When talking about the process of growing cells or microorganisms, most attention is directed to the bioreactor.
And rightly so.

Bioreactor = full control

During the production phase we are used to working with:

• ✔️ Continuous DO monitoring
• ✔️ Continuous pH monitoring
• ✔️ Precise temperature control
• ✔️ Data, graphs and trend analysis
• ✔️ Data-based decision making

But what happens before the bioreactor?

The inoculum and the pre-growth – the blind spot of the bioprocess

Precisely at the most sensitive stage of the process – the inoculum and pre-growth stage –
Most laboratories work with almost no real information.

• Spot measurements only
• Check every few hours (if at all)
• And sometimes just assuming that “everything is fine”

acting?
This is the stage in which the physiological nature of the cell population is determined.

Continuous monitoring vs. spot monitoring – the difference that changes the whole picture

The bioprocess literature consistently shows:
Continuous monitoring reveals short-term fluctuations in DO, pH and temperature –
Fluctuations that point-by-point measurements simply cannot detect .

And the real problem?
Even if we didn’t measure them, they still happened .

And their direct impact on:

• 🧬 Cellular metabolism
• 🚀 Growth rate
• ⚠️ Stress levels
• Cell behavior in the next stages of the process

In simple words:
What we didn’t measure – had an impact!

A bioreactor is monitored 24/7 – what about what happens in front of it?

In the bioreactor:

• We know when the DO drops.
• Identifying when the cell is “exerting itself”
• and respond in real time

But in the preliminary stage?

Shake flasks, plates, and flasks of different sizes present a completely different reality:

• 🧊 Variable geometry
• 🌪️ Different shear forces
• 💨 Uneven oxygen distribution
• 🌡️ Temperature gradients
• 🧪 Changes in pH without us noticing

And in most cases:

• Manual measurement every few hours
• or a complete lack of measurement

The real problem: we don’t know what we don’t know.

And this is the most dangerous problem in the process.

The inoculum determines the quality of the cell population:

• Cells grown under suboptimal conditions will often be
  • Less durable
  • Less stable
  • Will enter the Log phase more slowly

And what happens next?

• 💸 Expensive scale-up
• ⏳ Growing times that are getting longer
• A process that “doesn’t behave like in the pilot”
• And most of the time – without understanding why

What changes when you start monitoring the preliminary stages as well?

When there is continuous monitoring from the shake flask stage :

• You really see what’s happening in the example.
• Identifying oxygen limitations we didn’t know existed
• Understanding the true dynamics of growth
• and grow more stable, resilient, and thriving cells

The actual result:

• ⏱️ Significant time savings
• 💰 Cost savings
• 🔁 Less trial and error
• And a continuous process that is predictable, stable and easier to control

A practical solution – not a theory

It is important to emphasize:
This challenge is not theoretical .

Today, at Inter-Tech , we already have a solution that allows:

• Continuous oxygen monitoring
• Temperature measurement
• And even pH
  Even in the early stages of growth

And all this:

• Without turning a shake flask into a bioreactor
• Without complicating daily work
• And without disrupting the lab workflow

Customers who grow cells and microorganisms are already using this solution –
And we see how a stage that was considered “routine”
Becomes a critical source of knowledge that influences the entire process .

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The bottom line

You can’t improve a process without understanding it.
And it is impossible to understand – without measuring.

PyroScience Advanced Measurement Systems – Optical Precision for Research and Application Laboratories

Smart measurement based on advanced optical technology

PyroScience measurement systems represent an advanced generation of measurement solutions for research, development, and advanced analytical applications. The instruments are based on precise optical technology , which enables reliable, stable, and highly sensitive measurement of critical parameters – even under challenging conditions.

PyroScience solutions were developed from a deep understanding of the needs of the modern laboratory:

High accuracy, application flexibility and ease of operation .

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Measurement with contact – and also without direct contact with the sample

One of the key advantages of PyroScience systems is the ability to perform:

• 🔹 Measurement in direct contact with the sample – for fast response and maximum accuracy
• 🔹 Non-Contact Measurement – ​​Ideal for sensitive, sterile samples or those that do not allow sensor insertion

This approach reduces the risk of contamination, prevents damage to the sample, and allows work under conditions where classical measurement methods are not applicable.

Wide range of measurement applications

PyroScience systems are suitable for a wide range of scientific and industrial applications, including:

• Academic and biological research
• Analytical chemistry
• Biotechnology and Process Engineering
• Materials development
• Process testing and monitoring of experimental conditions

The multidisciplinary nature of the systems allows them to be easily integrated into complex R&D projects and multi-stage experiments.

Adaptation to a variety of experimental tools and scales

PyroScience instruments are designed to work with:

• 🧪 Laboratory tools of various sizes
• 🔬 Small sample volumes to large experimental setups
• ⚗️ Point experiments alongside multiple measurement systems

This flexibility allows researchers to work on the same platform in both feasibility and advanced experiments, while maintaining data consistency and high comparability .

An ideal solution for modern laboratories

The combination of:

• Advanced optical measurement
• Non-contact measurement option
• Adaptable to a wide range of applications
• and high experimental flexibility

Making PyroScience systems a natural choice for laboratories seeking uncompromising scientific accuracy alongside ease of use and operational efficiency .

You can schedule a demonstration of the device and receive additional information.

For any questions, please contact our representatives and we will be happy to provide further details.

Email: info@iner-tech.com

Phone: 072-212-2880

Manufacturer’s website: https://www.pyroscience.com/en/