Thermo Fisher Introduces InstaFlux for Food Labs

Thermo Fisher Scientific announced the global launch of Thermo Scientific™ InstaFlux™, an integrated media-on-demand enrichment workflow that helps food microbiology laboratories simplify media preparation, improve productivity and enhance sample traceability.  

Food testing laboratories face growing pressure to process more samples, meet turnaround expectations and maintain consistent quality while managing staffing constraints, sustainability goals and increasingly complex workflows.12 The InstaFlux workflow enables laboratories to prepare media on demand in less than 30 minutes* and supports a simplified process to sample incubation. The workflow can help reduce media prep labor by more than 80%*, support greater than 35% workflow cost savings* and lower water and energy consumption by up to 90%*, depending on laboratory workflow and operating conditions. Rather than preparing and storing large batches of enrichment media, laboratories can prepare only the media they need when they need it. 

Unlike traditional batch-based media preparation, which often requires advance planning, autoclaving, bottle handling and media storage, Thermo Scientific InstaFlux enables laboratories to prepare enrichment media when needed. "As food testing demands continue to grow, laboratories need solutions that help them do more with the resources they have," said Claribel Purcell, interim president of the microbiology business at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Thermo Scientific InstaFlux reflects our commitment to helping customers modernize enrichment workflows through a simpler, on-demand approach that supports productivity, traceability and long-term operational sustainability." 

The InstaFlux workflow enables specific capabilities, including: 

• Media on demand: Helps laboratories prepare enrichment media when needed, reducing reliance on manual, batch-based preparation. 

• Workflow efficiency: Helps reduce hands-on media preparation steps while supporting barcode-driven workflows, digital audit trails and LIMS-ready data integration when preparing food samples. 

• Validated performance: Supports gravimetric dispensing across 10 g to 125 g workflows in accordance with ISO 11133 and ISO 6887-1 and ISO 7218, when validated by the laboratory. 

• Sustainability and operator safety: Helps reduce packaging, plastic waste, water use, energy consumption and manual handling compared with conventional media and sample preparation workflows. 

InstaFlux is designed for high- and mid-throughput food microbiology laboratories, including contract testing laboratories and food manufacturers seeking to improve throughput, standardize workflows across sites and reduce the operational burden associated with traditional media preparation. The workflow is particularly relevant for laboratories using buffered peptone water in routine enrichment workflows, where staffing, space, preparation time, traceability and waste can create operational constraints. 

Laboratories interested in learning more about Thermo Scientific InstaFlux or requesting a demonstration should contact their Thermo Fisher representative, visit www.thermofisher.com/instaflux or visit booth 200 at the upcoming International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Conference from July 26 – 29, 2026. 

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