01 Product Overview

The SWL-2 Real-Time Viable Particle Counter is designed for real-time monitoring of airborne microbial particles in controlled environments.

The instrument draws ambient air into the detection chamber, where airborne particles pass through the optical detection area. A 405 nm laser is used to excite the particles, and the optical system detects the resulting fluorescence signals. Based on the detected fluorescence characteristics, the instrument identifies particles with microbial characteristics and provides real-time monitoring data.

Unlike conventional culture-based methods, which require an incubation period before results can be obtained, SWL-2 provides immediate optical detection information during the measurement process.

The instrument offers detection sensitivity down to a single microbial particle and provides six particle-size channels from 0.3 μm to 10 μm, allowing users to monitor airborne particles across a broad size range.

02 Detection Principle

SWL-2 uses Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) technology for airborne microbial particle detection.

When an airborne particle passes through the laser detection zone, it is illuminated by a 405 nm laser. Certain biological components within microbial particles can generate characteristic fluorescence signals when excited by the laser.

The optical system collects these signals and analyzes the detected fluorescence response, enabling the instrument to identify and count particles with microbial characteristics in real time.

The basic detection process is:

Air Sampling → Laser Excitation → Fluorescence Detection → Signal Analysis → Real-Time Monitoring

This optical detection approach allows users to obtain monitoring information without waiting for microbial growth on culture media.

03 Product Features

• Single-Microbial-Particle Detection Sensitivity

SWL-2 is designed with sensitivity down to a single microbial particle, supporting high-sensitivity monitoring of airborne microbial particles in controlled environments.

• 405 nm Laser-Induced Fluorescence

The instrument uses a 405 nm laser as the excitation source. Fluorescence signals generated by particles are collected and analyzed by the optical detection system.

• Real-Time Monitoring

SWL-2 provides monitoring information during the measurement process, allowing users to observe changes in airborne microbial particle levels without waiting for an incubation period.

• Six Particle-Size Channels

The instrument provides six particle-size channels:

0.3 μm / 0.5 μm / 1.0 μm / 3.0 μm / 5.0 μm / 10.0 μm

This enables simultaneous monitoring and classification of particles across different size ranges.

• No Culture Media Required for Real-Time Detection

The real-time optical detection process does not rely on culture plates or culture media, reducing the need for consumables during routine real-time monitoring.

• Suitable for Continuous Monitoring

Real-time detection makes it possible to collect monitoring data continuously or at defined intervals, helping users observe changes and trends in airborne microbial particle levels.

04 Real-Time Monitoring vs. Traditional Culture-Based Monitoring

Traditional viable microbial monitoring generally follows the process:

Air Sampling → Incubation → Colony Growth → Colony Counting → Result

This approach requires time between sampling and obtaining the final result.

SWL-2 provides an alternative optical monitoring process:

Air Sampling → Optical Detection → Signal Analysis → Real-Time Data

The two methods are based on different detection principles and can serve different purposes within an environmental monitoring program.

SWL-2 is not intended to simply replace conventional culture-based microbiological testing. Instead, it provides real-time information that can complement existing environmental monitoring practices.

05 Application Areas

SWL-2 can be used in environments where rapid monitoring of airborne microbial particles is required.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

SWL-2 can be used for airborne microbial monitoring in pharmaceutical cleanrooms, controlled production areas, and other critical environments.

Real-time monitoring can help users observe environmental changes during production and support contamination investigation.

Biopharmaceutical and Biotechnology Facilities

In biotechnology and biopharmaceutical production environments, airborne conditions may change with personnel activity, equipment operation, and process conditions.

SWL-2 provides real-time monitoring information that can be used to observe these changes.

Healthcare Environments

SWL-2 can be applied in operating rooms and other controlled healthcare environments where airborne microbial conditions require close monitoring.

Cleanroom Environmental Monitoring

For cleanrooms requiring continuous or frequent environmental monitoring, SWL-2 can provide real-time airborne microbial particle data for trend observation and environmental assessment.

06 From Delayed Results to Real-Time Environmental Information

Traditional microbial monitoring mainly answers the question:

What was the final culture result from this sample?

Real-time monitoring provides additional information:

What is happening in the environment now?

This difference becomes particularly important when environmental conditions can change rapidly.

Personnel movement, equipment operation, production activities, and other factors may affect airborne particle conditions. Real-time monitoring allows users to observe changes as they occur and identify the timing of abnormal events.

By collecting data over time, SWL-2 can help transform microbial monitoring from a series of individual sampling results into a more continuous view of environmental changes.

07 Technical Specifications

08 Why Real-Time Viable Particle Monitoring?

For controlled environments, microbial monitoring is not only about obtaining a final test result. Understanding when environmental changes occur and how they develop over time can also provide valuable information for environmental management.

By combining air sampling with 405 nm laser-induced fluorescence detection, SWL-2 provides real-time information on airborne microbial particles without relying on an incubation period.

This makes the SWL-2 suitable for applications where users need to observe airborne microbial conditions more quickly and continuously.

SWL-2 Real-Time Viable Particle Counter

Real-time insight into airborne microbial particles for more responsive environmental monitoring.