Features and Benefits
The APAS Contact Plate TSA EM Analysis Module delivers exceptional high-throughput automation capabilities, enabling pharmaceutical laboratories to achieve unmatched scale and efficiency in their environmental monitoring workflows. The system provides true walk-away automation, with one APAS Independence instrument capable of processing and reporting up to 1,600 plates within an 8-hour period, representing a threefold increase in speed compared to manual handling methods. The module demonstrates remarkable flexibility and independence by supporting all major media suppliers without requiring proprietary media, ensuring laboratories can maintain their existing validated protocols while benefiting from advanced automation. This open platform approach allows seamless integration with current processes, supporting both traditional 90mm settle plates and 55mm contact plates on a single hardware platform. The system ensures objective and compliant results through comprehensive data integrity features and full audit trails that meet stringent regulatory standards, while intelligent automation significantly improves upon manual reading and reporting processes by eliminating subjective interpretation and enhancing consistency across all results.
Applications
The APAS Contact Plate TSA EM Analysis Module specifically automates the analysis of 55mm contact plates filled with Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) media, which are essential tools for environmental monitoring in pharmaceutical manufacturing. These contact plates serve multiple critical functions, including surface monitoring of floors, walls, and equipment in controlled environments, as well as personnel monitoring to assess contamination on working garments and skin. The module represents a unique technological advancement as it is the only fully automated solution capable of providing high-throughput bulk processing of both contact plates and 90mm settle plates used for environmental monitoring in pharmaceutical settings. The system seamlessly integrates into existing microbiology workflows, allowing laboratories to continue using their established culture media and incubation equipment while the APAS Independence handles the automation of plate analysis and result documentation. This capability is particularly valuable for pharmaceutical manufacturers who must maintain rigorous environmental monitoring programs to ensure product quality and regulatory compliance, as the technology provides enhanced traceability and data integrity for every result while enabling fully digital workflows that support paperless laboratory environments. The first installation of this technology at AstraZeneca UK demonstrates its real-world applicability and potential for broader adoption across global pharmaceutical manufacturing networks