RECENT PRODUCT NEWS

The DxN VERIS, available from Beck Diagnostics, is a fully automated system for molecular diagnostics that is simple to use. DxN VERIS has all necessary consumables and reagents onboard, so tests can be up and running in less than 10 minutes, as there is no lengthy set-up.

Mast has announced the launch of its new, fourth-generation antibiotic disc dispenser, re-engineered to optimise performance of dispensing antibiotic susceptibility test (AST), combination and identification discs in the Mastdiscs range.

Mast has launched a new addition to the Mastdiscs stock cartridge range, Ceftolozane/tazobactam 30/10 (C/T40C). Merck has launched the intravenous antibiotic Zerbaxa (ceftolozane/tazobactam) in the UK for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections, acute pyelonephritis and complicated urinary tract infections in nosocominal environments.

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology has introduced its new 530 peristaltic cased pump for upstream and downstream bioprocessing tasks, building on a platform of precise, high-purity peristaltic technology. New features include colour HMI display and intuitive menu structures that provide visual status indication and minimal key strokes.

The newly CE-marked range of Thermo Scientific environmental chambers provides temperature control above and below ambient. There are two models available, the wide temperature units with humidity (available in 311 L and 821 L) and a heat?only model (available in 821 L) that is tailored for large?scale clinical applications and microbiology. For applications that require close control of a CO2 environment, there is an optional infrared CO2 package available that can be added to the wide temperature model.

Air Science has introduced its new line of biological safety cabinets. The Purair BIO is designed to protect individuals, the environment and products from various biological particulates. As a Class 2 Type A2 biosafety cabinet, the Purair BIO minimises and contains biosafety level 1–3 agents, maintaining negative pressure inside the cabinet during operation to prevent contaminants from escaping the work area.

Maximising the information captured from life and materials science samples is now possible with ease and simplicity, with the new Olympus UC90 microscope camera. The UC90 captures and documents real-life details, while a 4K UHD mode supports users in maximising the many benefits of complete on-screen operation.

Torrey Pines Scientific has announced its EchoTherm models IC30 and IC30XT, Peltier-driven high-capacity chilling/heating dry baths capable of handling various sized sample blocks. The IC30 (–10°C to 100°C) and IC30XT (–20°C to 100°C) can freeze, chill or heat samples in various sample blocks that can hold 0.2–50 mL centrifuge tubes, test tubes, vials, assay plates and even round-bottom flasks.

Meridian Bioscience has announced that it has received the CE Mark for illumigene Malaria, a test developed by the company with technical assistance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal.

Vitech Scientific has announced additional products to join the existing line up of anaerobic jars used with the Anoxomat system. The Mart Microbiology standard jars have, over the years, provided laboratories with reliable performance in a wide range of anaerobic culturing applications.

The GeneCatcher, available from the Gel Company, provides a simple and inexpensive way of removing bands from gels in a simple two-step process.

Rainin's recently launched TerraRack pipette tip racks, available in the UK from Anachem, are already proving popular in the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) research and diagnostics core facility at the University of California, Davis. The laboratory, part of the School of Veterinary Medicine, performs molecular diagnostic assays for veterinary practices across the USA, as well as nucleic acid extraction and qPCR for external research studies, relying on high-quality

Maximising the information captured from life and materials science samples is now possible with ease and simplicity, with the new Olympus UC90 microscope camera. Thanks to a range of innovative features, the UC90 captures and documents real-life details, while a 4K UHD mode supports users in overcoming the limitations of the oculars with the many benefits of complete on-screen operation.

Hologic has continued its expansion into the virology testing market, having earned CE?IVD certification for the Aptima hepatitis C virus (HCV) Quant Dx assay on the fully automated Panther system.

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics has launched the handheld and portable Xprecia Stride coagulation analyser to deliver fast, reliable testing in any clinical environment. The analyser can be used for prothrombin time testing (PT/INR) for point-of-care (POC) monitoring and management of oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) with warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist.

The Panther instrument from Hologic combines full automation with the assay performance of the Aptima Combo 2 and Aptima HPV assays, allowing customers the freedom to control their molecular workflow for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing. Hologic has now launched the Aptima HIV-1 Quant DX assay, the first assay in a viral load menu that will soon include hepatitis C and hepatitis B for the Panther instrument.

Cognitor Minus, available from Pro-Lab Diagnostics, gives a confirmed negative result, direct from blood culture, the day following sample receipt by the laboratory, with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.5%.

Vivantis Technologies has established a European centre to support and promote the sales and distribution of its product range. Vivantis specialises in the production of restriction enzymes, DNA extraction kits, DNA amplification reagents (including kits for molecular biology applications), recombinant enzymes, improved protein stains, markers and ladders. To mark this event, Vivantis is running a promotion for its GF-1 nucleic acid extraction kits, which provide a rapid and efficient method for purification of nucleic acid from various samples.

Sakura Finetek has launched the Tissue-Tek AutoTEC a120, a second-generation, fully automated tissue embedder that eliminates the labour-intensive need to manually orient and embed tissue specimens and form tissue or cell paraffin blocks. The AutoTEC technology, combined with the Paraform Sectionable Cassette System, ensures that the orientation of specimens is locked from grossing to microtomy for all routine tissue types, thereby eliminating the risk of orientation mistakes and tissue loss for increasing patient safety.

Wheaton recently introduced MicroLiter Certified Clean Vials, designed to allow more reliable transfer of samples to the autosampler. Critical physical dimensions and chemical cleanliness are fully tested to ensure that no trace residues are present, with each vial cleaned and packaged in a certified Class 10,000 cleanroom using a process developed to eliminate vial-associated errors.