The user is led by an intuitive software through a simple measurement procedure. After an initial training on how to use a pipette and how to perform the measurement, anyone can do it – chemical expertise is not needed. Calibration work is not necessary – the sensors come readily factory calibrated.

Turbid beer and juice samples contain microscopic particles making centrifugation or filtration mandatory for optical measurement techniques. Also colored ingredients can cause false results with optical equipment. The DirectSens Alcohol Kit works on the basis of enzymes in combination with electrochemical detection and can therefore accurately measure colored or turbid samples without complex sample preparation. Just dilute the sample with buffer and measure.

No lab environment and no lab personnel are required. Just find any space that is large enough to do the dilution and the measurement and ensure that the room temperature stays between 20 – 24 °C (68 – 75 °F).

The measurement including dilution with buffer takes approximately 2 minutes, for clear and for turbid samples. Beer and other carbonated samples need degassing e.g. by ultrasound prior to the measurement.

A professional QC operation includes periodic check-ups of the system performance. The standard delivery content of each DirectSens® Biosensor setup includes everything that is needed to do this quickly, reliably, easily, and fully traceable, including electronic reporting. Two procedures are supported:

• Measurement performance check: Each Alcohol Kit comes with a vial of positive control to ensure the validity of maltose and glucose results.
• Reader performance check: The reader kit includes an electronic reader check device.

The reader is maintenance free. If sample liquid accidentally enters the biosensor slot, you can exchange the front part of the reader easily and quickly without the need for service people coming to your place. It´s a simple one-screw operation that anyone can do.

You get your measuring data as readily formatted xls or csv files plus pdf report files. The csv data format can be used by LIMS systems to import the data.

The reader fits into the palm of a hand – therefore it does not occupy valuable lab space. Just take it out of the cupboard when you need it.

The housing is made of massive aluminum and protected by rubber bumpers. Not easy to destroy.

We help you to get your measurements right: With product manuals, application notes, tutorial videos, online trainings, technical service, and application support via email, online or phone – fast, competent, and friendly. All services except training are free of charge.

We work under strict quality control and full ISO 9001 certification to ensure that each product leaves our house in full compliance with the specified performance.
We are the only producer of food biosensors holding an AOAC OMA and a Nordval certificate (for the LactoSens®). We are aiming for equivalent external certifications also for our newer products in the future.

All liquids involved in the measurement are water based, nontoxic, nonflammable and can after use be disposed of in the wash basin. Wearing gloves is only necessary in case of allergies against ingredients. The biosensor test strips can be disposed of in standard household waste.

Are you struggling to keep the costs down for your QC operations? Regular measurements not only imply the investment costs for the instrument and the costs per test, but also labor cost, service and maintenance, costs for the lab bench space and labor costs for the time that is needed to bring the sample from the production to a centralized laboratory – if on site measurement is not possible. For low to medium sample throughput, DirectSens® Alcohol is an effective way to save on total costs of operation (TCO).
Interested in a total cost comparison of your alcohol measurement setup versus a biosensoric solution from DirectSens? Then we are looking forward to your request via the contact page.