ThermoFisher Scientific Invitrogen Countess II User manual

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Countess™II Automated Cell Counter
Catalog Number AMQAX1000
Publication Number MAN0014293
Revision B.0

2 Countess™II Automated Cell Counter User Guide
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
DISCLAIMER
TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC AND/OR ITS AFFILIATE(S) WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, MULTIPLE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING FROM THIS
DOCUMENT, INCLUDING YOUR USE OF IT.
Revision history
MAN0010644
Revision
Date
Description
B.0 30 June 2017 Add info about edited profile indicator, save profile from results screen, dilution
calculator, and reports.
A.0 01 September 2015 New user guide
Important Licensing Information
These products may be covered by one or more Limited Use Label Licenses. By use of these products, you accept the terms and
conditions of all applicable Limited Use Label Licenses.
Manufacturer:
Life Technologies Corporation | 22025 20th Ave SE | Bothell, WA 98021
Trademarks:
All trademarks are the property of Thermo Fisher Scientific and its subsidiaries unless otherwise specified.
© 2017 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved.

Countess™II Automated Cell Counter User Guide 3
Contents
About this guide............................................................................................................5
1. Product information ................................................................................................7
Product description......................................................................................................................................... 7
Instrument exterior components ................................................................................................................... 8
2. Getting started ........................................................................................................9
Installation........................................................................................................................................................ 9
Load profile .................................................................................................................................................... 11
3. Cell count and cell viability assays........................................................................15
Prepare sample .............................................................................................................................................. 15
Count cells ...................................................................................................................................................... 16
4. Results ..................................................................................................................18
View results.................................................................................................................................................... 18
Identify the cells counted ............................................................................................................................. 19
Graph count results....................................................................................................................................... 20
Gate count results.......................................................................................................................................... 21
Save as new protocol..................................................................................................................................... 22
5. Dilution calculator................................................................................................. 24
Calculate dilution .......................................................................................................................................... 24
6. Save results ..........................................................................................................27
Save count results.......................................................................................................................................... 27
Report.............................................................................................................................................................. 30
7. Instrument settings...............................................................................................31
Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 31
Software update............................................................................................................................................. 32
Date/Time ...................................................................................................................................................... 33
8. Maintenance..........................................................................................................35
Instrument care.............................................................................................................................................. 35
Clean the Countess™II Automated Cell Counter ..................................................................................... 36
Set nominal focus .......................................................................................................................................... 37
Appendix A: Troubleshooting...................................................................................... 39
Appendix B: Product specifications ............................................................................ 41
Technical specifications ................................................................................................................................ 41
Appendix C: Ordering information.............................................................................. 42
Countess™II Automated Cell Counter ....................................................................................................... 42
Accessory products ....................................................................................................................................... 42

4 Countess™II Automated Cell Counter User Guide
Appendix D: CSV file format........................................................................................ 43
CSV file format, explained ........................................................................................................................... 43
Appendix E: Safety ......................................................................................................44
Safety conventions used in this document................................................................................................. 44
Symbols on instruments ............................................................................................................................... 45
Safety labels on instruments ........................................................................................................................ 47
General instrument safety ............................................................................................................................ 48
Chemical safety.............................................................................................................................................. 49
Chemical waste safety................................................................................................................................... 50
Electrical safety .............................................................................................................................................. 51
Biological hazard safety................................................................................................................................ 52
Safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards ................................................................... 53
Documentation and support .......................................................................................54
Obtaining support ......................................................................................................................................... 54

Countess™II Automated Cell Counter User Guide 5
About this guide
Audience
This user guide is for laboratory staff operating, maintaining, and analyzing data
using the Countess
™
II Automated Cell Counter.
User documentation
The guides listed below are available for the Countess™II Automated Cell
Counter.
Guide Pub. no.
Countess™II Automated Cell Counters User Guide MAN0014293
Countess™II and Countess™II FL Automated Cell
Counters Quick Reference Card (QRC)
MAN0010826
Additional resources are available on the Countess™Technical Resources page.
Go to www.thermofisher.com/countess to access protocols, application notes,
and tutorials.
Text and keyboard
conventions
Text and keyboard conventions used in this user guide are listed below. For safety
alert words and symbols used in this document, see page 6.
Convention Use
Bold Bold text indicates user action. For example:
Press More.
Right arrow symbol () indicates a menu choice, and
separates successive commands you execute or select from a
drop-down or shortcut menu. For example:
Select More Adjust.
User attention
words
Two user attention words appear this document. Each word implies a particular
level of observation or action as described below.
Note: Provides information that may be of interest or help but is not critical
to the use of the product.
IMPORTANT! Provides information that is necessary for proper instrument
operation, accurate installation, or safe use of a chemical.

6 Countess™II Automated Cell Counter User Guide
Safety alert words
Four safety alert words appear in this document at points where you need to be
aware of relevant hazards. Each alert word—IMPORTANT, CAUTION,
WARNING, DANGER—implies a particular level of observation or action, as
defined below:
IMPORTANT! – Provides information that is necessary for proper
instrument operation, accurate installation, or safe use of a chemical.
CAUTION! – Indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided,
may result in minor or moderate injury. It may also be used to alert against
unsafe practices.
WARNING! – Indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not
avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
DANGER! – Indicates an imminently hazardous situation that, if not
avoided, will result in death or serious injury. This signal word is to be
limited to the most extreme situations.
Except for IMPORTANT! safety alerts, each safety alert word in this document
appears with an open triangle figure that contains a hazard symbol. These hazard
symbols are identical to the hazard symbols that are affixed to the instruments
(see “Safety symbols” in Appendix E).

Countess™II Automated Cell Counter User Guide 7
1. Product information
Product description
Product contents
The Countess™II Automated Cell Counter is shipped with the following
components.
Component Quantity
Countess™II Automated Cell Counter (Cat. no. AMQAX1000) 1 each
Power Cord with 4 adaptor cords
(for U.S./Canada/Taiwan/Japan, Europe, or UK)
1 each
Countess™Cell Counting Chamber Slides (50 slides/box) 1 box
Countess™II Disposable Slide Holder 1 each
Countess™II USB drive 1 each
Countess™II Automated Cell Counter Quick Reference Card 1 each
Countess
™
II
Automated Cell
Counter
The Countess™II Automated Cell Counter is a fully automated cell counter and
assay platform that uses state-of-the-art optics and image analysis algorithms to
analyze trypan blue-stained cells in suspension.
•The Countess™II Automated Cell Counter offers an intuitive user interface,
and provides the option to save data and generate a report, which can then be
transferred to a PC using the USB drive supplied with the instrument or
available separately.
•The cells to be counted are loaded into the instrument in disposable Countess™
Cell Counting Chamber Slides (page 15). Each chamber slide contains two
enclosed chambers to hold the sample to allow you to measure two different
samples or perform replicates of the same sample.
•The Countess™II Automated Cell Counter takes 10 seconds per sample for a
typical cell count and is compatible with a wide variety of eukaryotic cells. In
addition to cell count and viability, the instrument also provides information
on cell size.
Upon receiving the
instrument
Examine the instrument carefully for damage incurred during transit. Ensure that
all parts of the instrument, including accessories listed above, are included with the
product. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; the warranty does not cover
in-transit damage.
See page 9 for instructions on installing the instrument.
Register your
instrument
Visit www.thermofisher.com/registercountess to register your instrument. You
will be asked to supply the serial number, your name, and your contact details.
Registering your instrument ensures that you will receive notifications of software
upgrades and information on new assays for use with the Countess™II Automated
Cell Counter.

8 Countess™II Automated Cell Counter User Guide
Instrument exterior components
Touch-screen display:The 7-inch capacitive touch-screen display is the main user interface of the
Countess™II Automated Cell Counter. It contains the buttons for all instrument functions and displays
data from the cell count.
USB ports:The USB ports allow you to transfer and save the cell count data and image to an external
computer for record keeping and printing purposes. You can use the USB drive supplied with the
instrument or any other standard, FAT32-formatted USB drive for data transfer. If desired, you can plug
in a USB mouse into the rear USB port for instrument control.
Note: The USB ports located in the front and the back of the instrument function the same. However, the
first USB drive connected will be the preferred saving location and both USB drives cannot be accessed
at the same time.
Slide port: The slide port is used to insert the Countess™Cell Counting Chamber Slide containing the
sample into the instrument.
Power switch: The ON/OFF rocker switch is the main power switch. It is not necessary to use the power
switch for day-to-day operation of the instrument.
Power input jack: The power input jack connects the instrument to an electrical outlet through the
supplied power cord and the appropriate plug, based on the electrical outlet configuration in your
country.
Note: The Countess™II Automated Cell Counter (Cat. no. AMQAX1000) uses brightfield
illumination only and does not support the EVOS™LED light cubes.

Countess™II Automated Cell Counter User Guide 9
2. Getting started
Installation
Operating
environment
•
Place the instrument on a level surface away from vibrations emanating from
other pieces of equipment.
•Allow at least 5 cm (2 in) free space at the back of the instrument to allow for
proper ventilation and prevent overheating of electronic components.
•Set up the instrument away from direct light sources, such as windows.
Ambient room lighting can enter the imaging path and affect the image quality.
•Operating temperature range: 4°–40°C (39°–104°F)
•
Relative humidity range: <80% (non-condensing)
IMPORTANT! Do not position the instrument so that it is difficult to turn off
the main power switch located on the back of the instrument (see page 8). In
case of an instrument malfunction, turn the main power switch to the OFF
position and disconnect the instrument from the wall outlet.
Install the
instrument
1.
Unpack the instrument and place the instrument on a flat, level, dry surface.
2. Remove the thin plastic protector film from the touch-screen display.
3. Plug one end of the power cord appropriate for your region into the instrument.
4. Plug the power cord into the electrical outlet. Be sure to use only the power
cord supplied with your instrument. Powering the instrument with an
unapproved power cord may damage the instrument.

10 Countess™II Automated Cell Counter User Guide
Turn ON the
instrument
1.
Turn on the instrument by flipping the power switch on the back of the
instrument (page 8) to the ON position.
The instrument initializes and displays the Home screen.
2. From the Home screen, you can proceed immediately to the assays by inserting
a slide (page 15).
Alternatively, you can change or add a profile (Step 3, below) or change
instrument settings (Step 4, below).
3. To change the current profile or to add a new profile to the instrument,
press the Profilesbutton in the upper left corner.
Profiles allow you to create customized count preferences (i.e., gate counts
based on cell size, brightness, and/or circularity) (page 11).
4. To change instruments settings, press the Instrument Settings button in
the upper right corner.
Instrument settings allow you to update the Countess™II software and change
the date and time (page 31).