Ames Test (Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test)

The Ames test, named after its developer Dr Bruce Ames, is the most widely used regulatory test for genotoxicity i.e. the ability to induce mutation or cancer. Testing for genotoxicity is mandatory for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food additives, agrochemicals and industrial chemicals (see OECD Guideline 471).

Perceptive Instruments are firmly established as the first choice supplier of colony counting and data management systems for the Ames Test. For automatic analysis of Ames plates, we have the proven Sorcerer colony counting system. The total solution for the Ames test is to link Sorcerer to our comprehensive Ames Study Manager.

Ames Study Manager

An integrated suite of software for conducting the Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test.

The Ames Study Manager is a comprehensive suite of software for conducting and reporting Ames studies in accordance with OECD 471. The system is able to handle any experimental design and imposes no constraints for numbers of experiments, strains, test substances, or positive & negative controls etc.

Features of Ames Study Manager

• Accommodates any experimental design
• Versatile sharing of concurrent positive and negative controls
• Manual or automatic count entry
• Plates can be flagged for observations such as contamination, precipitation etc
• Uses an Oracle database for complete security of data and audit trails
• Seamless integration with Microsoft Word for generation of interim and final reports
• Individually definable access rights for five different user levels
• Complies with GLP guidelines & FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Final Rule on Electronic Records & Electronic Signatures

All data is securely held within an Oracle database and experimental reports are readily generated in Microsoft Word. The system is fully compliant with GLP and FDA 21 CFR Part 11. The Ames Study Manager can accept manual count entry or be used in conjunction with the Sorcerer automatic colony counter to create a total solution for the Ames test.

Sorcerer Colony Counter

Ames colony counting system

The Sorcerer automatic colony counter combines sophisticated image processing and analysis with an innovative Petri-viewer to provide fast, accurate counts of revertant colonies. It has a choice of incident, transmitted & dark-field illumination to facilitate counting on all combinations of test substances in Vogel-Bonner or alternative media.

Sorcerer Colony Counting System

• Instant automatic plate counting for microbial and mammalian cultures.
• Proven range of applications including Ames tests, MLA, UDS, V79, HPRT, SBA & OPKA.
• Sophisticated image processing with advanced colony separation and classification techniques
• Meet regulatory requirements with Sorcerer’s comprehensive compliance options
• Oracle database connectivity for optimal security of result and audit data
• GLP and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance with audit trails, user permissions and database security
• Comprehensively tested and validated in accordance with our Quality Management System which is approved to ISO 9001:2008 incorporating ISO 90003

View the Ames Study Manager datasheet | View the Sorcerer Colony Counter datasheet
Linus Pauling Institute - Ames test overview