Counting bead standards
PolyAn’s Counting Beads are highly monodisperse PMMA microparticles with a known particle number concentration, intended for use as counting standards for flow cytometers, particle and cell counters, as well as single-cell dispensing applications.
The Counting Beads can be tailored to your specific application: They are available in various sizes, ranging from 5–20 µm, as transparent beads, dye-colored (non-fluorescent) beads, or fluorescent beads encoded with either one fluorophore (single-channel) or multiple fluorophores (multi-channel) at emission wavelength (color) and emission intensities of your choice. Please contact us to discuss your application.
Key features
| Mean diameter | 5–20 µm, highly monodisperse |
| Number concentration | 105–109 beads/mL |
| Optical properties | Transparent (non-fluorescent), Dye-colored (non-fluorescent), or Fluorescent (single- or multi-color, dye-encoding in bead core and/or dye-conjugation to bead surface) |
| Buffer and surface | Customizable buffer composition and surface modification |
| Packaging options | Customized volume and packaging (e.g. label, design, …) |
| Certification | PolyAn standard or external certification by a national metrology institute |
Counting bead applications
PolyAn’s Counting Beads can be used for instrument validation, quality control, and daily performance monitoring of particle counters and flow cytometers.
Counting beads ensure comparability of results between different measurements, instruments, and laboratories at various points in time. They can also be used as reference materials for individual cells or spheroids, e.g. in single-cell dispensers.
Traceability: Upon request, the particle number concentration of the PolyAn Counting Beads can be traceably quantified (certified) by a national metrology institute.
Animal-free low aggregation matrix: PolyAn Counting Beads are equipped with a low aggregation matrix that prevents particle agglomeration, which otherwise would strongly affect the particle number concentration. PolyAn’s low-aggregation matrix is animal-free.
Individual solutions for OEM Counting Beads
As part of our Molecular Surface Engineering Services, we offer the individual development of beads for your specific requirements. Custom product development is the cornerstone capability from which many of our products evolve.
PolyAn has developed a broad repertoire of bead manufacturing capabilities that meet customer specifications with regards to tolerances, buffer conditions, and bio-compatibility.
As a development partner, PolyAn facilitates efficiency and innovation to maximize your capacities in research and analysis. Let us know what you and your company are exploring and we can support you in making that a reality.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your application.
