Buglab Introduction

BugLab LLC was founded in 2003 by a small group of scientists and engineers with a passion for developing more efficient biomass measurement equipment involved in fermentation and microbial cultures.

BugLab's first product, the BugEye® 100, was the first of its class, of non-invasive biomass monitoring and was designed to yield highly accurate, real-time measurements of biomass.

This product has been further refined and improved with the debut of several new monitoring devices. The BE2100 Biomass Monitor, designed to monitor cell growth in all-glass fermentors, as well as stainless steel vessels with glass viewing ports. This sensor, non-invasively, measures Optical Densities (OD) from 0.1 to 300+ without changing sensors, resulting in no risk of sensor fouling or culture contamination.

In 2011, BugLab launched the Hand Held OD monitor for shake flasks, the BEH100 OD Scanner. The use of this product has revolutionized how Optical Density can be quickly, and reliably measured, allowing the end user to have fast, efficient, and reliable ways to know what is happening inside their shake flask without having to take a sample.

BugLab LLC, has developed other similar products customized to help customers solve their measurement challenges in various industries including biopharma, biofuels and microbiological research.

Our commitment is dedicated to providing innovative and high quality products in the Biomass market, that are intuitive, and easy to use. Each of our products are individually manufactured, and put through a rigorous QC and testing procedure, right within BugLab's laboratory in Northern California.

Buglab's Technology

Classical Optical density measurements in a spectrophotometer, often requires dilution in order to determine the total biomass greater than .5 OD(600nm). BugLab's technology operates on backlight scattering, utilizing multiple laser and detector pairs.

A near infrared (NIR) laser is injected into the medium and the interaction with cells scatters and reflects light. Photo-detectors collect light that is back-scattered from the cells. The intensity of the detected light is proportional to optical density. allowing measurements of OD, without dilution or liquid handling, over a wide and linear range of OD. Due to this, BugLab's technology gives highly accurate readings.

Measuring in the near infrared spectrum offers the additional advantage to the scientist by avoiding absorbance of light by colored media components such as in algal cultures.

BugLab LLC currently offers the Hand held OD Scanner which is most suitable for measuring an OD Range of 0-30 OD units and the BE2100, which measures less than .1 to over 300 OD units.

In order to determine which will work best for you, please visit our products page for more detail, or send us an email at info@buglab.com or visit our contact us page.