RECENT PRODUCT NEWS

Carl Zeiss has introduced the SlideCollector 48 for its laser microdissection systems. This new instrument has been developed specifically for expression analyses and applications in immunobiology, stem cell research and forensic science.

With their opaque white wells, twin.tec real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) plates from Eppendorf permit detection of significantly lower levels of fluorescence and also enhance the reproducibility of real-time PCR data.

TomKey is an innovative USB key for recording and displaying temperature, now available from UK distributor Don Whitley Scientific. Manufactured by AES Chemunex, the device is designed to monitor the transportation of heat-sensitive clinical and medical samples.

Thermo Fisher Scientific can now offer ABgene Ultra Clear Cap Strips for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) and other fluorescence detection applications.

Oxford Expression Technologies (OET) has introduced baculoQUANT, a new one-step virus titration kit that can give an accurate result within two hours, without the need for plaque assays or immunoassays.

Through the acquisition of Matritech, Inverness Medical can now offer the NMP22 BladderChek test and the NMP22 test kit for the rapid diagnosis and monitoring of early-stage bladder cancer. More commonly seen in men than women, bladder cancer is linked to smoking and exposure to industrial chemicals, with approximately 356,600 new cases reported worldwide each year.

Applied Biosystems has released TissueView software to improve mass spectrometry imaging by making data processing more intuitive. The delivery of easier-to-interpret research results provides a deeper understanding of how drugs and proteins are distributed within biological tissue.

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.