Comet Assay IV™

The Gold Standard in Comet Assay Scoring

Comet Assay IV is a single-click scoring software that streamlines comet assay analysis, delivering fast, accurate, and reproducible results. It is the preferred tool of the team behind the OECD comet assay guidelines, making it the gold standard for data integrity and workflow efficiency.

See for yourself how Comet Assay IV can provide consistency and speed for your analyses. Request your Comet Assay IV demo today!

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What is Comet Assay IV?

Comet Assay IV is a semi-automated comet assay scoring system that removes the need for manual scoring, box-drawing, or parameter setup. Its intuitive single-click interface and built-in tools, such as the Excel-based “Spreadsheet Generator” macro, make it easy to collect, process, and interpret data quickly and reliably. Comet Assay IV is widely trusted in the scientific community and is referenced in around two-thirds of comet assay-related publications on PubMed.

Comet assays are inherently complex and often challenging to perform consistently across users and over time. They also generate large volumes of data which can be challenging to analyze and manage.

Comet Assay IV addresses these challenges with an easily deployed, user-friendly system that delivers accurate, reproducible results with a single click, while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

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Key Benefits of Comet Assay IV

Improved Accuracy

Comet Assay IV uses a consistent scoring algorithm that automatically adjusts for background and brightness variations, removing the variability introduced by manual settings. This ensures highly reproducible results across users, experiments, and timepoints.

Improved Compliance

Comet Assay IV provides audit trails, ensures compliance with GLP and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 regulations, and is the preferred system of the team that developed the OECD Comet Assay guidelines, making it a tried and trusted choice.

Greater Speed

This solution does not require hardware installations and allows users to select which comets to analyze with a single click. Multiple data points are recorded automatically for each comet, streamlining data collection and boosting workflow speed.

Comprehensive Results

Comet Assay IV records all key comet parameters, including tail length, tail % DNA, and tail moment, alongside damaged cells like hedgehogs, ensuring no critical data is missed during analysis.

Core Features/Modules

Comet Assay IV provides an intuitive, high-performance platform for fast, accurate, and reproducible comet assay scoring through several core capabilities.

Single-Click Scoring

Comet Assay IV offers a one-click scoring feature to quickly analyze comets without manual outlining or parameter setup, reducing user variability and increasing scoring efficiency.

Live Video Imaging

The tool supports real-time live video imaging to capture multiple comet parameters including tail length, tail % DNA, and tail moment, facilitating faster and deeper analyses.

Hedgehog Counter

Comet Assay IV includes an integrated hedgehog counter to help record highly damaged cells, ensuring complete data capture across all damage levels.

Spreadsheet Generator Macro

Comet Assay IV features a built-in “Spreadsheet Generator” macro to automatically produce graphs, statistics, and frequency distributions, simplifying reporting and enhancing data interpretation.

Data Export

This software enables direct export of results to Oracle databases or compatible platforms, supporting seamless data integration and long-term storage.

Integration with Cyto Study Manager

Data generated using Comet Assay IV can be integrated with Cyto Study Manager to support full genetox study oversight, enabling unified data collection, analysis, and reporting across studies.

Why Choose Comet Assay IV?

Comet Assay IV is the platform of choice for conducting comet assays and is widely recognized as the gold standard for both discovery and GLP-compliant environments.

Establishing genotoxicity protocols is complex, and analyzing data is even more challenging, especially across large, multi-site teams. Furthermore, reaching agreement on a standard solution to adopt adds further difficulty.

Comet Assay IV eliminates uncertainty by offering a trusted, consistent platform for labs committed to performing high-quality, regulatory-aligned comet assays. Its validated algorithm removes the need for ongoing optimization, ensuring reproducible results across users, experiments, and time.

The software requires no dedicated hardware, reducing upfront costs and simplifying deployment. As teams grow, Comet Assay IV remains a consistent, cost-effective solution that supports long-term success. Unlike alternative methods that can take hours to analyze a single slide, Comet Assay IV empowers researchers to complete scoring in minutes, saving time while improving reproducibility.

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How It Works

Provantis streamlines workflows with an integrated, user-friendly platform covering all preclinical study phases.

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Connect

Plug in the camera and begin working without the need for hardware installation or configuration.

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Prepare

Load comet slides and annotate files for accurate tracking and easy sample identification.

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Score and Measure

Score comets with a single click from live video or images while automatically capturing all key measurement parameters.

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Analyze

Count hedgehogs, apply pseudo-color visualization, and use macros for streamlined data processing.

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Report

Instantly generate graphs and export data using the built-in Spreadsheet Generator tool.

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Comply

Ensure full GLP and FDA 21 CFR compliance with secure access, audit trails, and e-signatures.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Comet Assay IV is recognized as the leading platform for performing comet assays. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we receive about how it enhances comet assay workflows.

Can Comet Assay IV be used with different cell types and levels of DNA damage?

Yes. Comet Assay IV supports scoring across a wide range of species, cell sizes, and damage levels without needing custom settings.

How long does it take to score a slide?

With single-click scoring, users can analyze a full comet slide in under two minutes.

Does it work with archived images or only live video?

Comet Assay IV allows users to score comets from both live video and saved images, offering flexibility in workflows and enabling reanalysis of archived images.

What kind of support is available?

Instem offers comprehensive support, including online resources, validation packages, and assistance with system setup and user training.

Is the software difficult to learn?

No. Comet Assay IV is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, with minimal training required.

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Comet Assay IV sets the global standard for comet assay accuracy and efficiency with consistent, single-click scoring. It instantly captures comprehensive data and integrates it into spreadsheets, allowing researchers to process slides quickly and confidently, ensuring both high data quality and regulatory compliance.

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