Trugene Sequencing System

Assesses viral mutation impact on antiretrovirals

The Trugene Sequencing System from Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, relies on the proprietary CLIP sequencing chemistry to sequence DNA, providing users with bidirectional sequence for interrogated regions of HIV, HBV, and HCV. The FDA-cleared HIV-1 sequencing product provides clinicians with information about the HIV-1 viral population infecting a given individual. The resulting mutational analysis is fed into an FDA-cleared interpretive algorithm to assess the potential impact of HIV-1 mutations on commonly used antiretroviral agents. The RUO HBV kit provides a method to obtain bidirectional sequence from overlapping surface antigen and domains B through E of the RT region of the Hepatitis B virus. The resulting HBV sequences provide information on the HBV genotype and specific mutations. The RUO HCV kit provides interrogation of the 5’NC region of the HCV genome and allows identification of genotype as well as a mutational assessment of this region of the virus. The current OpenStep software and existing hardware components are being significantly improved with a transition to the OSX operating system. The Trugene OSX product provides an integrated-monitor-based, computational system, with enhanced data management, simplified system configuration/networking, expansion flexibility, and increased throughput.

Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics
(800) 431-1970
www.diagnostics.siemens.com

Nichipet EX

Autoclavable digital micropipette

A general-purpose digital micropipette that is completely autoclavable has been introduced by Massandmeasurement.com, Canton, Mass. The Nichipet EX Autoclavable Digital Micro Pipette, designed to provide fatigue-free operation, features an enlarged finger rest, a digital counter for setting the sample volume, and a push-button extractor. Suitable for liquid handling on a clean bench, this pipette is UV-resistant and offered in eight sizes for sampling volumes from 0.1 µl to 10.0 ml each. Designed to be unaffected by hand temperature, the product is constructed with PTFE in the airtight chamber. It provides reproducible results, and comes with 1.0 ml, 5.0 ml, and 10.0 ml filtered nozzles. Utilizing disposable tips, color-coded to indicate capacity, it has a tip ejector for rapid removal without touching by hand.

Massandmeasurement.com
(800) 320-3493
www.massandmeasurement.com

ep Dualfilter T.I.P.S.

Pipette protection

Eppendorf North America Inc, Westbury, NY, has introduced ep Dualfilter T.I.P.S, the first tips with a two-phase filter for ultimate pipette and sample aerosol protection. Manufactured from nonrecycled materials under clean room conditions, the products are characterized by defined flow dynamics, low wettability, and high thermal stability. They are certified pyrogen-free and PCR-clean (free from human DNA, DNase, RNase, and PCR-inhibiting substances). Available in 10 different sizes with a volume range from 0.1 µl to 10 ml, the tips fit virtually every brand of pipette.

Eppendorf North America Inc
(800) 645-3050
www.eppendorfna.com

Phosphorylation Site Antibodies

Understanding intracellular pathways

BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, NJ, and Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland, have announced a new collaboration to jointly identify and develop intracellular phosphorylation site antibodies that will improve their understanding of the pathways that carry information inside cells, and why these pathways sometimes malfunction to cause disease. These insights could ultimately lead to the discovery of new drugs and biological markers for life-threatening and debilitating conditions. The two companies will also develop and validate antibodies for those targets using BD Phosflow technology and in other cell and tissue analysis applications. Roche will receive nonexclusive prelaunch access to all developmental BD Phosflow antibodies, and a period of exclusive commercial access to those validated antibodies.

BD Biosciences
(877) 232-8995
www.bdbiosciences.com

Roche Diagnostics
(800) 440-3638
www.roche-diagnostics.us

Cell-Vu DRM 600

Disposable Sperm-Counting Chamber

Pittsburgh-based Fisher Scientific’s new Cell-Vu (DRM 600) is used for sperm counts from undiluted specimens. It consists of a standard, specially designed glass slide and a coverslip with the counting grid laser-etched into its surface. The coverslip’s 1×1-mm grid, which is divided into 100, 0.1- mm areas, is thin enough to use under high magnification without special adapters or reticles. The slide consists of two chambers (for dual determinations), each with a depth of 20 µm. This depth is optimal for sperm cells to form in a monolayer without the need for dilution. Movement of sperm is unencumbered, allowing counts and motility to be assessed easily. Disposal of the entire apparatus eliminates cleaning and minimizes clinician exposure to body fluids, in compliance with OSHA blood-borne and body fluid–pathogen standards.

Fisher Scientific
(800) 766-7000
www.cellvu.com