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Oral-View Saliva Drugs of Abuse Test
User-friendly, one-step procedure
Alfa Scientific Designs Inc, Poway, Calif, offers the new Oral-View rapid saliva test device for the detection of drugs of abuse. This one-step device provides instant results in as little as 5 minutes. The test can detect up to five drugs simultaneously, including COC, AMP, THC, OPI, and BZD. Oral fluid testing reduces the concern of gender-related observation issues and sample adulteration, and eliminates the need for a collection site. The design of this device ensures adequate sample collection and can be used to send off for LCMS confirmation.
Alfa Scientific Designs
(877) 204-5071
www.alfascientific.com
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Para 5X
Five-part CBC control
The Para 5X whole blood hematology control, manufactured specifically for the ABX Pentra 60C+, 80, and 120, and the Coulter® Ac•T™5 diff instruments, by Streck Inc, Omaha, Neb, now offers closed-vial stability of 190 days; as well as five distinct populations of lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils; and closely resembles patient samples when run on the assayed analyzers. The extended closed-vial stability allows customers to maintain a quarterly ordering schedule and increase the ILQC peer groups for each instrument on the assay. The assay is available in a 3-mL vial with a pierceable cap. STATS®, a free interlaboratory quality control program, is offered to qualifying Para 5X customers.
Streck Inc
(800) 843-0912
www.streck.com
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Para Scientific Product Line
Parasitology products
The Para Scientific product line, recently purchased by Hardy Diagnostics, Santa Maria, Calif, consists of fecal concentration devices that strain fecal material, allowing for the easy detection of the eggs left behind by parasitic organisms. The ParaCon plastic filter/funnels are available in a kit format that includes a 15-mL centrifuge tube and a liquid surfactant. Also available is the ParaCon II filter/cap unit that is designed to fit tightly over the stool specimen collection vial in order to produce a closed filter system with a 50-mL centrifuge tube.
Hardy Diagnostics
(800) 266-2222
www.hardydiagnostics.com
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PCT Kryptor
Results in less than an hour
The Procalcitonin (PCT) sensitive Kryptor® test from BRAHMS USA Inc, Annapolis, Md, enables intensive care unit (ICU) physicians to determine whether an infection is bacterial or viral in nature, and provides actionable information on the severity of a patient’s condition less than an hour after a blood sample is drawn. As the progression of severe bacterial infections is affected by how early the patient receives appropriate treatment, measuring PCT levels is valuable in ICUs where sepsis represents a major health challenge. The test has recently received FDA 510(k) clearance.
BRAHMS USA Inc
(410) 897-9960
www.brahms-usa.com
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ZNA
Improves PCR technology performance
Polyplus-transfection, Strasbourg, France, a company that specializes in the research, development, and marketing of innovative reagents for transfection and RNA interference (RNAi), has developed a new class of cationic oligonucleotides called ZNA™, which are aimed at improving PCR technology performance, when used as detection probes. In particular, ZNA increases the sensitivity of tests and the ability to detect mutations, as well as presents a similar efficacy to other modified oligonucleotides. The product offers an increased affinity for nucleic acids without losing selectivity, and can improve the performance of other molecular hybridization techniques such as in situ hybridization and microarrays. They can also be used for in vitro detection of micro-RNAs, a new class of intracellular effectors.
Polyplus-transfection
+33 (0)3 90 40 61 80
www.polyplus-transfection.com
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Para 12 Extend
Three-part extended control
Streck, Omaha, Neb, has recently added the Nihon Kohden Celltac MEK-6400 to its Para 12® Extend assay. The Para 12 Extend has three distinct populations of lymphocytes, mononuclears, and granulocytes. Varying percentages are also offered in the low abnormal, normal, and high abnormal levels to test the accuracy and precision of the reported white cell populations. Available in a 2.5-mL vial or a 4.5-mL pierceable cap vial, it has a 30-day open-vial stability and a 6-month closed-vial stability, and is assayed for all parameters on the Coulter® STKR, J Series, T Series, Ac•T™/ Ac•T diff™/ Ac•T diff2™, MD Series, and ONYX Series; Abbott CELL-DYN® 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, and 1800; ABX Micros 60; Diatron® Abacus and Abacus Junior; ERMA PCE-210; and Mindray BC-3200.
Streck Inc
(800) 843-0912
www.streck.com
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CB-X Protein Assay
Highly compatible assay
The CB-X protein assay from G-Biosciences, St Louis, is designed to be compatible with all commonly used buffers and reagents. For samples in simple, uncomplicated aqueous buffers, the highly sensitive, single-reagent assay can be performed within 5 minutes. For complicated protein samples, the assay is supplied with reagents to clean up the samples and remove all reagents and chemicals that interfere with accurate protein estimation, including detergents, chaotropes, reducing agents, alkylating agents, sugars, high salt concentrations, buffering agents, and chelating agents. The cleanup stage and subsequent protein assay is performed in a single tube to ensure no protein is lost and to maintain the accuracy of the assay. It is reliable over the range of 0.5 µg to 50 µg per assay.
G-Biosciences
(314) 991-6034
www.gbiosciences.com
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Ascentis Express RP-Amide
Embedded polar group chemistry
Supelco, a division of Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, has expanded the Ascentis Express product line of HPLC columns by introducing the Ascentis Express RP-Amide, an embedded polar group chemistry that provides an alternate selectivity to the conventional C18 and C8 phases. The key technology in the Ascentis Express column is the Fused-Core™ particle. The combination of the RP-Amide advanced bonding chemistry and the Fused-Core particle provides a polar column for high-speed and high-resolution separations. These high-purity silica particles measure 2.7 microns overall, with a 0.5-micron-thick porous shell. Relative to columns using conventional sub-2-micron particles, the columns generate comparable efficiencies but with half the backpressure.
Sigma-Aldrich
(800) 325-3010
www.sigma-aldrich.com/express
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Optimizer Buffer
Cross-linking and modification reaction conditions
The conjugation and modification reactions used to cross-link proteins or couple labels to proteins, such as biotin, enzymes, and fluorescent dyes, require certain conditions, including pH and chemical composition, for optimal conjugation. G-Biosciences, St Louis, has prepared six reaction-specific buffers that provide the right conditions for protein labeling, modification, and cross reaction. These buffers contain optimized concentration of buffering agents, pH, and other cofactors for specific reactions, and are available for amine and photoreactive, sulfhydryl, carboxyl, carbohydrate, and amine reactions.
G-Biosciences
(314) 991-6034
www.gbiosciences.com
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Extensor Long PCR Enzyme Mix
Long DNA fragment amplification
The Thermo Fisher Scientific Extensor Long PCR Enzyme Mix by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Waltham, Mass, is designed for applications such as cloning and mutagenesis or for the amplification of difficult and GC-rich fragments. The unique blend contains ThermoPrime Taq DNA Polymerase and a proprietary, thermostable proofreading enzyme, which act synergistically to ensure accurate and reliable amplification of DNA templates up to and in excess of 20 kb. The Extensor Enzyme Mix is available with two different buffers: one to optimize the amplification of fragments up to 12 kb and the other for amplicons longer than 12 kb or problematic PCR (such as GC-rich fragments). Each combination is also available preblended in a convenient master mix format to simplify PCR setup. These master mixes can be stored at 4ºC, eliminating the need for freeze/thaw cycles that may reduce the activity of the enzymes.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
(800) 678-5599
www.thermo.com
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AtheNA Multi-Lyte
HSV type-specific multiplex assay
Inverness Medical, Princeton, NJ, has expanded its multiplex test menu with the addition of the AtheNA Multi-Lyte® HSV 1&2 IgG Plus Test System, a HSV type-specific assay for use on the AtheNA Multi-Lyte System. The new assay is intended for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies to two separate antigens—HSV-1 and HSV-2—in human serum. It uses recombinant Glycoprotein G (gG), a known HSV antigen that binds with type-specific HSV antibodies. The system is multiplexed, fluorescent, and bead-based, using Luminex® xMAP® Technology. It is designed to simultaneously perform multiple assays from a single sample in one well, offering a streamlined alternative to IFA, Immunoblot, and ELISA testing. Intra-Well Calibration Technology® provides a multi-point, patient-specific calibration curve that eliminates drift while ensuring accuracy.
Inverness Medical
(609) 627-8000
www.invernessmedicalpd.com
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Tina-quant Cystatin C Reagent
Accurate biomarker for analyzing renal function
Accurately assessing and monitoring renal function is of critical importance to patients with chronic kidney disease. The Tina-quant Cystatin C reagent from Roche, Basel, Switzerland, offers an accurate, reliable biomarker for analyzing renal function. If kidney function and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline, the blood levels of Cystatin C rise.
The Roche Tina-quant Cystatin C is a liquid ready-to-use reagent with a 10-minute turnaround time, high throughput, and 8-week onboard stability.
Roche
(800) 346-8606
www.roche.com
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IL-17A ELISA Kits
Detects IL-17A in cell culture supernatants
Bender MedSystems, Vienna, Austria, introduces IL-17A research ELISA kits for the quantitative detection of human IL-17A in cell culture supernatants, serum, and plasma (citrate and heparinized). The assay features a range of 1.6 to 100 pg/mL and a sensitivity of 0.5 pg/mL. By following the convenient protocol, samples and biotin conjugate can be added in a single step. The assay is completed after only three incubation steps, which consume a total of 3 hours of incubation time. The kits also convince with a sample volume of only 50 µL. A mouse IL-17 ELISA Kit is also available.
Bender MedSystems
+43 1 796 40 40-100
www.bendermedsystems.com
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Iwaki Glass Cell Cultures
High optical clarity
The Iwaki® range of glass cell culture and biotechnology products from Sterilin Ltd, Caerphilly, UK, offers researchers high optical clarity for running complex cell biology techniques. The ultrathin (0.175±0.02 mm) glass-based dishes and multiwell plates are ideal for high-transmittance microscope scanning. The products have been designed to allow the fluorescent measurement of live and dead cells at a higher magnification than that achievable through plastic dishes. The culture plates were specially designed to reduce well-to-well crosstalk and contamination. The wells are less than 0.5 mm above the bottom line of the plate’s outer frame, and are useful for applications such as cell-based assay detections, fluorescent detections, DNA protein interactions, and receptor-ligand recognition detected through fluorescent probes.
Sterilin Ltd
+44 (0)844 844 3737
www.sterilin.co.uk
