Nova Max

Blood glucose monitoring system

A blood glucose monitoring system from Nova Biomedical, Waltham, Mass, provides a fast, convenient solution for diabetes self-testing. The newly released Nova Max system is built around patented new technology test strips so precise they do not require the calibration or coding needed for currently available blood glucose monitors to perform a glucose test. The device affords diabetes patients a new level of convenience and increased testing speed; test results are reported in just 5 seconds on a 0.3-µL sample. Results are accessed from the meters 400-test memory, encouraging patient adherence to professional health care testing regimens.

Nova Biomedical
(800) 458-5813
www.novabiomedical.com



Biomic V3 Microbiology System

Automated reading

The Biomic V3 Microbiology System from Giles Scientific Inc, Santa Barbara, Calif, now performs semiautomated reading for all varieties of Etest (AB Biodisk) strips. An enlarged plate image with Etest strips and drug-specific MIC scale is displayed on-screen. The user selects the appropriate MIC value, triggering an S-I-R interpretation. Etest results can be printed or transferred to an LIS. High-resolution color Etest images can also be saved for future review. The Biomic V3s advanced color digital imaging technology automates the reading, interpretation, and recording of CLSI antibiotic disk diffusion tests and commercial identification panels, including RapID (Remel), API (bioMérieux), and BBL Crystal (BD). The antibiotic-resistance detection and quality control features follow current CLSI guidelines.

Giles Scientific Inc
(800) 603-9290
www.biomic.com


ExCell Plus Tissue Fixative

Fast penetration speeds

ExCell Plus Tissue Fixative from American Master*Tech Scientific Inc, Lodi, Calif, is marketed as a formalin replacement; unlike other options, ExCell Plus is nonhazardous, nonirritating, and pleasant smelling, with ultrafast penetration speeds and superior cross-linking characteristics. ExCell Plus provides strong antifungal and antiviral properties for safer transport, storage, and handling of biological specimens. Tissue fixed with ExCell Plus demonstrates outstanding results with routine histochemical stains, special histochemical stains, immunohistochemical stains, flowcytometry DNA analysis, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. ExCell Plus is used in the same way as 10% formalin; permeation time is virtually identical. ExCell Plus is compatible with isopropyl and reagent alcohol and with Xylene and Xylene substitutes.

American Master*Tech Scientific Inc.
(800) 860-4073
www.americanmastertech.com


aImmunoCard Toxins A&B

C. difficile test

ImmunoCard Toxins A&B from Meridian Bioscience Inc, Cincinnati, is a fast, accurate benchmark test for detecting C. difficile toxins A and B. The company says it created the test in response to recent outbreaks of C. difficile associated diarrhea, an epidemic strain that appears to have heightened virulence and some antibiotic resistance.

Meridian Bioscience Inc
(800) 837-2755
www.meridianbioscience.com



Liaison VZV IgG Assay

Fully automated

DiaSorin, Stillwater, Minn, offers the Liaison VZV IgG Assaya fully automated, chemiluminescent immunoassy that can determine if a varicella-zoster infection has previously occurred. Results from the Liaison VZV IgG Assay are available to patients in just 35 minutes. The assay will identify susceptible individuals who could benefit from vaccination. With 25 years of expertise in infectious disease and blood virus diagnostics, DiaSorin serves several regional reference laboratories and private laboratories in the United States. The company is expanding its infectious diseasetesting menu on the Liaison platform, with more than 75 diagnostic tests, including bone and mineral, infectious disease, autoimmune, and hepatitis assays.

DiaSorin
(651) 351-5543
www.diasorin.com


OneQuant Labeling Agent

Single-use quantity reagents

G Biosciences, St. Louis, offers OneQuant Labeling Agents to eliminate problems associated with oxidized or contaminated mixtures. The single-use quantity reagents can label virtually any protein, including antibodies, without wasting expensive labeling reagents. Three OneQuant Labels are available: OneQuant (5/6) Tamra-SE, OneQuant Flourescein Isothiocynate, and OneQuant NHS-Biotin.

G Biosciences
(314) 991-6034
www.gbiosciences.com


ELISA HSV Test

Can be run with serum or plasma

Euroimmun US, Lübeck, Germany, has released a sensitive ELISA screening test to insure reliable serological diagnosis of infections with herpes simplex viruses (HSV). In the microplate ELISA assay, herpes type-specific glycoproteins are used as the antigens.  Test kits with glycoprotein C1 (for identifying antibodies against HSV-1) and glycoprotein G2 (for antibodies against HSV-2) permit reliable serological differentiation between infections with HSV-1 and HSV-2. Recent studies have indicated that cross reactivity of HSV-2 antibodies with HSV-1 giving rise to false positive results is not an issue with the test. The HSV assays may be run with serum or plasma samples. The ELISA assays utilize breakaway antigen coated reagent wells for maximum kit utilization. Reagents are supplied as ready to use and are color coded. The companys HSV I IgG kit and HSV2 IgG have been cleared by the FDA for in vitro diagnostic use.

Euroimmun US
(800) 913-2022
www.euroimmun.com


Human LDH Isoenzymes

Available for online orders

Lee Biosolutions, St Louis, announced the availability of five human lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes LDH-1, LDH-2, LDH-3, LDH-4, and LDH-5. These isoenzymes are primarily used by cells in specific tissue. LDH, also known as lactic dehydrogenase, is responsible for converting muscle lactic acid into pyruvic acid, an essential step in producing cellular energy. When injury occurs, cells containing specific LDH iso- enzymes are released in the bloodstream. Analyzing specific LDH isoenzyme ratios helps identify certain patterns to aid in the diagnosis of disease such as heart attack, lung injury, lung disease, liver and muscle disease, advanced cancers, and autoimmune diseases.

Lee Biosolutions
(314) 968-1091
www.leebio.com


Eurosorb

IgG/RF absorbent for indirect immunofluorescence

Euroimmun US, Lübeck, Germany, announced the availability of the Eurosorb product utilized for the absorbence of IgG and RF in samples being tested for IgM antibodies by indirect immunofluorescense. In infectious serology before a patients serum is tested for specific antibodies of the IgM class, antibodies of IgG class must be removed.  If IgG class antibodies are not removed they may lead to false IgM positive results. The reagent contains an anti-human IgG antibody preparation from goat. Immunoglobulin G of a serum or plasma sample is bound with high specificity by these antibodies and precipitated.  If the sample also contains rheumatoid factors, these too will be absorbed by the anti-human IgG/IgG complex. Human serum IgG in concentrations of up to 15mg/ml and rheumatoid factors are completely removed by the absorbent. All IgG subclasses are bound and precipitated by the anti-human IgG antibodies.

Euroimmun US
(800) 913-2022
www.euroimmun.com


Enzymatic Creatine Reagent

Long shelf life

Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd, Oxford, Conn, has just received the necessary FDA clearance to add a new, fully liquid-stable Enzymatic Creatinine reagent to its portfolio of clinical chemistry products. Using a multi-step enzymatic approach, which is triggered by creatinine amidohydrolase, this novel, two-part reagent system quantitatively and accurately measures concentrations of creatinine in serum, urine or plasma specimens. The assay displays virtually no significant interference effects from lipemia, hemolysis, icterus, or ascorbic acid, with a vastly reduced interference profile from many non-Creatinine associated chromogens, as typically observed with the traditional Jaffé method. The Enzymatic Creatinine reagent also incorporates unique technology resulting in a reagent system with uncompromising shelf life, on-board and calibration stability, while demonstrating long-term, reliable performance characteristics.

Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd
(800) 325-2436
www.dclchem.com


Unsaturated Iron-Binding Capacity Reagent

12-month shelf life

Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd, Oxford, Conn, offers hospitals, physicians offices, and research testing laboratories two-part, liquid stable reagent systems for the determination of unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC) in serum. Using a Ferene-based endpoint methodology, the assay displays minimal interference effects from elevated concentrations of triglyceride and bilirubin, and a linear measuring range extending to 600 Ìg/dL. The UIBC reagent has a 12-month shelf-life claim and onboard and calibration stabilities. For use with fully automated systems, the reagent is also available in a wide variety of different kit packaging configurations.

Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd
(800) 325-2436
www.dclchem.com


ACTH Elisa

Single-step incubation

The ACTH Elisa from Biomerica, Newport Beach, Calif, is a simple 4.5-hour test for the in vitro quantitative determination of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels in human plasma for the differential diagnosis of pituitary Cushings disease, Addisons disease, autonomous ACTH-producing pituitary tumors, hypopituitarism with ACTH deficiency, and etopic ACTH syndrome. The test involves single-step incubation and one washing step (2-site sandwich assay), and has a 0.46 pg/mL analytical sensitivity.

Biomerica
(949) 645-2111
www.biomerica.com


Trep-Sure

Sensitive and specific syphilis testing

Phoenix Bio-Tech Corp, Mississauga, Ontario, has FDA approval for Trep-Sure EIA, a qualitative enzyme immunoassay for the in vitro diagnostic detection of Treponema pallidum (syphilis) antibodies in human serum or EDTA and citrated plasma. Using recombinant technology, this third generation of syphilis testing offers sensitivity in its detection. The assay reduces the gray areas of testing, and positive samples give high absorbance values, while negative samples have low absorbance values.

Phoenix Bio-Tech Corp
(800) 701-7450
www.phoenixbiotech.com