[AUTOMATION]
Track-Based Specimen Processing Systems
Offer scalability
Yaskawa Motoman, Miamisburg, Ohio, offers track-based specimen processing solutions that improve speed, capacity, and accuracy for labor-intensive, high-throughput areas of the clinical diagnostic lab. The track-based systems are scalable and can easily evolve to add or change processes, throughput, and configurations as business needs change. The integrated system, connected by a specimen transport conveyor, manages the workflow of more than 6,000 specimens per hour through the pre- and postanalytic sequence. Automated laboratory processing system software provides data management and connectivity with many laboratory information management systems.
Yaskawa Motoman
(937) 847-3200; www.motoman.com
[EQUIPMENT]
Lab-Grade Undercounter Refrigerators
Minimize energy usage and noise
Clinical and laboratory personnel with the need to store molecular or biological samples safely now have access to a new series of lab-grade undercounter refrigerators from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Mass. The units are designed to minimize energy usage and noise, while maintaining high levels of performance and maximizing storage capacity. The lab-grade undercounter refrigerators use thermoelectric devices in place of compressor technology for variable speed control and internal temperature regulation. Powered by V-Drive technology, which features synchronized temperature management, internal conditions are actively monitored and maintained at the desired temperature.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
(800) 955-6288; www.thermofisher.com
Medical-Grade Refrigerators
Deliver temperature consistency
Follett LLC, Easton, Penn, has introduced a line of 45-cubic-foot medical-grade refrigerators. The high-performance double-door refrigerators feature an industry-exclusive center-plenum air distribution system. The advanced airflow design delivers temperature consistency at all levels within the cabinet, even when heavily loaded with product. Follett’s proprietary 7-inch, full-color touchscreen controls put essential features at users’ fingertips, from data collection and alarms, to an optional electronic locking system. Designed to enhance data management and product protection, the user interface features data and event recording with onscreen display and graphing, as well as USB data export capabilities.
Follett
(800) 523-9361; www.follettice.com
[INSTRUMENTATION]
Immunoassay System
Enhanced with new features
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, Brea, Calif, has updated the Access 2 immunoassay system with enhanced features. Built upon a 20-year legacy, the Access 2 immunoassay system is a compact, random-access benchtop analyzer that delivers an extensive diagnostic testing menu. The new features have been added to improve ease of use, workflow efficiencies, system reliability, and customer satisfaction. Changes include the addition of an internal reagent barcode reader to minimize operator loading errors, an upgraded ergonomic workstation for operator comfort, improved fluidics tray for operational efficiency, a status light bar for notifying operators of instrument status, remote monitoring capability, and a refreshed look.
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics
(800) 526-3821; www.beckmancoulter.com
Microscope Camera
Complements camera portfolio
Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany, has introduced the Zeiss Axiocam 702 mono to complement its current portfolio of high-speed USB 3.0 microscope cameras. The Axiocam 702 mono is a microscope camera with a scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor sensor. Users can benefit from low read noise, low light sensitivity, and high speed, for live cell imaging and acquisition of fast processes. Zeiss Axiocam 702 mono features a 1/1.2″ (13.3 mm diagonal) sensor with a resolution of 2.3 megapixels, making it a suitable entry into the world of scientific CMOS imaging.
Zeiss
(800) 233-2343; www.zeiss.com
Precision Syringe
Delivers exact flow rates
Hamilton Company, Reno, Nev, has expanded its PSD/4 precision syringe drive product family with the launch of PSD/4 Smooth Flow. The new PSD/4 Smooth Flow delivers exact flow rates in nanoliters per minute with total dispense times up to 8 hours. The device is suited for flow cytometry and microfluidics applications where smaller sample volumes, faster analysis time, and more-sensitive detection mechanisms require accurate, extremely small, precision flow rates. The compact design now has 192,000 steps of resolution across the 30 mm stroke. The pump is compatible with a variety of catalog and custom valves, as well as standard and long-life syringes from 12.5 µL to 12.5 mL.
Hamilton Company
(800) 648-5950; www.hamiltoncompany.com
Tissue Dissection Instrument
Utilizes automated digitally assisted process
Roche, Basel, Switzerland, recently announced commercial availability of the Avenio Millisect system, a tissue dissection instrument that utilizes an automated digitally assisted process to isolate clinically relevant cells from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue slides. The system aims to address challenges inherent in today’s tissue dissection practice in the clinical lab workspace, where manual dissection can lack consistency and precision, and laser capture microscopy may be cumbersome and costly. The system is an in vitro diagnostic labeled medical device and is now available in the United States and countries accepting the CE mark.
Roche
(317) 521-2000; www.roche.com
[MISC SUPPLIES]
E. histolytica Antibodies
Suited for ELISAs and lateral-flow tests
ViroStat Inc, Portland, Maine, has released a set of mouse monoclonal antibodies to E. histolytica.The new antibodies function in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and lateral-flow applications. E. histolytica is an anaerobic parasite that causes amoebic dysentery. It infects humans and other primates via the fecal-oral route. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and weight loss. It can result in intestinal lesions and liver abscess. Each vial contains 1.0 mL. It contains no stabilizing proteins and should be stored at 2–8°C until ready for use.
ViroStat
(207) 856-6620; www.virostat-inc.com
High-Performance Filtration Plates
Facilitate sample processing
Biotage, Uppsala, Sweden, has released Isolute Filter+ high-performance filtration plates for the processing of samples prior to ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), alongside a diverse range of other filtration applications. The plates offer high-performance filtration of diverse biological samples, and are suitable for use with urine prepared using a ‘dilute and shoot’ method prior to analysis using UPLC-MS/MS. Each plate contains a 0.2 µm membrane filter for particulate removal, topped by a depth filter to prevent blocking of the membrane.
Biotage
(800) 446-4752; www.biotage.com
Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Configuration
Addresses blood culture contamination
Kurin Inc, San Diego, has launched a peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheter configuration for its patent-pending Kurin Lock product line. Kurin Lock technology passively diverts the initial aliquot of drawn blood, and any contaminants present therein, to help hospitals in their efforts to reduce contaminated blood cultures. The Kurin PIV product connects directly to an IV catheter, as when a clinician collects a blood culture from a fresh IV start.
Kurin
www.kurin.com
Reagent Reservoirs
Developed to reducewaste
Integra Biosciences Corp, Hudson, NH, has expanded its Clear Advantage product family to include automation-friendly reagent reservoirs that minimize dead volume, thereby saving on reagents and reducing plastic waste. The product line relies on disposable, sterile, clear polystyrene reservoir inserts that sit securely within a sturdy, Society for Biomolecular Screening-format, reusable base, providing scientists with a clear view of the pipette tips. Each flat-bottom insert benefits from the company’s SureFlo anti-sealing array, which prevents pipette tips from sealing off and stops liquid from ‘popping’ into tips, filters, or the pipetting head.
Integra Biosciences
(603) 578-5800; www.integra-biosciences.com
D-Dimer Linearity, Calibration Verification Test Kit
For Siemens Sysmex analyzers
The ValidateD-Dimer linearity and calibration verification test kit from LGC Maine Standards, Cumberland Foreside, Maine, has received FDA premarket notification (510(k)) clearance for use on Siemens Sysmex CS-2500 system analyzers. The kit, in a human plasma matrix, evaluates D-dimer and offers five distinct concentrations covering the reportable range for Siemens Sysmex CS-2500 system analyzers. Each kit is liquid and ready-to-use. Users can dispense the product from each dropper bottle directly into five sample cups, and run in replicates.
LGC Maine Standards
(207) 892-1300; www.mainestandards.com
Disposable Pipette Tips
Support liquid handling applications
Tecan, Männedorf, Switzerland, has introduced a selection of clear liquid handling (LiHa) disposable pipette tips, intended for use with Air LiHa, Air FCA, and Cavro ADP pipetting options. The tips were developed to provide cost-effective, verified performance for applications that do not require capacitive liquid level detection. Suitable for a variety of applications, the nonconductive clear tips are especially useful for setting up methods where users can ‘see’ into the tip. The newly developed product line includes 50 ?L tips—available in Tecan Pure—and 200 ?L and 1,000 ?L tips—currently available in Tecan Standard and soon in Tecan Pure—all with or without filters.
Tecan
(800) 352-5128; www.tecan.com
CO2Accessory Set
Provides added contamination control
A new accessory set for Series C CO2incubators from Binder Inc, Bohemia, NY, includes three copper shelves and a copper water pan. As the pan always contains water, and the shelves directly contact incubating cell culture vessels, they can pose contamination risk. Combined with Binder’s 180°C hot-air sterilization cycle and humidity management, the new accessories provide an added level of contamination control. Binder’s anticontamination design is characterized by several main features, including a 180°C hot-air sterilization program that provides a ‘biological reset’ for the chamber.
Binder
(631) 224-4340; www.binder-world.com
Zika Virus Reference Materials
Assess dynamic ranges of PCR-based assays
SeraCare Life Sciences, Milford, Mass, has released a set of products for validating and monitoring Zika virus test methods. The AccuSet Zika performance panel is a comprehensive 10-member panel consisting of patient samples manifesting a range of reactivity for Zika IgM antibodies, and assessed for crossreactivity to the dengue and chikungunya viruses. The AccuSpan Zika RNA linearity panel allows for assessment of the dynamic ranges of Zika polymerase chain reaction-based assays. The AccuPlex Zika RNA reference material, targeted to 1,000 copies/mL, serves as a positive reference material. The two products combined provide tools to validate and monitor Zika assays used for screening plasma, semen, and urine.
SeraCare Life Sciences
(800) 676-1881; www.seracare.com
