Darkfield Quebec Colony Counter

Automatically records

The Darkfield Quebec Colony Counter from Reichert Inc, Depew, NY, allows users to count bacterial and fungal colonies. The design provides even, glare-free illumination while a highly polished, annular reflector spreads light from a 40-watt bulb uniformly over the entire culture plate. Contrasted against the dark field background, colonies are bright and readily distinguished from other structures in the media. A choice of models allows for digital or manual counting. Both models have a dish holder that is adjustable for centering round dishes with diameters up to 100mm and square culture plates up to 100mm x 100mm. The digital model’s built-in digital counter automatically records the colony when a counting probe is touched to it.

Reichert Inc
(888) 849-8955
www.reichertai.com


Bench-Top Keeper

Maintaining clean workstations

The Terminal Brand Biohazard Bench-Top Keepers from Whitney Products Inc, Niles, Ill, lets users collect contaminated, nonsharp waste without unnecessary trips to the lab’s central biohazard container. They are plastic lined to avoid leaking, so work areas can be kept neat and clean economically. Contaminated materials can be autoclaved in the container, which is available in two convenient sizes for various-size labs.

Whitney Products Inc
(800) 338-4237
www.whitneyproducts.com


Desiccant Integration

Protection for reservoir diagnostic devices

Multisorb Technologies, Buffalo, NY, has introduced drop-in, fit-in, built-in desiccant integration approaches for moisture protection of in vitro diagnostic devices. The company offers customized desiccants integrated into the device kit in three ways to protect against moisture, which can damage sensitive device components and interfere with test results. The Drimop Liquid Absorber absorbs up to 400 times its own weight in aqueous solutions for containment of spills and accidental leakage that may occur during shipping.

Multisorb Technologies
(888) 767-2368
www.multisorb.com


QL Series

Slide label printer

Brother International Corp, Bridgewater, NY, has introduced a slide label printing solution. Using a Brother QL Series label printer and the new 23mm, DK-1221 microscope slide label rolls, labels can be printed from a number of applications, including Brother P-touch Editor labeling software, PathLogix Anatomic Pathology software, MS Word, Excel, Access, and more. P-touch Editor is included with every label printer, allowing users to print one or many labels on demand, thereby eliminating waste. In addition to laboratory slides, Brother has labels for test tubes, Petri dishes, bottles, culture samples, mixtures, and preparations. In lab offices, the printers can be used for labels on file folders and CDs/DVDs, for mailing and shipping, and for small warning and instructional signs. The series consists of four models that use easy-peel, easy-load label rolls. The 500/550/650TD combine fast print speed, crisp 300 dpi printing, low maintenance, and low cost of ownership. The 650TD also features stand-alone printing and time and date labeling.

Brother International Corp
(866) 395-8781
www.brother.com


UC Cleaning Tools

Self-saturating, foam-tipped swabs

The disposable UC Cleaning Tool from Separation Technology, Altamonte Springs, Fla, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, combines an applicator and solution in one swab. Prefilled with an alcohol solution, the tool’s shaft is squeezed to snap the seal and direct the solution into the foam head. With no containers, there is no dripping or spills, less waste, and less chance of crossover. The tool is designed to reach hard-to-clean areas such as tube sealer heads and optical sensors.

Separation Technology Thermo Fisher Scientific
(800) 777-6668 www.separationtechnology.com


Horiba Benchtop Analyzer

Includes an integrated touch screen workstation

Horiba ABX Diagnostics, Irvine, Calif, delivers a complete automation and intuitive interface with its benchtop analyzer. Features include an integrated touch screen workstation, an intuitive user interface, a small sample size of 30 µL (CBC) and 53 µL (CBC + DIFF), a 10-rack/100-tube capacity at a rate of 80 samples per hour, and automatic rerun capabilities for abnormal samples. The system now includes preset automated dilutions for WBC and platelets, enhanced reagent management, and patient sample validation with delta checking built upon a Windows XP platform. The company’s ABX technology removes the need for compressor, shear, and pinch valves.

Horiba ABX
(888) 903-5001
www.horiba-abx.com


AquaTec

Improves sample protection

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Pittsburgh, has unveiled the AquaTec water preservation cell for the effective prevention of waterborne contamination in CO2 incubators and water baths. Designed to provide worry-free sample incubation and cell culture, the AquaTec provides up to 6 months of protection from more than 600 types of bacteria, viruses, molds, and fungi. The device enables the prevention of microbes from water without the use of harsh chemicals, making it safe to handle and requiring no special disposal protocols. Just one 3-inch AquaTec cell placed into the water reservoir provides long-lasting disinfection without the need for mixing or measuring potentially hazardous materials. Self-regulation maintains the correct level of antimicrobial concentration, regardless of water level. The AquaTec has optional suction cups for placement and fixation in the water bath or incubator reservoir, and a convenient peel-off reminder calendar that indicates when replacement is recommended.

Thermo Fisher Scientific
(800) 547-7429
www.thermo.com/aquatec


High Purity Tween 20

Detergent with low chance of peroxidase and carbonyl compounds

New High Purity Tween 20 from G-Biosciences, St. Louis, is one of the most commonly used nonionic detergents for solubilizing membrane proteins during isolation of membrane-protein complexes. Ultralow aldehyde and peroxide concentrations reduce the effects of peroxidase and carbonyl compounds that interact negatively with membrane proteins.

G-Biosciences/Genotech
(800) 628-7730
www.gbiosciences.com


Histology Lab Products

Various supplies

Leica Microsystems Inc, Bannockburn, Ill, offers a new, full-color, 16-page brochure that describes Leica’s consumable products for the histology laboratory. Leica provides a wide variety of cassettes, either prestacked specifically for use on the Leica IP C Cassette Printer, or loose for general laboratory requirements. All Leica routine and biopsy cassettes are molded from a high-density polymer that is fully resistant to typical laboratory chemicals and suitable for routine and specialized processing techniques, including microwaving. Users can choose from cassettes that accept metal lids and those with molded polymer lids attached in either the open or closed position. The catalog also features Leica Histowax, a highly purified paraffin formulated to give outstanding tissue infiltration and superior-quality sections. Also featured are Leica EasyDip Staining Jars and Racks, and a variety of storage and shipping containers.

Leica Microsystems Inc
(800) 248-0123
www.leica-microsystems.com