The Growth Profiler 960 is a patented, high-throughput shaker-incubator reader designed for generating precise growth curves of microbial cultures. It simultaneously monitors up to 960 cultures across 10 microplates, making it an invaluable tool for high-throughput screening in academic and industrial settings.

Its primary function involves using fast global shutter cameras located beneath each microplate to capture images of the well bottoms at regular intervals. The integrated Growthviewer image analysis software quantifies cell density, automatically generating growth curves and enabling precise quantification of maximal growth rates, lag phases, and maximum OD end points. Data is easily exportable as .csv files, and remote monitoring is possible.

The system boasts high oxygen transfer rates (OTR) of 40 mmol/L.h at 250 rpm/50mm, allowing for exponential growth up to high cell densities (8-10 OD600 values or 3-4 g dry wt/l), which is crucial for accurate determination of maximal growth rates. It supports a wide optical density (OD) range from 0.05 to 200 OD600 equivalents.

For optimal aeration and to prevent cross-contamination and excessive evaporation, Duetz lids are highly recommended. The Growth Profiler 960 can also be equipped with robot-friendly clamping systems and a robotic arm, facilitating seamless integration into fully automated workflows for enhanced efficiency.

Applications: This versatile system is ideal for bacterial, yeast, and various cell cultures, including CHO-cells. It is widely used for aerobic microbial growth profiling, fermentation studies, media optimization, screening of strains and mutants under diverse stress factors, and quality control/assurance in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research.