RECENT PRODUCT NEWS

Aspergillus is a genus of aerobic fungi found widespread in the environment including air, water and food. They are harmless to those with healthy immune systems but can infect patients undergoing transplantation or chemotherapy, and lead to disseminated disease (aspergillosis). If not controlled, fungal cells can infect major organs such as the lungs, heart and kidneys. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most frequently identified pathogen.

Laboratory hotplates and stirrers from Wiggens demonstrate the kind of creative design that results from practical laboratory experience coupled with ceramic-coated material to produce an almost indestructible surface. The instrument is suitable for relatively mild heating, good for small sample amounts, or relatively low temperature for large sample volume. The material also shows resistance to acid, base or organic solvents.

It is now possible to take laboratory grade pH and temperature measurements using a smart phone or tablet. Hanna has introducing new models including a HALO with a tapered tip for vials and test tubes and a microbulb HALO for use in samples of as little as 100 µL. All readings are transmitted directly to a compatible smart phone or tablet running the Hanna Lab app or edge blu.

Syngene has announced that its new-generation G:BOX Chemi XX6/XX9 multi-application imaging systems are now available. Featuring the latest ultrasensitive, fast capture lens, these systems ensure users can have total confidence that their gel and blot results are accurate and publication-ready.

Screening for haematological cancers is costly and time-consuming. The standard screening procedure, which looks for mutations in four specific genes, costs about $300 and can take seven to 10 days to return complete results. To allay the costs involved, many hospitals wait for a batch of samples from multiple patients before running the test. Precipio, based in New Haven, has now advanced the state of care with the commercial launch of HemeScreen, a novel proprietary test for mutations in haematological cancers.

Syngene recently announced availability of its new-look red G:BOX F3 gel documentation system. Featuring a slimline darkroom which can be fitted with ultraviolet (UV), blue and white lighting options, this automated system generates high-quality images of DNA and protein gels quickly and easily.

Torrey Pines Scientific has launched its new EchoTherm stackable/programmable vibration-free chilling incubators for protein crystallography and other life science uses.

The new Renishaw RA816 Biological Analyser is a compact benchtop Raman imaging system, designed for biological and clinical research. This easy-to-use instrument enables the rapid collection of detailed information from a range of biological samples, including tissue and biological fluids.

Eppendorf highlighted a range of new equipment at Lab Innovations 2018. This included two new centrifuges. Centrifuge 5425 accommodates up to 24 microcentrifuge tubes with a volume of 1.5 or 2.0 mL with a swing-out rotor for 96 PCR tubes. Centrifuge 5910 R combines a powerful state-of-the-art refrigeration system, with high capacity and performance, in a compact and ergonomic design.

HORIBA Scientific has introduced its new, award-winning two-in-one absorbance and fluorescence spectrometer, Duetta, to the UK market. Earlier in the year, Duetta won the Gold Pittcon Today Excellence Award.

EKF Diagnostics recently launched its new Lactate Scout 4 handheld lactate analyser for fast and accurate sports performance monitoring. Lactate Scout 4 is designed for use in the field as a training companion for individuals or sports teams.

Torrey Pines Scientific has announced its new line of multiposition analogue stirring hot plates and stirrers featuring five or nine stirring positions. The large 12” (305 mm) square ceramic heater tops have a temperature range to 450°C. The five-position stirring units can stir 5–800 mL beakers, and the nine-position units can stir 9–500 mL beakers of aqueous solutions from 100 to 1500 rpm.

Beckman Coulter has launched the Kaluza C flow cytometry analysis software, an advanced data analysis system for the clinical laboratory. The new software streamlines clinical quality control (QC) reporting and addresses standardisation issues in flow cytometry. Kaluza C is CE-marked and listed with the US Food and Drug administration (FDA). It builds on the company’s existing Kaluza analysis software, which is already an essential analysis tool for life science researchers.

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) has launched an update to its SureSeq Interpret software, included with purchases of SureSeq NGS panels. Designed to help researchers effortlessly translate cumbersome NGS data into meaningful results, the enhanced software has been developed in response to customer needs.

Vector Laboratories has introduced VECTASHIELD Vibrance – anti-fade mounting medium that delivers significant improvements to the immunofluorescence workflow. VECTASHIELD Vibrance produces increased brightness over the entire visible spectrum, including far-red fluorophores, compared to existing mounting medium offerings.

ViroStat has released a new monoclonal antibody to the rickettsiae LPS. It is reactive with all members of the spotted fever group of rickettsiae. It does not cross react with the typhus group (R. typhi or R. prowazekii). This new antibody functions in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and may also function in other rapid test formats.

Torrey Pines Scientific has launched its new EchoTherm SC25XT fully programmable variable speed shaking dry bath for use with biological and other samples. The SC25XT is fully programmable with five-programme memory and a temperature range from –20°C to 100°C.

A new series of compact refrigerators has been developed to address the need of clinical laboratories and patient care facilities for cold storage equipment that enable secure and energy-efficient storage while offering quiet operation and a small footprint. The Thermo Scientific TSG series was introduced during the 70th American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Annual Scientific Meeting held recently in Chicago.

Expedeon has introduced five new Alexa Fluor labels to its range of Lightning-Link antibody labelling kits, expanding the range of labels and offering customers increased choice and flexibility for common fluorescence detection-based applications.

Although anyone can have albumin in their urine, elevated levels are an early warning sign that the kidneys are not functioning properly. A simple albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) test can be used to screen for increased urinary albumin excretion.