RECENT PRODUCT NEWS

Using a newly engineered direct drive mechanism, almost no load is too heavy for the Lab Companion SKC shakers, even at high speeds. A large selection of models is available based on platform size and stroke diameter. Programmable motion control, light-emitting diode (LED) displays, unbalanced load sensors, and self-protecting cut-off function make these shakers versatile and safe.

Invitech has announced the UK availability of NAC-PAC N30, a convenient, systematic approach to pre-analytical acid-fast bacilli (AFB) specimen processing. NAC-PAC improves recovery of positive AFB specimens (most notably mycobacteria) and helps to reduce the number of contaminated/reprocessed samples through rigid control of pH during pre-analytical processing. Laboratories can now benefit from its easy-to-use format that can improve recovery of mycobacteria, ensure fewer false-positive results, and increase diagnostic effectiveness.

The rubella virus is the cause of German measles, and infection in children results in a rash but is usually mild and of short duration. However, pregnant women who become infected are susceptible to a more serious condition that can lead to congenital rubella syndrome of the fetus. Thus, serological detection, especially for IgM antibody, is crucial for early intervention.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the availability of the new Thermo Scientific Aspire protein A, protein G and IMAC cobalt chromatography tips. Aspire proteomic tips are 1-mL pipette tips embedded with various Thermo Scientific Pierce resins, including immobilised Protein A Plus, Protein G Plus, and HisPur cobalt resins.

Carl Zeiss has launched a new multidiscussion system for its Axio Scope and Axio Imager light microscopes. This enables up to 21 observers to view the same object microscopically at the same time. The image generated under the microscope is seen by all observers with an identical image orientation in a 23 mm field of view. The co-observation system is suitable for training and consultation situations, and can be used, for example, in the training of students and for consultation purposes and the joint assessment of difficult cases in medical diagnostics.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched its new cold disinfection feature for laboratory equipment. The cold disinfection technology is now a standard feature on the company’s Microm HM550 cryostat series, and the system instantly disinfects the entire cold cryo-chamber in just three minutes, dramatically reducing any risk to laboratory staff.

The Protein ScreenTape platform from Lab901 can now monitor monoclonal antibody production on line. With its rapid staining protocol and automated sample handling, electrophoresis and data presentation, the Protein ScreenTape platform can deliver information on yield, purity and molecular weight within a few minutes. Samples can be analysed directly from the bioreactor with no need to purify or filter the medium. Analysis of media containing high levels of serum is also possible using ScreenTape. www.lab901.com

The next-generation TM3000 tabletop scanning electron microscope (SEM) has been launched by Hitachi High-Technologies. Building on the success of its predecessor, the TM-1000, the new microscope offers significantly improved performance in a unit that occupies 20% less space and has an energy saving design.

Pipetting viscous, volatile, corrosive or hazardous liquids and avoiding aerosol contamination can be a problem when using air-displacement pipettes. Now, with the Rainin Pos-D positive-displacement pipette, ease, speed, accuracy, precision and safety are guaranteed.

The QIAsymphony AS from Qiagen has extended the company’s range of high-quality assay and detection solutions. This new module in the QIAsymphony series provides fully automated set up of Qiagen assays and polymerase chain reaction PCR kits and combines its experience in sample and assay technologies on a single platform.

The new INB-203 CO2 incubators from IKS International are ideal for applications in in vitro fertilisation (IVF), cell culture, haematology and cell biology. The INB-203 is a direct-heat incubator with a capacity of 42 L and a temperature range from ambient +5°C to 60°C. For those needing lower temperatures, the INB-203C has the added facility of Peltier cooling down to ambient –5°C.

Nikon has added the innovative CFI Apo LWD 25x objective to its series of low refractive index, high numerical aperture (NA) objectives. Employing Nikon’s ultra nano crystal coating technology, the new objective features high optical performance across the widest spectral wavelength with high chromatic corrections for sharp contrast imaging.

Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) has added additional flexibility to its PrimeTime quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) product. Users can now customise the Standard and XL qPCR assays by specifying the dye and quencher pair used on the probe and the ratio of primer to probe.

The new Olympus FluoView FV10i confocal laser scanning microscope system brings a new level of accessibility to confocal microscopy. Designed to remove all the complex steps involved in setting-up and using confocal microscopes, the system ensures that users can concentrate on the images and data without the need for prior expertise.

Phadia, a leader in allergy and autoimmunity testing, has launched an innovative new antinuclear antibody (ANA) screen for the identification of connective tissue diseases (CTDs). The EliA ANA CTD Screen provides reliable and unambiguous detection of a wide range of CTDs, offering superior specificity and sensitivity to HEp-2-based assays, even in difficult cases.

Diabetes is a chronic and progressive disease that impacts upon almost every aspect of life. It is caused by a deficiency, inherited and/or acquired, in production of insulin by the pancreas (type 1), or by resistance to the insulin produced (type 2). As a major non-communicable disease, diabetes mellitus claims on average around 8% of total health budgets in developed countries.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced availability of the new Thermo Scientific Nunc IVF centrifuge and cryopreservation tubes for improved sample safety and protection. These consumables are certified free of toxins that would impair viability during the centrifugation and cryogenic freezing processes. Thoroughly tested against the highest available standards, the Nunc IVF consumables range ensures safety and reproducibility for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedures.

Chip-Man Technologies has launched the Cell-IQ 2 live-cell imaging and analysis system. This innovative platform builds on the success of the original Cell-IQ system, offering fully automated imaging and analysis for the study of live cell behaviour in an optimised and stable environment.

Brady offers a special labelling system that guarantees accurate identification of tissue samples. Specially developed chemical-resistant labels incorporating two-dimensional (2D) barcoding enable histopathology and anatomic pathology laboratories to comply with traceability demands issued by the EU.

Roche Diagnostics has launched the cobas 8000, designed to fill the gap in the UK for large-scale, high-speed in vitro diagnostic (IVD) testing. The ability to perform large-scale testing is increasingly important if the UK is to realise the model for pathology services focusing on service consolidation, as set out in Lord Carter’s review of pathology.