Guava Technologies

The core of Guava Technologies' offering was its proprietary microcapillary flow cytometry platform. This technology distinguished itself from traditional flow cytometers by eliminating the need for sheath fluid, which allowed for smaller sample volumes, generated less waste, and offered lower operational costs. The company's product line included several instrument systems like the Guava PC and easyCyte, which were designed to be user-friendly, enabling researchers not specialized in flow cytometry to conduct complex cellular analyses. These systems provided absolute cell counts without requiring reference beads.

Accompanying the hardware, Guava Technologies developed a portfolio of turnkey assays for various applications, such as cell counting and viability, apoptosis detection, cell cycle analysis, cytotoxicity, and antibody quantification. One of its notable products was the Guava EasyCD4 system for monitoring the treatment of HIV/AIDS. The business model revolved around selling these integrated systems, which included the instrument, software, and the specific reagent kits for different biological assays. A significant milestone was achieving ISO 13485 certification in 2007 for the design and manufacture of medical devices. After over a decade of operation and reaching a user base of over 1,300 worldwide, Guava Technologies was acquired by Millipore Corporation in early 2009 for $22.6 million, marking its exit.