G8 Automated Glycohemoglobin Analyzer

Results in less than 2 minutes

The Automated Glycohemoglobin Analyzer HLC-723G8 (G8) from Tosoh Bioscience, Tokyo, provides fast results with an HbA1c analysis time of only 1.6 minutes. Features include a calibration check function with a pop-up window that displays standard values during calibration, user-defined flag settings, buffer monitoring, and an automatic prime function. The G8 provides direct determination of stable HbA1c, and can be used for in vitro diagnostic measurement of HbA1c in blood specimens. The instrument also uses a nonporous column and microcomputer technology to quickly and accurately measure the stable portion of HbA1c as a percentage of the total amount of hemoglobin present in the sample. It provides precise separation of HbA1c from other hemoglobin fractions, and offline pretreatment is not required.

Tosoh Bioscience
(800) 248-6764
www.diagnostics.us.tosohbioscience.com

PrimeTime qPCR Assays

Customizable thermodynamic parameters

Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), Coralville, Iowa, launches its PrimeTime™ qPCR assays, which contain dual-labeled probes and primers mixed for use in the 5′ nuclease process. The qPCR assays are custom-designed with a validated real-time PCR design algorithm available online. This real-time PCR design tool allows researchers to customize the thermodynamic parameters to match their specific assay requirements and incorporate genome and transcript information in the primer and probe design. The amplicons are designed to reduce detection of genomic DNA. Researchers can evaluate the resulting primer-probe sets, including the sequence of both primers and probe, prior to ordering. The PrimeTime qPCR mix contains enough to conduct up to 8,000 assays at standard conditions.

Integrated DNA Technologies
(800) 328-2661
www.idtdna.com

FLEXMAP 3D

High multiplexing capabilities

The FLEXMAP™ 3D system from Luminex Corp, Austin, Tex, offers medium- and high-volume laboratories improved analytical performance, greater speed, front-end automation, enhanced throughput, and high multiplexing capabilities. The system utilizes Luminex’s flexible xMAP® Technology. It measures up to 500 analytes in a single well and runs on xPONENT® 4.0 software. Full market release is expected in early 2009.

Luminex Corp
(888) 219-8020
www.luminexcorp.com

Rapid Detection Flu A+B Test

Results in 15 minutes

3M, St Paul, Minn, announces nationwide availability of the 3M™ Rapid Detection Flu A+B Test, the first rapid flu test providing automated results. The test requires less than 3 minutes of prep time, and is able to deliver hospital and physician’s office laboratories with objective electronic results in 15 minutes. Data can also be exported through laboratory information systems, eliminating the need for manual recording and transferring of patient results. The test can also read and store lab results.

3M
(888) 364-3577
www.mmm.com

ACCURUN

Warfarin and thrombophilia controls

SeraCare Life Sciences Inc, Milford, Mass, introduces ACCURUN® quality controls for warfarin sensitivity and thrombophilia testing. These independent controls are the first genomic controls characterized for multiple alleles of multiple genes in ready-to-use, single-use format. ACCURUN 601 is a multiallele control for warfarin sensitivity designed to compete with existing controls that require multiple packages to test different alleles. Single package design will enable molecular testing labs to increase test throughput of patient samples, optimizing instrument capacity. The controls include the most relevant alleles for warfarin sensitivity, and can control for both CYP2C9 and VKORC1 screening, covering two allelic mutations for the CYP2C9 gene and six mutations for the VKORC1 gene.

SeraCare Life Sciences
(508) 244-6400
www.seracare.com