Most on-line measurements in cell culture are based on the measurement of the capacitance at one single frequency and in most cases there is a good correlation between the capacitance signal and the live cell count. Scanning the capacitance (and conductance) over a frequency range was first presented in detail by Aber Instruments in 1993 (Biomass Monitor Source Book) but the first paper showing the application of f-scanning in cell culture was not until 2003.

 

Aber Instruments has therefore decide to publish a series of papers in 2008 on how frequency scanning can provide additional on-line biomass monitoring information. In the first paper, now published in the Winter 2007 edition of the Wilbio Bioprocessing Journal, we will demystify the theory behind f-scanning and show how the extra parameters are calculated.

The Biomass Monitor models 214 (discontinued in 2004) and the Model 220 have always had the capability for advanced frequency scanning but in order to extract this information a new software package, AberScan, was launched at the recent IFPAC conference on PAT (January 2008).  Full details of this new package is available from Aber Instruments.