RECENT PRODUCT NEWS

bioMérieux has launched the VIDAS 3 automated immunoassay system, which is designed to help healthcare professionals meet the new challenges of a rapidly changing regulatory and economic environment.

The new Safestore vented chemical storage cabinets from Air Science are ideal for storage of noxious or odorous chemicals. The cabinets minimise health and environmental risks in handling chemical vapours and residues, and general laboratory functions.

Delivering on its commitment to advance and optimise clinical diagnostic laboratories, Beckman Coulter has launched a new benchtop haematology analyser for mid- to high-volume laboratories. Building on the company’s proven cellular analysis technology, Beckman Coulter’s UniCel DxH 600 Coulter cellular analysis system provides laboratories with exceptional quality results, improved first-pass accuracy and automatic rerun and reflex testing, thereby reducing overall manual review rates and processes.

Cognex has announced a new version of the In-Sight Track & Trace identification and data verification solution for healthcare serialisation. A follow-up to successful deployments of In-Sight Track & Trace 1.0, this version includes enhancements that address additional requirements to achieve unit-level product traceability.

Molecular diagnostics company Cepheid helped to bring together prominent scientists and clinicians from across the UK at the recent British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) Spring Meeting, where the latest healthcare trends and scientific breakthroughs in this important field were discussed.

Building on the success and principles of SMART Automation, Sakura Finetek has introduced the next step in total laboratory automation to the histopathology laboratories with the launch of the Tissue-Tek AutoSection Automated Microtome.

BioCote, the antimicrobial solutions provider, has demonstrated that its antimicrobial technology can eliminate over 99.9% of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is a family of bacteria that, over the past decade, have caused increasing problems in healthcare environments. Most commonly, CRE-related infections occur among individuals who are hospitalised, critically ill or who require invasive devices such as ventilators as part of their healthcare. They are dangerous because they are resistant to the carbapenem antibiotics, which are recognised as being among the most powerful antibiotics available.

Menarini Diagnostics has been a market leader in HbA1c analysis in the UK for over 25 years, and has now announced the latest addition to its family of analysers, the B-analyst, a point-of-care (POC) analyser. B-analyst uses a special cartridge and the latest state-of-the-art technology to give high accuracy and excellent precision, providing laboratory standard results in the POC setting.

Ocean Optics has expanded its range of customised products for optical sensing with the EMBED miniature spectrometer, a small-footprint optical bench with minimal electronics Designed around a next-generation optical bench, EMBED provides excellent thermal stability and measurement reliability, yet contains only essential electronics to reduce footprint and simplify integration.

Signatrol has launched a new dual-temperature transmitter to its wireless SpYdaq temperature and humidity monitoring system that enables users to monitor temperature at two locations in close proximity (eg refrigerators), reducing costs and making it particularly suitable for blood storage applications.

Kratom is a designer drug originating from Mitragyna speciosa, an uncontrolled plant found in South East Asia. The designer drug has gained significant popularity in recent years due to its widespread availability on the internet and in head shops. It is marketed as a way to combat fatigue, pain and depression. The new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), developed by Randox Toxicology, is the first immunoassay drug test for Kratom, providing a rapid solution for the detection of mitragynine and its metabolites.

The Spectroline CL-150 series ultraviolet (UV) enable laboratory personnel to view, analyse and photograph fluorescent samples with epi-illumination and transillumination light sources. A removable bottom panel allows either unit to be placed directly over the transilluminator. The 25-W white light bulb in the cabinet provides visible illumination for easy sample preparation.

CoolLED’s single-wavelength pE-100 is now available in several different configurations so that the user can select the optimal light delivery to the sample. The pE-100 can be configured with a fixed 3-mm liquid light-guide, and also one metre and three metre long light-guides can be specified.

Phenomenex has announced a new program to replace traditional method development posters that adorn laboratory walls. Distributed as a helpful tool by many manufacturers, these posters offered a starting point for researchers but added to laboratory clutter.

Providing high-quality testing on a compact and easy-to-use clinical chemistry analyser, the RX daytona plus from Randox ensures superior performance in the laboratory. This bench-top, fully automated, random-access clinical chemistry analyser allows real cost savings through consolidation of routine and specialised testing on one platform.

West Control Solutions can provide a range of exceptionally durable temperature controllers that deliver long service even in the most demanding applications. The CAL range of controllers has been designed as an easy-to-use, low-cost option for regulating temperature in a variety of applications.

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics has released the RAPIDLab 348EX blood gas system, the latest solution in its blood gas testing portfolio in the UK. The RAPIDLab 348EX builds on Siemens proven technology and offers enhanced features to deliver reliable critical care testing that is economical, especially for lower-volume testing sites.

Forth Valley Royal Hospital has been able to reduce lengths of stay and ward admissions for patients presenting with chest pain, as well as ensuring rapid referral for patients with positive findings, through the introduction of a Chest Pain Assessment Unit (CPAU). This offers streamlined patient care and rapid access to diagnostic testing, including troponin T testing, using the Roche cobas h 232point- of-care (POC) cardiac marker system.

CoolLED’s light-emitting diode (LED) technology now offers an attractive alternative to the halogen lamps previously used for broad-spectrum illumination through the diascopic (transmitted) port of a microscope.

Tecan has developed an AlphaScreen module for its popular Infinite F200 PRO ultimode reader, providing customers with a cost-effective solution for AlphaScreen and AlphaLISA assays.