At Arionkoder, we believe innovation in life sciences isn’t just about bold theories. It’s about solving the quiet, overlooked bottlenecks that slow researchers down. That belief led us to co-create Titra, an AI-powered tool that automates the counting and measurement of viral plaques from lab images, helping researchers calculate PFU faster, more accurately, and with less manual effort.
Built collaboratively with scientists from Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Titra was designed to fit seamlessly into real lab workflows and remove the burden of repetitive analysis.
The Problem: Manual Work Still Dominates at Labs
In a world where AI can predict protein structures and accelerate drug discovery, many research labs are still covered with repetitive, manual tasks. Despite all our progress, critical processes like viral plaque titration remain time-consuming, error-prone and difficult to scale.
Plaque assays are considered the gold standard in virus titration, but they come at a cost. They’re labor-intensive, demand a high level of attention to detail, and can take hours per plate. Even small mistakes in sample preparation or analysis can compromise the entire result. In some labs, just one or two researchers are responsible for analyzing a very large number of assays each day.
“Counting plaques manually can take up to two hours per plastic,” says Irene Ferreiro, BSc and Researcher. “With this tool, I can save so much time and focus on more important things.”
“Counting plates one by one can be tedious and prone to errors. But with this tool, I can finally streamline my workflow and get accurate results,” adds Mercedes Paz, PhD Student and Researcher.
When I joined the project, we were already mid-way through feedback validation with the Pasteur team. The product still needed polishing, but the value was obvious. I remember Álvaro Fajardo, PhD and Researcher, saying: “I wish I had started using this tool earlier. It would have saved me so much time and effort!”
That’s when it clicked. This was a real need, and we were close to something that could make a meaningful difference.
Building With Scientists, Not For Them
We didn’t ship a solution and ask for validation. We showed up, asked questions, and built it together.
Working with the team at Pasteur was eye-opening. When we tested the mobile workflow, we weren’t sure it would land. Labs are often tied to heavy, expensive hardware, but suddenly, researchers were counting plaques on their phones in minutes. It was a reminder that smart, lightweight solutions can feel powerful when they are deeply connected to a real workflow.
One thing I’ll never forget: they were already happy testing on mobile, but when they opened the desktop version, something changed. The interface, the flow, the clarity. It felt like it had been built specifically for them. That moment of recognition said everything.
“What stood out to me is how fast and intuitive the plaque counting is. You barely have to do anything,” says Sebastián Rey, BSc in Biological Sciences and Researcher.
“This product is valuable because it provides information about our experiments, allowing us to track progress and repeat successful results over time,” adds Joaquín Hurtado, PhD Student and Researcher.
What Titra Does and Why It Matters
Titra is a simple, AI-powered tool for viral plaque titration. No extra hardware. No installations. Just a streamlined, intuitive way to get from image to PFU in minutes.
• Automated plaque recognition trained on real assay data
• 87 percent faster analysis
• Phone-first image capture with full desktop interface
• One-click CSV exports formatted for reports
• Real-time review and manual edits if needed
“I love how organized and intuitive this product is,” says Alicia Costábile, PhD and Researcher.
“I can take a picture and forget about it, knowing it’s safely stored and easily accessible,” adds Sebastián Rey, BSc, Researcher.
“It’s a game changer,” says Mercedes Paz, PhD Student and Researcher.
We’ve watched Titra quietly reduce human error, speed up analysis, and free up researchers’ time for deeper work. That’s where its real value lives.
The Bigger Picture: A Model for Innovation in Science
Titra is not just an app. It’s a window into what becomes possible when science and software evolve together.
These labs, these researchers, are performing repetitive tasks every day in service of something much bigger. They’re working with SARS-CoV-2, testing vaccine responses, advancing treatments. What if they didn’t have to spend so much time just getting to the data?
Now, imagine what could happen if their most manual workflows were fast, reliable, and easy to use. What kind of space would that open for creativity? For better science?
That’s what drives us.
We don’t simply apply AI at Arionkoder. We integrate it into real-world scientific processes. We listen, prototype, iterate, and build tools that respect how labs actually operate.
“I wish I had started using this tool earlier. It would have saved me so much time and effort,” says Álvaro Fajardo, PhD and Researcher.
If You’re a Researcher, This Is For You
Titra is live and already in use, but we’re still building.
The platform is currently open for beta testers, and we’re looking to collaborate with other labs who see the same opportunity we do. This is not a sales pitch. It’s an invitation to co-create something that truly fits your workflow.
Plaque assay for virus titration is only the beginning. There are other methods to improve. Other invisible steps to automate. We are just getting started.
They say AI is here to take our jobs. We don’t believe that. What if AI is here to help us do our best work and deliver faster results for the benefit of everyone?
That’s what we believe at Arionkoder.
If that resonates with you, we’d love to connect.
Visit titra.app to explore the tool and join the beta.
Or reach out to us directly at [email protected].
Let’s build what’s next together.