Growth Direct® System: Automate Your Microbial QC Workflow

The Growth Direct® System is a fully automated microbial quality control platform designed for pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities with high sample throughput. The system combines automated processing, incubation, and rapid colony detection into a single streamlined workflow, eliminating the manual steps that slow down traditional microbial QC. Designed for maximum flexibility, it can be installed either in a controlled manufacturing environment or directly in the QC lab to seamlessly fit your operational needs.

Using a drop-off-and-walk-away design, operators bulk-load samples via 60-sample carousels into two integrated incubators with a combined capacity of 660 samples. Once loaded, samples are processed, incubated, and analyzed without being touched, with the system capable of running multiple test protocols simultaneously at different temperatures and incubation times. This translates to positive detection in as less as 12 hours and cGMP auditable results in as less as 72 hours that’s roughly half the time of conventional methods. Colony detection is powered by autofluorescence imaging technology that identifies colonies formed by as few as 100 cells through a non-destructive, reagent-free method and keeps colonies intact for subsequent identification. Automated sample readings and imaging occur every 4 hours, with out-of-specification results flagged and reported immediately.

Key benefits:

1. Faster Results- Detect microbial growth in half the time vs. traditional methods, accelerating release decisions
2. Reduced Labor- Eliminates manual sample transfers, individual loading, and manual readings thereby reducing labor
3. Error Minimization- Automated, touchless processing minimizes handling errors once the carousel is loaded
4. Simplified Workflow- The system handles environmental monitoring, bioburden testing, and water testing on a single unified system
5. Full Compliance Confidence- Built-in audit trails, 21 CFR Part 11 support, and LIMS integration ensure data integrity and regulatory readiness
6. Non-Destructive Testing- Growth-based autofluorescence detection keeps colonies intact for subsequent identification

Download the Growth Direct® System brochure to explore full technical specifications, consumable options, and validation support.