SomaLite™ somatic cells counting

Somatic cell count (SCC) is an indicator of the quality of milk. Somatic cells are leukocytes or white blood cells.  

The number of somatic cells increases in response to the cow having a pathogenic bacteria, like Staphylococcus aureus. Typically the cows may have an infection called of mastitis which has an effect on the milk. 

The SCC is quantified as cells per mL. General agreement rests on the values of less than 100,000 cells/mL for uninfected cows and greater than 300,000 for cows infected with significant pathogens.

Somalite test results are analyzed using a hand held luminometer which gives counts in somatic cells per mL.

In less than two minutes, milk samples with 200,000 to 1,500,000 somatic cells per mL can be read, with correlation (r = 0.85) compared to other somatic cell counts (Direct Microscopic DMSCC or Electronic ESCC).

SomaLite eliminates the need for dyes, slides, or time consuming counting under the microscope.

The battery powered portable novaLUM or FireFly luminometers do the somatic cell counting and can be used on the farm or in the plant.