Accuri Cytometers

About Accuri Cytometers

Accuri Cytometers originated as a University of Michigan spinoff, co-founded by Jennifer Baird and Collin Rich, to address critical barriers in life science research. The company identified that the high cost, complexity, and large size of existing flow cytometers limited their accessibility for many scientists. To solve this, Accuri developed and manufactured personal, bench-top flow cytometers, focusing on affordability, ease of use, and a small footprint. This strategy targeted individual laboratories rather than just specialized core facilities, aiming to make cell analysis a more routine and accessible tool for a broader range of researchers.

The company's primary product, the Accuri C6 Flow Cytometer, was engineered from the ground up based on extensive feedback from hundreds of researchers. It featured a compact, robust design with pre-optimized optics, including blue and red lasers, light scatter detectors, and four fluorescence detectors, which simplified operation by eliminating the need for manual voltage adjustments. A key differentiator was its non-pressurized fluidics system, which allowed for the direct calculation of absolute cell counts without beads and reduced operating costs by using standard lab-grade water for its sheath fluid. The accompanying intuitive software was developed in partnership with Menlo Innovations to ensure that even users with minimal training could collect and analyze data efficiently.

Accuri's business model revolved around the direct sale of these instrument systems to life science researchers in academic, pharmaceutical, and clinical laboratories. Its market entry strategy successfully created a new segment for personal, affordable flow cytometers. The company experienced rapid growth, tripling its sales to over $10 million in 2009. This success culminated in its acquisition by Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) in 2011 for $205 million, a move that allowed BD to expand its presence into the personal flow cytometer market and reach researchers in new disciplines and developing regions. Now operating as a subsidiary of BD, the technology continues to be developed, with products like the BD Accuri C6 Plus building on the original's success.