Probe Specifications
Manufacturer | Hamilton Process Analytics |
Model | Incyte Arc Expert 120 |
Part Number | 243950-0211 |
Measurement principle | Capacitance / dielectric spectroscopy |
Measurement outputs | Viable Cell Density (×10⁶ cells/mL), Conductivity (mS/cm) |
Measurement interval | Every 5 minutes |
VCD measurement range | 0–100 ×10⁶ cells/mL |
Connection type | M12 expansion port |
Autoclave compatible | Yes (140°C, 30-minute sterilization duration) |
Operating temperature range | 0 to 60 °C |
Probe dimensions | 120mm length (PG13.5 thread) |
Important Note: Cables
Cable pinouts may vary among probe suppliers. If another PAT probe was previously connected to the expansion port, disconnect the cable before attaching the VCD probe and cable. Only used cables approved by Culture Biosciences for the expansion port and matched to the appropriate PAT probe, otherwise damage may occur to the probe or the bioreactor.
Approved Cables for Hamilton Incyte Arc Expert 120:
Data Cable VP8 / M12 - recommended length 1m (Part # 10070910) to minimize excess cabling. Contact your Culture Bio representative, custom lengths may be available for your Stratyx system.
Physical Setup
Before starting your experiment, sterilize and install the probe:
Autoclave the VCD probe separately from the vessel according to the sterilization procedure in the Hamilton user manual.
Inside a biosafety cabinet, insert the sterile probe into the vessel headplate and secure it firmly in the PG13.5 port.
Connect the probe cable's M12 end to the M12 expansion port on the top of the bay during setup. See below for location of expansion port.
When the vessel has been secured in the bioreactor, attach the VP8 end of the cable to the probe.
Location of the M12 expansion port, above the BNC connection for the optional analog pH probe. Note that the analog pH probe uses the same PG-13.5 port on the vessel as other probes, so both cannot be used simultaneously.
Enabling the Probe in Console
The VCD probe must be enabled in Console before data collection begins. Choose the method that fits your workflow.
Option 1: Via SVE Script
Include a "Perform Single Point VCD Calibration" function or the "Wait for VCD Value" block anywhere in your script. Console will automatically detect that the VCD probe is required and enable it when the run starts.
No extra settings available. Mark Zero calibration command is sent to the probe as soon as this block is reached. See Calibration section below for more information on Mark Zero (single point baseline calibration).
Available conditions: "Greater than or equal to" and "Less than or equal to"
Option 2: Enable Probe Via Live Controls
To enable the probe on a run that is already in progress:
Navigate to the Experiment Dashboard for the active run.
Select Live Controls.
In the Calibration: VCD Probe section, set Probe Enabled to Yes and submit.
To stop the probe during an active run, return to Live Controls and set Probe Enabled to No. Any active probe alerts will resolve automatically.
Calibrating the Probe
Calibration is a two-step process. Step 1 is required before inoculation; Step 2 is optional.
Step 1: Mark Zero (required)
When: Before inoculation, once the vessel is filled with blank media and at stable operating temperature.
How: Include the "Perform Single Point VCD Calibration" function in your SVE script, positioned before inoculation. When the script reaches this step, the probe zeros its baseline against the current blank media signal.
Recommendation: To ensure a stable temperature, we recommend placing the "Wait for temperature" block and an extra "Wait for Time Block" in front of the Mark Zero calibration (e.g. 15 min) to ensure a stable temperature prior to the calibration.
Once complete, the VCD - Mark Zero Applied column in Live Controls changes from No to Yes, and the Cell Factor and Offset fields become editable.
Important: If Mark Zero is not applied in blank media before inoculation, VCD readings may be inaccurate. If the VCD Data Out of Range alert fires, check whether Mark Zero was applied correctly.
Step 2: Adjust Cell Factor and Offset (optional)
After Mark Zero has been applied, fine-tune the calibration from Live Controls → Calibration: VCD Probe.
Cell Factor (default: 1) — Scales the probe output to match offline measurements for your cell line. If a previous experiment with your cell line established a more accurate value, enter it here.
Offset (default: 0) — Applies a fixed correction to the baseline. Use if offline measurements show a consistent difference from the probe reading.
Enter the desired value in the respective field and submit. Changes apply from the point of submission forward and do not alter previously recorded data.
Using VCD in Your SVE Script
Wait for VCD Value
Pauses script execution until the VCD reading meets a defined condition, then automatically advances to the next step.
Required settings:
Target value — the VCD threshold in ×10⁶ cells/mL
Condition — ≥ (greater than or equal to) or ≤ (less than or equal to)
Advanced settings:
Condition type — how the condition is evaluated:
Mean (default) — the average VCD over the condition duration must meet the target
Median — the median VCD over the condition duration must meet the target
Continuous — VCD must remain above/below the target without interruption
Condition duration — how long the condition must be satisfied before the script advances (default: 25 minutes)
Viewing VCD Data
Once the probe is running, VCD and conductivity data are available in Online Data, Workspaces, and included in data exports. Measurements are recorded every 5 minutes.
Measurement | Display Name in Workspaces | Units |
Viable Cell Density | VCD - Viable Cell Density Online Probe | ×10⁶ cells/mL |
Conductivity | VCD - Conductivity (mS/cm) | mS/cm |
Cell Factor | VCD - Cell Factor | - |
Offset | VCD - Offset (pF/cm) | pF/cm |
Mark Zero status | VCD - Mark Zero Applied | 0 - Not applied 1 - Applied |
Example VCD data for two replicate bioreactor runs.
Alerts and Troubleshooting
While the probe is active, alerts may appear in the Alarms and Alerts Dashboard. Most alerts auto-resolve when the underlying condition clears. Disabling the probe also resolves any active alerts.
No VCD Data
Severity: High
Console has not received a new VCD reading in the expected window. This may indicate the probe is not connected, powered off, or that data collection has stalled.
What to check:
Confirm the M12 cable is securely connected to the bay's expansion port.
Confirm the probe is powered on and seated properly in the vessel.
Review any other active VCD alerts for additional context.
VCD Data Out of Range
Severity: High
The latest VCD reading is outside the expected range (0–100 ×10⁶ cells/mL).
What to check:
Confirm that Mark Zero was performed in blank media before inoculation.
Review the Cell Factor and Offset values in Live Controls for your cell line.
Check for other active VCD alerts that may explain the out-of-range reading.
Calibration Error
Severity: High
A calibration command (Mark Zero, Cell Factor, or Offset) failed to execute. The alert message identifies which command failed and resolves automatically once a subsequent calibration attempt succeeds.
What to check:
Confirm the probe cable is securely connected.
Retry the calibration from Live Controls or clear the calibration.
If the error persists, contact Culture support at support@culturebiosciences.com.
Probe Warnings
Severity: High
The probe has reported a condition that may affect measurement quality. Warnings auto-resolve when the condition clears.
Warning | What it means |
VCD below calibration range | VCD reading is below the probe's calibrated floor. Readings may be less reliable. |
VCD above calibration range | VCD reading is above the probe's calibrated ceiling. Readings may be less reliable. |
Temperature below/above limit | Probe temperature is outside the expected operating range. |
Too many sterilization cycles | The probe has exceeded its rated autoclave cycle count. Consider replacing it. |
Supply voltage too low | Check the M12 cable connection. Contact support. |
SNR too high | May indicate probe fouling or interference. Inspect the probe and connections. Clean probe according to Hamilton recommendations. |
Probe Errors
Severity: Critical
The probe has reported a hardware fault. Errors auto-resolve when the condition clears. Contact Culture support at support@culturebiosciences.com if a critical error appears.
Error | What it means |
Temperature sensor defective | The probe's internal temperature sensor has failed. Contact Culture. |
Internal error (various) | Internal hardware or firmware fault. Contact Culture. |
Hamilton Documentation
For topics not covered in this guide, refer to the Hamilton Incyte Arc Expert 120 product page or the Hamilton user manual. Topics covered there include probe cleaning, general maintenance, sterilization procedures, and operation using the ArcAir desktop software.
In Development
Automated viral vector transfection triggering — Use the VCD probe to automatically initiate transfection when cells reach a target density, eliminating the need for manual triggering. This will include a "Start Transfection Mixing" SVE function that integrates directly with "Wait for VCD Value" for fully automated or operator-confirmed workflows.
For questions about upcoming features, contact us at support@culturebiosciences.com.
For questions or troubleshooting assistance, contact the Culture support team at support@culturebiosciences.com or use the messenger in the bottom-right corner of Console.