RECENT NEWS

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics has obtained CE marking for the VERIS MDx system and VERIS human cytomegalovirus (CMV) assay, which is a key milestone in the expansion of the company’s presence in molecular diagnostics. The VERIS MDx system is a fully automated, random-access molecular diagnostics system for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of molecular targets from patient specimens.

North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Public Health England (Bristol) and Weston Area Health NHS Trust have appointed CliniSys and Capita Healthcare Decisions to deliver an integrated laboratory information system for all areas of pathology across the region. The Capita and CliniSys solution was selected following a competitive tender and evaluation process involving all four organisations. (Image: mattbuck commons.wikipedia.org CC-BY-SA-2.0)

Cepheid has released performance data for its Xpert HPV, currently in clinical trials with a targeted CE-IVD release this year. “We’re pleased with the early Xpert HPV data that highlight Cepheid’s commitment to delivering tests that offer the unmatched combination of performance, ease of use and speed that our customers expect,” said John Bishop, Cepheid’s chairman and CEO. (Image: National Cancer Institute/Laboratory of Tumor Virus Biology)

Menarini has announced the launch of Total Tissue Diagnostics, a fully integrated laboratory solution that is flexible, scalable and tailored to individual laboratory’s requirements. The range of new innovations encompasses all elements of cellular pathology, from specimen collection to issuing the report, to provide a more patient-focused service. This includes systems for controlled specimen fixation and transport, macro-digital imaging, rapid tissue processing, auto-embedding, a complete portfolio of general histology products, molecular morphology and digital pathology.

Veolia Water Technologies UK, Elga Process Water, Elga LabWater and Aquafab have, once again, had their approach to occupational health and safety recognised in an awards scheme run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Veolia received the prestigious President’s Award for the second year running, having gained the society’s Gold Medal for the 11th consecutive year. The presentations were made at the Award Ceremony held recently at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, at the National Exhibition Centre.

On 1 May, GSTS Pathology and KingsPath united to become Viapath, a new brand for one of the UK’s leading specialist providers of pathology services. As a public-private partnership, Viapath remains majority owned by the NHS. With the commercial freedom to invest in growth and innovation, the company is ambitious and committed to the achievement of high clinical standards and high levels of operating efficiency in pathology services across the UK.

LGC has extended its use of GXPi’s Enterprise Compliance Platform (GECP) and X-docs electronic document management software. Following a successful six-month trial in its renamed Laboratory & Managed Services division, LGC will now utilise X-docs and complimentary X-forms to ensure that all documentation pertaining to its standard operating procedures, policies, guides and audit management will be easier to create, maintain and retrieve across the division in the UK and USA.

TAP Biosystems, a supplier of innovative cell culture systems and consumables for life science applications, has announced that its Fill-It automated benchtop vial filling system is being used routinely at an innovative cell therapy company developing cancer immunotherapies. This has improved processing speed and throughput of large batches of cells in cryovials for use as master cell banks or as cell-based immunotherapies.

Priorclave has appointed Brennan as its southern Ireland agent with responsibility for sales of its complete range of laboratory autoclaves. Lee Oakley, Priorclave sales director, is delighted with the new appointment as Brennan is well established in Ireland as a major supplier of highly specialised technological equipment to the scientific, medical and industrial markets. Lee comments: “I am convinced this is the right partnership, our steam steriliser range complements their current product range and their knowledge level extremely well.”

As a leading supplier of accessories for microscopy, Agar Scientific has built a strong and loyal customer base. The Biology Department at the University of York is a well-established Agar partner, with the Bioscience Technology Facility providing state-of-the-art microscopy services to researchers of all levels of expertise.

Discovery Park, one of Europe’s leading science and technology parks, has announced the arrival of Genea Biomedx, the Australian in vitro fertilisation (IVF) technologies company to its site. Launched by fertility group Genea earlier this year, Genea Biomedx is developing practical, accessible and precise technology to improve IVF laboratory outcomes.

Cepheid has launched its next-generation Xpert Flu test for the GeneXpert system, a CE/IVD-marked product offering on-demand testing for triage, outbreaks, emergencies and high-risk patient management.

IBMS in Scotland member Diane Anderson met Helena Oldroyd, aged nine, at the 2013 Big Bang event in Glasgow. Impressed by Helena's keen interest in science and her scrap book of hand drawings and photographs of images seen under her own microscope, Diane invited her to tour the laboratories at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Cure Leukaemia helps to bring pioneering drug and transplant treatments to blood cancer patients throughout the Midlands. The charity helps to finance The Centre for Clinical Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, which performs life-saving clinical trials to treat terminally ill leukaemia patients.

Syngene, a leading manufacturer of image analysis solutions, has announced that the lighting and filter conditions in the G:BOX image analysis system have been optimised to allow faster, safer visualisation of proteins on stain-free gels.

A leading supplier of innovative cell culture and consumables for life science, TAP Biosystems, has developed a new method of using microcarriers with its ambr micro bioreactor system. This technique enables scientists to produce uniform microcarrier samples and perform automated media exchange to optimise parameters for culturing adherent cell lines on microcarriers, thus shortening timelines for successfully scaling up manufacturing of vaccines and cell therapies.

A Freedom EVO workstation with an integrated HydroSpeed plate washer and Infinite F200 PRO multimode reader is helping researchers at Jikei University School of Medicine to perform high-throughput compound screening in the battle to combat persistent bacterial infections.

Parkinson’s disease is one step closer to a cure thanks to stem cell research at the University of Bedfordshire. Scientists are now able to identify the contribution of different elements inside a single brain cell that are responsible for the development of Parkinson’s disease.

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics will showcase its portfolio of diagnostic testing capabilities, from new assays and automation solutions to digital microscopy and online training, at Congress later this month. The Siemens solutions will be available to view on a virtual display and are designed to unite clinical and workflow excellence, assisting laboratories to run as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Lorne Laboratories has announced the appointment of a new managing director to lead the company into its next phase of development. Ian John (pictured) joined the Lorne team at the beginning of July, having spent many years in the automotive industry.