics: The total number of colonies is counted and displayed in multiple sizes.
Ø Area selection statistics: You can select any circular circled area for statistics.
Ø Mouse click statistics: quick marker, add colonies, suitable for the counting of colonies on the edge of the culture dish.
Ø Manual auxiliary correction: delete misselected colonies in any area.
Ø Statistical effect adjustment: The accuracy of colony analysis can be artificially adjusted.
Ø Diameter classification statistics: Set the diameter range and count the colonies of a specific size.

Ø Color recognition statistics: Screen specific colonies based on chromaticity, brightness, and saturation. (some models have)
Ø Statistical data processing: culture sample dilution input to achieve automatic conversion.

database
Ø Storage: colony images and all statistical data database storage.
Ø Query: Automatically search for queries by date, number, sample type, etc. The query results are displayed in the form of a report.

Ø Data export: The detected test results can be exported to a separate folder with report documents and colony images for recording sample parameters and test results.

Report printing
Ø Customized report: It has the custom function of reporting the statistical results (need to contact the company to customize).

Ø Report printing: report printing of all information such as images, statistical results, and editing content.

Chapter 3 Panel Description

3.1 Front panel description

RTAC-01 type:

1. POWER button Chassis power button.

2. Sample bin in/out button This button controls the sample bin access.

3. Light source selection button Select the lower or upper light source. The default is the lower light source.

4. Sample compartment cover

RTAC-02 type:

Display screen

2. AUTO button Used as an automatic adaptation display system button operation button.

3. MENU button Display menu selection button.

4. Decrease button Select the adjustment button for the display brightness, contrast, influence adjustment, color adjustment and other options.

5. Add button Select the adjustment button for the display brightness, contrast, influence adjustment, color adjustment and other options.

6. POWER button Monitor power button.

7. Power button Colony counter host power button.

8. Sample bin and light source Holds samples and dark bins when taking photos, and cold light sources.

9, 10, USB interface

3.2 side panel and back panel description

1. Chassis Handle Handling This instrument uses the chassis handle for easy transportation.

2. Power port Standard power line interface, using 220V AC, built-in 5A resistor-capacitor fuse, if the fuse is blown, please contact us for replacement.

3. USB interface

Chapter IV Human Machine Interface Description

4.1 main interface description

Main interface

“New Test”: Before each start of the test, click the “New Test” button to clear the last test data and start the test.

“Sample Information”: Click the “Sample Information” button to enter sample information. Sample information is the basis for counting analysis and must be entered completely and completely. (See "Sample Parameter Interface Description" for details)

“Taking photos”: Click the “Photograph” button to take a sample photo.

“Counting Analysis: Click the “Counting Analysis” button to open the counting analysis module and analyze the collected photos. (For details, see “Counting Analysis Interface Description”)

"Generate Report": Click the "Generate Report" button to save this data to the report, and you can archive it for reference or print it directly. If you do not generate a report, you can count the analysis repeatedly until you get a satisfactory result. (For details, see "Report Interface Description")

"Query History": Click the "Query History" button to query past test data by time, sample name, sample model, etc. (For details, see "Query History Screen Description")

“Integrated Data Processing”: It is specially used to process the detection results and is divided into two algorithms according to the national standard requirements. (For details, see "Integrated Data Processing Interface Description")

“Exit”: Click the “Exit” button to exit the system, and the RTAC-2 instrument will be turned off.

4.2 sample parameter interface description

Sample parameter interface

When you click the "New Test" button. The “Sample Information” button will change from “Gray” to “Black”: you can click the “Sample Information” button to bring up the “Sample Information Screen”. In this interface, you can input basic information such as “sample name”, “sample type”, “sample model” and “dilution” through the keyboard, and additional information such as “test basis” and “medium”. Among them: “ Sample Name”, “Sample Type”, “Report Type”, “Dilution”, “Density”, “Processing Type” are required sample information, and will be displayed if they are not filled correctly. The rest are optional. Sample information is the basis for counting analysis and must be entered completely and completely. After the sample information is entered, the sample information of this test will appear in the information bar below the main interface. If the sample information is entered incorrectly, you can double-click this information, select “Delete this information” and re-enter.

4.3 Shooting Photo Interface Description

Click “Settings” to perform advanced operations on the camera: the user can select different shooting settings according to the sample shape characteristics to achieve better photo effects.

4.4 Count Analysis Interface Description

After entering the sample information, click “Photograph” and the system will collect the sample image. Then click on “Count Analysis” to bring up the count analysis module.

Counting analysis interface

Sample photos can be “opened”, “printed”, “zoomed in”, “zoomed out”, etc. through menus and toolbars on the main interface.

Zoom in and out buttons

4.4.1 Detection of the plate:

Select the "flat" type in the "Process Type" of the "Sample Information Interface", click the "Open" button, and select the sample photo to be counted (the default photo is the photo taken by this inspection)

Select count image

Select Counting Accuracy in the Precision Settings option: The default is Medium, which is suitable for most samples. "High" accuracy, good for small dot colony counting. "Low" accuracy for flaky colonies.

Click the "Region Selection" button: Follow the prompts to select the counting area:

Note: The counting area should be selected within the contour of the dish to avoid interference with the line count.

(1) Correct counting area (green area within the outline of the Petri dish)

(2) Wrong count area

After selecting the count area, click the left mouse button and "OK Select Area". To reselect the sample photo, right click and the system will cancel the counting area selection. After the count area is selected, the system will automatically process the sample photo and pop up the first level console:

First level console

In this console, the user can adjust and correct through eight image processing channels and a threshold adjustment slider. Proceed as follows:

1. Process sample photos according to different schemes by selecting image processing channels. Choose the result that best matches the shape of the sample photo. (The default channel is “Grayscale” channel, which is suitable for most colony photos, but different treatment channels can be selected for different colony morphology, which has achieved better results)

2. On the basis of the basic results, the processing result can be fine-tuned by adjusting the threshold (in most cases, the threshold of the system adaptation is the optimal threshold, no need to fine-tune, directly determine)

Threshold adjustment slider

After determining the image processing results, click the "OK" button to call up the secondary console and colony distribution results. The area enclosed by the orange circle is the system to identify colonies. The user can correct this decision through the console on the left and finally determine the colony results.

The main methods of operation are:

"Add manually" button: You can manually add the colony recognition box on the result image, and adjust the size of the recognition frame with the mouse wheel.

“Manually delete” button: You can manually delete some misidentified colonies. Adjust the size of the deleted area with the mouse wheel. You can delete it individually or delete it. As long as the center of the colony recognition frame is included in the deletion box, it can be deleted. ( Note: Manual deletion is only valid until the "Save this class" button is not pressed. After "Save this class", it cannot be deleted manually)

“Sampling” button: For some of the more complex recognition results, the “sampling” method can be used to screen the desired colony morphology.

Namely: first click on “Sampling” and circle a colony that meets the requirements. (Note: the circled box should be slightly smaller than the selected colony, otherwise it will cause a large error, and the colonies that are circled should choose larger colonies as much as possible). Adjust the "radius" and "allowed range" to adjust the number of similar colonies identified by the system based on typical colonies. After confirming, click the "Save this class" button to generate the class. If the sample image contains more than one type of colony, repeat the “Sampling”---“Adjust”---“OK” step until all categories are completely circled, then click the “Save and Exit” button to complete count.

"Default parameters": When the adjustment parameters deviate too much, click the "Default parameters" button to return the parameters to the default state.

"Restore previous step" button: Restore the previous step.

"Empty" button: cancel all operations of the user on the second console to restore the sample image to the initial state, that is, the state determined by the first console.

"Statistics": Displays the value of the currently confirmed colony.

"Save and Exit": Save the colony count results and exit, and count the data into the report. (After the normal count is over, press this button to exit)

“Exit”: Abandon the counting result and exit, the counting result is not ideal, I hope to restart the technical link, press this button to exit.

“Sampling Diameter”: The diameter of the sampling point is selected to be the same as the mouse wheel.

"Radius" and "allowable range": Adjust the similarity of the sampling point to the radius of the colony point by adjusting the values ​​of the two parameters, and screen the colonies of different forms to obtain a suitable type of colony point.

Typical example of operation: The distribution pattern of colonies for different samples is divided into three cases:

The first type: colonies are more typical, the shape is similar to a circle, and the difference is obvious from the background.

For example: In this case, it is only necessary to remove the colonies by simple manual addition in the secondary console to achieve the desired effect.

The second type: the colony is relatively small, and the shape is not clear, similar to the small point, and the difference from the background is obvious.

For example: In this case, you need to select “High” precision for special processing in the “ ” button before the selected counting area , supplemented by manual addition and deletion, which can perform effective counting analysis.

The third type: the colony shape is irregular, the background has a large number of water stains, dark lines and other interference signals, and the colony size varies greatly.

For example: In this case, first fine-tune the threshold in the first-level console to screen out some of the stains that do not meet the conditions.

Then select the "Sampling" button in the secondary console, select the typical point for sampling, adjust the "radius" and "allowable range" to filter the area that meets the colony morphology conditions.

Collection of qualified colonies by multiple sampling.

Then filter some noise by manually adding and deleting

The final colony recognition picture is obtained.

Click "Save and Exit" to complete the counting process.

4.5 Report Interface Description

After the counting analysis is finished, you can click the “Generate Report” button, and the following prompt will appear:

If you select "Cancel", you can jump back to the previous step and you can re-count the analysis. If you select "OK", the system automatically generates the following report:

The report is a customized unified format report, which includes related information such as “sample information”, “test result” and “sample picture”. You can choose to print or archive directly. Archived as a QRP format report file.

4.6 Query History Interface Description

The system can query historical reports at any time. Click "Query History" to bring up the query history report interface:

In this system, the report can use the date and sample name as the query conditions. The "date" is the system default query condition. When you need to add other query conditions, you must select the check box before the condition:

After selecting and entering the query criteria, click on the right "Query" button

You can find the qualified inspection records in the information bar below.

Double-click on the inspection record to choose to print or export the data directly

You can also click on the inspection record and select "Print" or "Export" in the button on the right of the interface.

The exported data is a folder with the name of the inspection time, the sample name, and the number of inspections. There are TXT files and JPG image files with the same name, which are the relevant information of the sample, the test result and the photo of the test. The inspection data folder, 2009-10-6 is the time of the inspection, CV-098 is the sample name, and 1 is the number of inspections (first time). The image file of the same file name is the photo of the sample for this test.

The Word file contains the relevant information and test results of the test for the sample.

Info file content

4.7 Data Processing Interface Description

In order to facilitate the processing of the test results, click on "Integrated Data Processing" to bring up the data processing module:

Data processing for different inspection results is divided into two cases:

(1) If the number of colonies on only one dilution plate meets the counting range, calculate the average of the two plate colonies, and multiply by the dilution as the total number of colonies per gram (per milliliter) (the first calculation method).

(2) If there are two serial dilutions of plate colonies that meet the technical requirements, N = 120000"<00"wx:font wx:val="Cambria Math"/>C/(n1+0.1*n2)/d' > Formula processing. In the formula:

N.............................. Sample colonies

ΣC..............................The sum of the number of plate colonies suitable for counting

N1..............................The number of plates for the first dilution suitable for counting

N2..............................The number of plates for the second suitable dilution

d...............................Dilution factor (first dilution)

When data is processed, fill in the relevant data according to the above two categories, and click the “Calculate” button to get the final processing result.

Chapter V Operation Process

5.1 quick operation flow chart

5.2 counting part operation flow chart