RECENT PRODUCT NEWS

The Heraeus Megafuge 16 and the Heraeus Multifuge X1 centrifuge series incorporate a range of innovative technologies. The tool-free Auto-Lock III rotor system enables three-second rotor installation and removal. The biocontainment-certified ClickSeal bucket sealing system employs glove-friendly, one-handed snap-on covers, replacing complicated screw caps and clips. In addition, the advanced rotor management SMARTSpin system optimises acceleration, braking, temperature control and residual load imbalance to maximise safety and improve separation and pelleting efficiency.

Carl Zeiss has announced a series of launches covering a range of product and application innovations, beginning with the Merlin, the company’s next-generation analytical field emission scanning electron microscope. The Merlin combines the contradictory requirements of ultra-high resolution imaging and analytical capabilities. “Customers have a need for more than just high-resolution images of their samples,” Dr Dirk Stenkamp explained. “With its special analytical capabilities, our instruments provide maximum information with maximum insight.”

Randox has launched drugs-of-abuse (DoA) reagents for use on the RX series of clinical chemistry analysers. Now it sis possible to detect 10 DoA in human urine on systems that offer time, labour and cost savings.

Oxoid, has announced the extension of its ProSpecT range of qualitative enzyme immunoassays to include test kits for adenovirus, astrovirus, Clostridium difficile, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, rotavirus and Escherichia coli.

Roche Diagnostics has announced that the new Elecsys troponin T high-sensitive (hs) assay, for use on cobas and MODULAR Analytics serum work areas, will soon be available to hospital laboratories in the UK and Ireland. This highly sensitive diagnostic assay, which has been developed to improve the detection of myocardial injury and to help identify risk of acute coronary syndromes, detects troponin T in the range 0.003–10 ng/mL serum/plasma.

Olympus has introduced its cutting-edge dotSlide 2.1 virtual microscopy system, which claims advanced functionality with outstanding image quality. Available in three different models, this flexible and efficient system enables the virtual overview of an entire slide to be displayed in perfect quality on-screen. Furthermore, images are saved automatically in an online database where they are easily accessible for fast and secure remote image access. With excellent throughput for extensive image acquisition and superb documentation of tissue sections and tissue microarrays, the dotSlide 2.1 system is ideal for all aspects of pathology and research.

Clinical Campylobacter infections are reported to contribute to around 50% of all reported cases of infectious intestinal disease in the UK, with chicken an important source of the organism. Proper detection helps to manage the disease and microbiological culture media offer a straightforward method for isolating pathogens in food, environmental samples and faeces.

Two new Captair models of erlab ductless fume hoods are now available from Camlab, offering a breakthrough in modular design and functionality. The new CaptairChem SD and XL models feature filters with gel-seal technology that allows easy filter stacking and ensures perfect filter column air-tightness. The new designs allow the retention capacity of the hoods to be increased by simply adding more filter/fan stacks (up to four on the XL model).

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) has announced that the Center for Human Genetics at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, has begun assessment of its CytoSure arrays for use in prenatal diagnostic research. The Center, one of Europe’s largest clinical diagnostic facilities, already uses CytoSure arrays for post-natal research applications and is now exploring their potential for prenatal screening.

bioMérieux is now supplying the QuickVue range of rapid diagnostic tests worldwide, as part of a long-term global alliance with Quidel for the development and distribution of rapid clinical diagnostic solutions.

Carl Zeiss has set a new performance standard for entry-level confocal microscopy with the introduction of the LSM 700 laser scanning microscope, which uses proven modules from the world’s largest range of fluorescence and laser scanning microscope systems to offer flexibility in both application and system structure. The LSM 700 can be combined with a large number of microscope stands to deliver innovative image analysis solutions with exceptional sensitivity and quality, tailored to the personal requirements of each user.

GE Healthcare has launched the IN Cell Analyser 2000, a flexible cell-imaging system for high-content analysis with excellent image quality, speed and ease of use for all screening and research needs. The flexibility of the system enables scientists to perform a wide variety of previously challenging experiments with a single instrument.

The Elga LabWater PURELAB 7000 is ideal for laboratories needing a compact system to supply high-quality type II water to small distribution loops. Up to 120 L per hour can be distributed to feed polishers and two or three dispense point in addition to the main application, while an internal 50 L wrap-around reservoir dispenses at rates of up to 4 L per minute to ensure peak demand is met.

Applied Biosystems has released a new set of genomic analysis tools to aid disease research and agricultural studies. These tools are available through the latest release of the TaqMan gene expression assays product line to evaluate levels of RNA

It is now possible to perform the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) directly from whole blood samples with the new KAPA Biosystems’ blood PCR kits, available in the UK and Ireland from Anachem. For the first time, direct amplification can be performed from fresh or frozen whole blood, blood collected in EDTA tubes or on FTA elute cards (Guthrie cards) or filter paper.

Agilent Technologies has introduced its next-generation Agilent 7100 capillary electrophoresis (CE) system. It offers the industry’s widest selection of detectors for flexibility and sensitivity, and the new instrument is reverse-compatible to the previous Agilent CE platform, so existing methods can continue to be used.

Preston-based Image Solutions has added the ONIX dynamic cell culture platform to its suite of scientific and industrial digital imaging technology. The move follows a partnership agreement signed between Image Solutions and ONIX developer CellASIC.

The new Redipor barrier pack range from Cherwell Laboratories has been specifically developed and fully validated in response to the increasing use of vaporised hydrogen peroxide (VHP) decontamination methods. This new line of gas impermeable packaging for the Redipor range of irradiated prepared microbiological media ensures that there is no risk of false negatives following the use of VHP for sterilising isolators, clean rooms and pharmaceutical processing equipment.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced availability of the new Macherey-Nagel Protino glutathione agarose 4B kit in the UK. Protino glutathione agarose 4B and Protino GST/4B columns enable fast and convenient purification of recombinant GST-tagged proteins from whole-cell extracts by affinity chromatography.

Sartorius has launched Cubis, a modular and future-proof laboratory balance that can be fully custom-built, configured and adapted for almost any weighing application.