RECENT PRODUCT NEWS

Roche Diagnostics has announced that the Elecsys anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) assay has received regulatory approval in Europe for the E170 analyser for modular analytics and the e601 module for the Cobas 6000 platform. The Elecsys anti-HCV assay is already available on the Elecsys 2010 and the Cobas e411 instruments.

In the news recently as a contaminant in an Irish community’s water supply, Clostridium perfringens is widely distributed in the environment and is part of the normal flora in the human and animal intestine. As its spores can survive cooking and subsequently germinate to form vegetative cells, it is also an important cause of food poisoning.

The Brady Freezerbondz labelling system ensures secure labelling in low-temperature storage conditions. To lose positive sample identification is equivalent to losing the sample itself, and in certain circumstances could even lead to prosecution under the Human Tissue Act.

New 4titude FRAMEstar polymerase chain reaction (PCR) plates, now available from Anachem, have a special twocomponent design that combines the advantages of a rigid skirt and deck for reliable robotic handling with thin-walled wells for optimum PCR results. The wells are constructed from virgin polypropylene, which allows efficient heat transfer and provides an inert surface with low binding capabilities for nucleic acids, proteins and other molecules.

The QuickGene Mini80 from FujiFilm Life Science is a compact nucleic acid extraction device developed by the company. It is simple to use and eliminates the need for centrifugation in the extraction process.

Mast has announced a new version of the innovative GenoQuick methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) kit from Hain LifeSciences, which offers rapid and cost-effective results directly from a patient’s specimen in just two and a half hours.

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics has launched the Clinitek Advantus urine chemistry analyser, the latest member of the Clinitek family of urine analysers. The Clinitek Advantus analyser enables automated reading of the Siemens’ Multistix family of urinalysis testing strips in medium- to high-throughput settings.

Randox Laboratories produces diagnostic tests for C-reactive potein (CRP), a general marker of inflammation. Elevated CRP levels occur due to infection, tissue injury, inflammatory disorders and associated diseases, and variations within the normal range can be used in the risk assessment of cardiovascular disease.

Invitrogen has launched the NCode human miRNA microarray V3, which includes new content from the Sanger database 10.0 as well as 373 new sequences discovered through deep sequencing.

The Omni Prep homogenising station from Camlab streamlines the sample preparation process and removes time-consuming and tedious manual steps. Utilising proven rotor stator technology, the Omni Prep is a six-station system that combines high throughput with the elimination of cross contamination, and is completely flexible for tube size, sample type and volume. It incorporates timer control, variable speed and variable vertical oscillation to minimise processing time, allowing it to handle almost any sample type.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has unveiled its new Thermo Scientific DXR SmartRaman spectrometer, which is the first Raman analyser designed specifically for the quality control laboratory. The system includes a revolutionary laser power regulator, which adds a new dimension to results reproducibility.

Don Whitley Scientific has launched the Whitley HA500 workstation, specifically designed for research requiring normoxic, hypoxic and anoxic conditions. The spacious workstation allows cells to be manipulated in situ without altering the incubation environment, enabling researchers to replicate conditions comparable to those found in vivo.

Developed to improve the isolation and identification of a variety of microorganisms, Lab M’s Harlequin chromogenic media can help to eliminate or reduce the need for subculture and confirmatory biochemical tests. The Harlequin range now includes media for the isolation of Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella species.

Roche has launched its new CoaguChek XS Connect device, which makes anticoagulation therapy monitoring with the CoaguChek XS system even more convenient, whether that be in the home or in the clinical setting.

Applied Biosystems has launched a new family of TaqMan Cells-to-CT kits for cell-based gene expression research. The kits eliminate the timeconsuming step of RNA purification, reducing the amount of time needed to prepare and analyse RNA from cultured cells using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods in applications such as siRNA-mediated gene silencing and microRNA analysis.

Medical professionals around the world use NOW rapid tests to identify the pathogens responsible for infectious diseases. BinaxNOW technology, now available in the UK from Inverness Medical, is regarded as the gold standard in rapid infection disease technology.

The new range of Anachem KeyZyme Taq and Pfu DNA polymerases provides the solution for a wide range of molecular biology applications. KeyZyme polymerases ensure excellent reliability and quality, with enzyme performance controlled for sensitivity and consistency, thus ensuring reproducibility and reassurance in the handling of samples.

A recent breakthrough in the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU) is set to stimulate demand for more regular screening of blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels in PKU patients. The introduction of the first FDA-approved prescription medication that reduces blood Phe levels in patients will result in more regular screening of PKU patients to monitor their Phe levels.

Building on the success of the UV/Vis BioPhotometer, the BioPhotometer plus from Eppendorf features a new keypad design, three additional wavelengths and the ability to use microlitre cells as well as cuvettes. This compact, low-weight photometer is very easy to operate, and produces reliable and reproducible results fast.

Appleton Woods has extend its special offers on a variety of Corning products until 31 March.