RECENT PRODUCT NEWS

Dako has launched a full diagnostic panel of antibodies to detect mismatch repair proteins, which are used routinely for the diagnosis and study of colorectal cancer and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma (HNPCC or Lynch syndrome). Absence of staining with one or more antibodies in the panel may indicate lack of functioning mismatch repair proteins.

The Axygen brand of magnetic separation devices (MSDs) has revolutionised manual magnetic bead-based separation processes used in biological research, including nucleic acid purification and clean up, cell-based assays, and antibody and protein purification.

The first fully integrated molecular diagnostic device for real-time gel electrophoresis is being offered as a standalone instrument from Partec. With everything necessary to carry out real-time gel electrophoresis in a single instrument, the Partec CyFox is user-friendly, compact and cost-effective.

CoolLED has launched its pE-200 and pE-300 family of light-emitting diode (LED) light sources that benefit from even greater intensity, are more compact, and offer greater value for money. Common two-wavelength (pE-200) and three-wavelength (pE-300) configurations are available.

The Techne thermal cycler range, available from Bibby Scientific, has been redesigned to provide easier programming and increased instrument flexibility. All Prime models have an enhanced thermal engine, a colour touch interface and preprogrammed protocol templates.

In today’s energy-conscious environment, energy efficiency is a prime concern for equipment manufacturers and users alike, and at New Brunswick it has long been a high priority. New Brunswick’s ultralow-temperature (ULT) freezers, available through Eppendorf, are the most energy-saving in the industry and the company’s new HEF high-efficiency freezer models are the greenest of them all. They consume up to 59% less energy than other units, potentially saving thousands in operating costs over the lifetime of the freezer, and have significantly less carbon impact on the environment.

Researchers at Swansea University selected the MO BIO RNA PowerSoil total RNA isolation Kit, available from Cambio, for investigations of an important group of bacteria.

The SU3500 from Hitachi High-Technologies is a new variable pressure scanning electron microscope (VP-SEM) featuring a newly designed ultra-variable pressure detector and offering levels of performance previously unseen in this class of instrument. Attention to detail has been applied to all aspects of the instrument design, including the electron optics, detection system, vacuum system, chamber/stage and the user interface.

Ocean Optics has added another option to its small-footprint near-infrared spectrometer line with the NIRQuest512-1.9. A high-resolution device with response from 1100-1900 nm, NIRQuest512-1.9 is well suited for applications ranging from monitoring changes in food production and chemical processing to characterising lasers for semiconductor assembly and medical treatment.

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

The TOUCH UV/Vis spectrophotometer from BioDrop is a next-generation instrument ideal for routine measurements in many life science applications. BioDrop TOUCH features a standard-sized cuvette holder, and is the first instrument to offer seamless compatibility with the new BioDrop CUVETTE for accurate microvolume applications.

Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) continues to support for life science applications with its latest successful webinar. Over 1300 researchers registered for the live webinar entitled State-of-the-art normalisation of RT-qPCR data, presented by Professor Jo Vandesompele of Ghent University and co-founder of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) company Biogazelle.

Programming of complex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols can now be performed faster and easier. The Bioer LifeTouch 96-well gradient thermal cycler with its full-colour touchscreen menu and display enables set up in just a few seconds.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is using two STA-R Evolution analysers from Stago to provide fully automated coagulation testing throughout West Cheshire.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can produce similar symptoms, and is difficult to make a differential diagnosis without the use of invasive colonoscopy investigations. Now, however, measurement of faecal calprotectin has proved to distinguish between IBS and IBD.

Stago has launched a simple test that will rapidly exclude heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in just 10 minutes. Based on lateral-flow technology, the STic Expert HIT kit provides a quick and easy way of ruling out HIT, allowing clinicians to make faster, better-informed decisions for improved patient care.

Leica’s Sub-X, a clearing agent from the Surgipath brand, is an economical xylene substitute. It is less volatile than xylene and over three times less toxic – the eight-hour workplace exposure for xylene is 50 ppm and for Sub-X is 196 ppm.

Promega has launched the ReliaPrep 96 gDNA MiniPrep HT system to complement the recently released ReliaPrep RNA Cell MiniPrep system for the extraction and isolation of genomic DNA (gDNA) and RNA, respectively. The range of ReliaPrep systems is designed to isolate pure nucleic acid from very small sample volumes, from blood, tissue, formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded (FFPE) tissue or cells, in a simple and reliable process.

The Kinesis Group, a specialist in the supply and support of chromatography and liquid-handling consumables, has announced the release of its new range of TELOS columns for HPLC and UHPLC, designed specifically for analytical and high-speed analytical separations.

A simple diagnostic test developed at Oxford University, and launched by Massachusetts-based Boston Heart Diagnostics, will identify those at increased risk of rare but serious side effects from taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.