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AI-enabled IVD culture plate imaging, reading and reporting
The first automated culture plate reader with FDA clearance and CE marking
Free up FTE resource in your microbiology laboratory and put their time toward more meaningful activities with the Clever Culture Systems APAS® Independence instrument, distributed exclusively in the U.S. and Europe by Thermo Fisher Scientific.
The APAS Independence is an innovative in vitro diagnostic instrument for automated imaging, analysis and interpretation of agar culture plates (see FAQs below for details). It utilizes the breakthrough Automated Plate Assessment System (APAS) imaging technology and artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze an image of agar plates, categorizing them as:
- Significant growth
- Non-significant or negative growth
- For review
By automatically releasing negative results and removing them from the workflow, it delivers reliable and consistent results three times faster than a highly skilled microbiologist*. Being able to triage these out of the workflow provides significant efficiencies in time and focuses skilled staff on more complex tasks that require their expertise.1
* Based on a timing study conducted in June 2016 at St. Vincent’s hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
1 For more information, see Special Use Conditions. For technical documentation, visit the product information page.
The APAS Independence instrument2:
Provides accurate results: intelligent imaging and machine learning for consistent, quality results
Saves labor: significantly reduces time for reading and reporting negative results
See how your plate reading compares to the APAS Independence instrument with our interactive tool
Delivers immediate gains: minimal installation and training required
2 For more information, see Special Use Conditions. For technical documentation, visit the product information page.
SmartNote: New perspectives on the automated lab
Artificial intelligence (Al) holds the key to many of the microbiology field's biggest challenges, by streamlining workflows and freeing up microbiologists to concentrate on higher value activities. Yet despite the technology being ubiquitous in many areas of our everyday lives, laboratories have been slow to adopt it.
In our new SmartNote, New perspectives on the automated lab: The productivity boosting potential of plate reading Al, we explore how Al and machine learning (ML) are transforming the way microbiologists screen culture media plates and how new technologies like the APAS Independence instrument are helping to unleash the lab Al revolution.
Clinical evaluation of the APAS® Independence
Automated imaging and interpretation of urine cultures using artificial intelligence with composite reference standard discrepant resolution
This study reports the outcome of the first evaluation of the APAS® Independence for automated reading and preliminary interpretation of urine cultures in the routine clinical microbiology laboratory.
Clever Culture Systems APAS Independence FAQs
Automated Plate Assessment System
The APAS technology is based on an intelligent imaging system using proprietary machine learning algorithms. The APAS Independence instrument is able to read culture media plates, digitize them and sort them into three categories (significant growth, non-significant growth and for review), automatically removing negative plates from the workflow.
The APAS instrument offers urine and MRSA modules for clinical diagnostic use. A VRE module is available for research use only for sorting and digitizing culture media plates. The APAS instrument works as an image digitizer for all other plates.
The APAS Independence currently has analysis modules available for MRSA (Thermo Scientific™ Brilliance™ MRSA 2), UTI (Thermo Scientific™ Brilliance™ UTI Clarity™ Agar, Thermo Scientific Columbia Agar with Horse Blood) and VRE (RUO).
The APAS Independence has a modest footprint of 200 cm x 80 cm x 160 cm (L x W x H) – the instrument is floor standing, it requires no bench space and can be easily wheeled into place.
The APAS Independence does not require any specific streaking or culturing method. Laboratories can continue to use their current automated or manual workflow.
The APAS Independence does not require any specific streaking or culturing method. Laboratories can continue to use their current automated or manual system.
No, the APAS Independence does not incubate plates. The APAS Independence does not require specific incubators so laboratories can continue to use their current methods of incubation.
The APAS Independence does not require specific incubators.
The APAS Independence processes a minimum of 200 plates per hour.
Yes, the instrument saves the images for 45 days from reading. The images can be viewed on a web browser and can be easily exported.
The APAS Independence is designed to integrate with any workflow by quickly and accurately identifying, interpreting and reporting negative cultures on your prepared culture media plates. This empowers clinicians and enables your microbiologists and other skilled staff to focus on more complex tasks that require their expertise.
Products are distributed in the U.S. and Europe so uses, applications, and availability of product in each country depend on local regulatory marketing authorization status. © 2023 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved. Clever Culture Systems is the legal manufacturer of the APAS® Independence instrument. APAS® is a trademark of Clever Culture Systems. The APAS® Independence is distributed in the U.S. and Europe by Thermo Fisher Scientific.