What is LACTOSCAN?
LACTOSCAN is a trade name of measuring instruments for the Dairy Industry. LACTOSCAN offers series of portable ultrasonic milk analyzers for quick analyses of fat, solids-non-fat (SNF), proteins, lactose, added water, temperature, freezing point, pH, solids, conductivity as well as density of one and the same milk sample directly after milking, at collection and during processing. Also, it offers Thermostatic devices for Antibiotics and Inhibitors tests, and the Somatic cells counter based on the Fluorescence microscopy technique for cells counting.
How and where can I use LACTOSCAN milk analyzers?
LACTOSCAN changes milk collection – the milk analyses pass from milk laboratories towards milk collecting centers, farms, and small dairy farms. With 12 V adapters, milk analysis can be moved on the milk collection trucks. Possessing high accuracy and speed, minimal power consumption and lack of consumables make LACTOSCAN milk analyzer attractive for the Dairy industry. Easy to work with, low cost maintenance and low price make LACTOSCAN milk analyzer suitable for dairy farms, milk collection centers, dairy enterprises, milk selection centers and laboratories. LACTOSCAN milk analyzers can be used in small dairy plants for quality assurance and control of important economic parameters as fat and protein where fast and accurate results enable quick adjustments in the production for optimal production economy. LACTOSCAN milk analyzers can also be used for pioneering quality-based payment schemes in places where payment analysis is decentralized and require a smaller number of daily tests. The fast and accurate results enable offering immediate and fair payment to the milk producers. LACTOSCAN milk analyzers is a solution for milk composition analysis used within: milk payment analysis to ensure a fair payment to the dairy farmers, milk standardization to improve the quality, process control and economy in dairies, Dairy Herd Improvement to optimize feeding and breeding practices.
Is it possible LACTOSCAN Thermostatic devices to be used with any type of 12V switching adaptor?
No, the different types of 12V switching adaptor have different amperage. LACTOSCAN Thermostatic devices must be used only with the 12 V switching adaptor with 3A amperage which included in the set. If you use it with another 12V switching adaptor, for example, with 2A amperage, the switching adaptor won’t be able to supply the device, the protection of the switching adaptor will activate and the thermostatic device won’t switch on.
What are the advantages of the Ultrasonic method compared to the Infrared technology?
The Ultrasound technology overcomes some of the basic disadvantages of the infrared technology. Due to the ultrasound technology:
- LACTOSCAN milk analyzers measure directly cold milk samples starting at 5°C.
- There is no need of LACTOSCAN milk analyzers‘ periodical calibration.
- The measurement accuracy of LACTOSCAN milk analyzers is not dependent on milk‘s acidity.
- Analyzing any kind of milk.
What are the advantages of LACTOSCAN milk analyzers when compared to the rest of the ultrasonic milk analyzers?
| LACTOSCAN MILK ANALYZERS |
OTHER ULTRASONIC MILK ANALYZERS |
| Milk sample temperature from 5 to 40°C |
Milk sample temperature only from 15 to 30°C |
|
FAT measuring range 0 — 25%
|
FAT measuring range only 0,5 — 9% |
| Ambient temperature range 5 — 35°C |
Ambient temperature range only 15 — 30°C |
| Calibration, possible to be done in every laboratory |
Can be calibrated only from the producing company |
What are the advantages of LACTOSCAN milk analyzers when compared to the Тraditional chemical methods?
| FEATURES |
LACTSOCAN MILK ANALYZERS |
CHEMICAL FAST TESTING |
| Analysis time |
Approx. 60, 30 sec. |
> 12 minutes |
| Parameters |
FAT, Protein, Lactose, Solids-non-fat, Freezing point depression, Added water, Milk temperature,Solids, Density. |
Fat only |
| Operation |
Operator independent;
For non-skilled users. |
Very operator dependent;
For skilled laboratory personnel. |
| Measurement |
Automatic |
Manual |
| Stability |
Simple and robust construction and no human errors. |
Includes many accessories in testing and human handling. |
| Accuracy |
2% CV |
~ 2.5% CV |
| Sample handling |
No sample treatment - analysis of cold samples |
Centrifuging, water bath, chemicals |
| Reagents |
No reagents |
Hazardous chemicals — e.g.sulphuric acid |
| Technology |
Ultrasonic technology |
Approved reference method |
| Safety |
Offers operator safety |
Not safe to use |
| Value of ownership |
Low cost per analysis and quick adjustment in production for optimal production economy. For Cost per Milk Sample Comparison. |
Costs for glass bottles, butyrometers, centrifuge, chemicals, labor and long testing time => delay in production adjustment. |
What are the most frequent falsifications in milk and in what way LACTOSCAN milk analyzers help preventing them?
- Falsifications - aiming increasing the volume of the milk – added water, fat detraction, double falsification (simultaneously added water and fat detraction), adding whey, or other liquids.
- Falsifications, when unusual substances are added. The aim of this is to cover another kind of falsification or to stop turning the milk foxy. For this purpose are used flour or farina when there is added water to the milk, and soda bicarbonate when the milk is with increased acidity and different aseptic substances.
- Mixing different kinds of milk and offering it as more valuable kind. Mixing goat and sheep’s milk and offering it as a sheep's, have skimmed cow milk with whole buffalo for whole sheep’s etc.
What has to be done in case I need to print out the measurement results?
In order to print out the results connect the printer towards the analyzer via two cables: interface cable and power cable 12V and switch on the printer.
The way of connecting is shown on the scheme in the Operation manual. If you prepare cables yourselves or want to connect another printer, they have to correspond to those, pointed out in the manual.
Which is the data necessary to be told to the service specialist in case that in the process of exploitation there is a need to ask question regarding the analyzer?
Due to the big variety of the analyzers as a result of their continuous improvement you have to send the data, written on the display during the below described initialization procedure i.e. the analyzer's identity.
Receiving the identity of the analyzer:
Switch On the "Power" Button, which starts the identification procedure. For a short time the display shows the number of identity, for example:
Lactoscan SA 50
Vers: 59 23-02-12
Ser.N 5608
You must send us the serial number of the analyzer, engraved at the rear panel together with the following information:
Contact person, name of the company you've bought the analyzer from.
- When was the analyzer bought?
- How long it was working correctly?
- Did you use another analyzer produced by us till now? If yes, how long and how many analyzers you have available at you at the moment?
- Did you calibrate the analyzer or you are working with factory calibrations?
- Did you set, correct, calibrate or repair the analyzer?
- Please, describe the problem of the analyzer in details. If we have no detailed information it will be difficult to help you quickly, because we'll need to ask additional information.
Measuring water samples
I received the milk analyzer from the supplier and decided to try it right away. As there wasn't any milk in the office I've poured water and started measurement. The results seemed to me disturbing.
Example for several consequent measurements:
Fat = 0.05%
Fat = 0.02%
Fat = 0.08%
The results for the rest of the parameters were analogous, even the results for Freezing Point and Added Water were not shown. But when I've changed the water with milk on the following day I was pleasantly surprised, as the results were stable and even with smaller deviations compared to the water samples.
Question: What is the reason?
These are deviations in results, out of the measurement range. We recommend making evaluation only with real milk samples. Water measurements are used only during personnel's training without results interpretation.
When water is measured (instead of milk), Fat results are near to zero, then the results for Freezing point and Added Water are totally wrong, that's why they are not displayed.
I’ve seen on the site that both models LACTOSCAN S and LACTOSCAN SA look in one and the same way. What is the difference between the 2 models?
The biggest difference between the two models LACTOSCAN S and LACTOSCAN SA is the cleaning system. LACTOSCAN S is with one peristaltic pump for the measuring system, while LACTOSCAN SA is with two peristaltic pumps – one dealing with the measuring system and the second one for the cleaning, which allows SA to be automatically cleaned without the operator’s interference.
What is the normal power supply for the analyzer?
In normal mode, the analyzer is powered by a Switching Adapter with output voltage 12V. If the device is powered by another source, for example car battery, a voltage, suitable for the adapter has to be ensured. In case of doubts about the correct work of the analyzer, measure with a multimeter the value of the voltage. It can be done without dismounting the analyzer, but using the coupling for connection of the outer printer. It is next to the power supply coupling; in fact they are 2 parallel couplings.
