Thermo Scientific InstaFlux streamlines food pathogen and environmental testing workflows

Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched Thermo Scientific™ InstaFlux™, an integrated media-on-demand enrichment workflow designed to help food microbiology laboratories, including contract testing laboratories and food manufacturers, simplify media preparation, enhance sample traceability and improve productivity in food pathogen and environmental testing worldwide.

Media-on-demand workflow for food microbiology laboratories

Thermo Scientific InstaFlux is a media-on-demand workflow created for high- and mid-throughput food microbiology laboratories performing food pathogen and environmental testing. The solution is designed to help contract testing laboratories and food manufacturers simplify media preparation, support traceable enrichment workflows and reduce selected manual preparation steps.

Food testing laboratories are under increasing pressure to process more samples, meet strict turnaround times and maintain consistent quality, while also managing staffing constraints, sustainability targets and complex workflows.

InstaFlux is designed to address these challenges by enabling laboratories to prepare only the enrichment media they need, when they need it, rather than relying on traditional batch-based preparation and storage.

Faster media preparation and reduced manual labor

The InstaFlux workflow enables laboratories to prepare media on demand in less than 30 minutes* and supports a simplified process through to sample incubation. By replacing manual, batch-based media preparation with an on-demand approach, the workflow can help reduce media preparation labor by more than 80%, support greater than 35% workflow cost savings and lower water and energy consumption by up to 90%*, depending on the laboratory workflow and operating conditions.

Unlike traditional media preparation, which often requires advance planning, autoclaving, bottle handling and media storage, Thermo Scientific InstaFlux enables laboratories to prepare enrichment media as needed. This approach is designed to help laboratories increase throughput, reduce preparation time and free up staff for higher-value tasks.

Supporting productivity, traceability and digital integration

The InstaFlux workflow supports barcode-driven workflows, digital audit trails and LIMS-ready data integration when preparing food samples. This helps laboratories maintain traceable enrichment workflows, improve data integrity and support consistent, standardized processes across multiple sites.

Validated performance for food pathogen enrichment

Thermo Scientific InstaFlux supports gravimetric dispensing across 10 g to 125 g workflows in accordance with ISO 11133, ISO 6887-1 and ISO 7218, when validated by the laboratory. This performance is designed to support reliable enrichment for routine food pathogen and environmental testing workflows.

The workflow is particularly relevant for laboratories using buffered peptone water in routine enrichment, where staffing, space, preparation time, traceability and waste can create operational constraints.

Sustainability and operator safety benefits

InstaFlux is designed to help reduce packaging, plastic waste, water use and energy consumption compared with conventional media and sample preparation workflows. By minimizing manual handling and reducing the need for large-volume media storage, the workflow also supports operator safety and more efficient use of laboratory space.

These sustainability and safety benefits are intended to support laboratories working toward environmental goals while maintaining high standards in food safety testing.

Designed for high- and mid-throughput food testing laboratories

Thermo Scientific InstaFlux is intended for high- and mid-throughput food microbiology laboratories, including contract testing laboratories and food manufacturers seeking to:

• Improve throughput in food pathogen and environmental testing
• Standardize enrichment workflows across multiple laboratory sites
• Reduce the operational burden associated with traditional media preparation
• Enhance traceability and digital connectivity in sample preparation

By enabling on-demand enrichment media preparation, InstaFlux supports consistent, scalable workflows that can be adapted to changing sample volumes and testing requirements.

*Performance results are based on internal testing, workflow modeling or defined-use evaluations and may vary based on laboratory workflow, sample volume, media type, equipment configuration, operating practices and local validation requirements.

Claims regarding reductions in labor, workflow time, water use, energy use, packaging or waste are based on comparison with defined conventional media preparation workflows under specified conditions. Customers are responsible for validating workflows in accordance with applicable laboratory, regulatory and quality requirements. LIMS integration and data-transfer capabilities depend on system configuration and compatibility.

Availability of products in each country depends on local regulatory marketing authorization status.

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