RECENT NEWS

Two RTS Life Science automated robotic systems, incorporating machine vision, are now running at UK BiobankÆs coordinating centre in South Manchester, and a third is due to be commissioned.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed an interactive web-based tool designed to help current and prospective customers make informed decisions about Thermo Scientific informatics software.

Helena Biosciences has celebrated the delivery of its 2000th SAS instrument in Europe. The SAS instrument range is one of the most popular diagnostic electrophoresis solutions in laboratories around the world.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched its information-rich Environmental Resource Center for trace element analysis, which is the most recent addition to its extensive online collection.

Don Whitley Scientific (DWS) has despatched 21 miniMACS to a customer in China. Not quite æcoals to NewcastleÆ but supplying goods engineered and manufactured in the UK to the orient is a rare occurrence these days.

Over 130 delegates from hospitals around the UK attended two one-day seminars held recently by Sebia UK at Studley Castle.

Orion Locums has announced its acquisition of Atlantis Medical.

Lambda Advanced Technology (LAT) is offering organisations in the UK the use of a scanning electron microscope for a day at no charge.

An innovative antimicrobial technology has been announced that claims to be able to defeat hospital- and community-acquired infections, including those caused by Clostridium difficile and PVL toxin-bearing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains.

Two new ADVIA 2120 haematology systems are being supplied to Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester by Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics as part of a major laboratory equipment procurement contract covering haematology, chemistry and immunodiagnostics.

Asynt now distributes the Porvair Sciences range of microplates and microplate accessories.

The Analytical Toxicology Laboratory at Llandough recently installed a pair of Dimension Xpand Plus analysers from Dade Behring.

Randox Laboratories recently celebrated 25 years of service to the clinical diagnostics industry.

The British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA) announced the appointment of a new president, Mr William Burns, at the official opening of its new office.

Molecular Profiles, a leader in the provision of innovative contract research services to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biomedical sectors worldwide, has been awarded a QueenÆs Award for Enterprise in the Continuous Innovation and Development category.

Recently, a biomedical scientist from Hackney embarked on an adventure to climb Mount Everest as part of a pioneering medical research project called Caudwell Xtreme Everest.

The Central Office for Research Ethics Committees (COREC) has been relaunched as the National Research Ethics Service (NRES).

Recently, Salisbury District Hospital launched a new microbiology laboratory system, the first in Europe to use the electronic Kiestra system to process specimens containing organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

An exciting new venture, Labs are Vital, was launched at the recent Focus 2007 meeting in Manchester.

Beckman Coulter has been awarded a grant to develop quality assurance and quality control materials to be used to verify the accuracy of a planned point-of-care human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) test for resource-poor countries. The grant was awarded by Imperial College LondonÆs CD4 Initiative, which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.