[AUTOMATION]

IntelliQube_12015_noplatform_AmpCurveIntegrated Instrument
For real-time PCR
IntelliQube from Douglas Scientific, Alexandria, Minn, is the first fully automated, high-throughput PCR instrument to feature seamless integration of liquid handling, thermal cycling, detection, and data analysis. Designed to support quantitative real-time PCR, end-point PCR, and isothermal chemistries, the instrument allows labs to realize the benefits of inline automation that are enabled by the company’s Array Tape consumable. Array Tape is a thin polymer strip with serially embossed wells that provides a flexible microplate replacement and increases throughput in single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping applications. With a new 768-well Array Tape format, IntelliQube offers five distinct detection channels to enable multiplex reactions. Integrated liquid handling maximizes process flexibility and minimizes waste compared to rigidly defined chips, microarrays, or microfluidics. A variety of qPCR and end-point PCR applications are compatible with the system, including gene expression analysis, genotyping and copy number variants, miRNA analysis, and zygosity.
Douglas Scientific
(320) 762-6888; www.douglasscientific.com

[COMPUTERS/IT]

Laboratory Information System
Provides scalable solution
CompuGroup Medical_LABDAQ copyThe scalable Labdaq laboratory information system from CompuGroup Medical US, Owings Mills, Md, can be customized to meet the needs of physician office laboratories and clinics, as well as specialty and reference laboratories. Designed to maximize profitability and improve patient care, the system’s features include total connectivity and user-defined rules, which ensure that all testing and billing procedures are tracked and enforced. The system is optimized for optimal interoperability with a library of more than 500 analyzer interfaces and bidirectional interfaces to regional and national laboratories, electronic medical records, and billing systems. Automating preanalytic, analytic, and postanalytic activities, the system provides advanced functionality to support regulatory and HIPAA compliance.
CompuGroup Medical US
(855) 270-6700; www.cgm.com/us

Utilization Management Reporting System
Minimizes unnecessary testing
Visiun_dashboard2 cropIn an environment of decreasing reimbursement, reducing test utilization represents one of the greatest opportunities for laboratories to improve financial performance. Performance Insight from Visiun, Ann Arbor, Mich, is a utilization management reporting system that helps laboratories identify opportunities to eliminate unnecessary testing. The platform provides laboratory directors and managers with business intelligence and analytics to help their management teams monitor key performance indicators. Rich graphical reporting provides immediate insight into key aspects of laboratory performance, including turnaround time, productivity, quality, financial management, and utilization.
Visiun
(800) 941-4937; www.visiun.com

[EQUIPMENT]

E Instruments_VT110 LR copyHot-Wire Thermo-Anemometer
Offers 180°F range
Compact and rugged, the VTO110 “hot-wire” thermo-anemometer from E Instruments, Langhorne, Pa, is suitable for laboratory use and offers a 0.01 resolution, and capability of measuring temperatures ranging from -4°F to 176°F, and air velocities from 0 to 6,000 fpm. Redesigned for 2015, the device also includes a 128-by-128-pixel blue backlit LCD display that can be read in either light or dark environments. The VTO110 offers m/s and fpm unit selection as well as max, min, and hold functions. The unit has dimensions of 5 inches by 2.5 inches by 1.25 inches and comes with a shock-proof housing and an adjustable shut-off function.
E Instruments
(215) 750-1212; www.e-inst.com

Lightweight Enclosure
Simplifies loading process
Flow Sciences Process Enclosure_300Flow Sciences Inc, Leland, NC, has released a new series of process enclosures, designed to protect process equipment and personnel. EVP Series enclosures provide safety from chemical vapors generated during process equipment applications, such as flash chromatography and evaporation from rotary evaporators. Developed for vapors to be removed from the application and the lab, the series’ design allows vapors to be pulled to the rear of the enclosure and then up through plenums. As a result, laminar flow across the work surface is maintained and vapors are removed effectively. For ease of loading and unloading equipment, the EVP series includes a dual-hinged front sash. This feature makes it simple to load equipment and run the application with a small face-opening to save energy. Available in 2-foot and 3-foot models, the enclosure is lightweight and easily movable as the dynamics of the laboratory space change. Custom sizes are also available on request.
Flow Sciences
(800) 849-3429; www.flowsciences.com

Housing-Free Controller Board
For stepper and brushless DC motors and interfaces
Nanotec CL3-E_crop640Designed as a housing-free board with a footprint of 40 mm by 60 mm, the CL3-E controller from Nanotec, Medford, Mass, is intended for small stepper and brushless DC (BLDC) motors with a continuous output of up to 70 W. The board offers a wide range of applications for a variety of motors and interfaces, such as open-loop stepper motors that respond autonomously to digital inputs, and dynamic BLDC motors with encoders that are controlled through the controller area network (CAN). The board also supports the company’s sensorless closed-loop control of stepper motors, in addition to miniature BLDC motors and stepper motors with a size of up to NEMA 23. With an operating voltage of 12 to 24 V, a nominal current of 3 A, and a peak current of 6 A, the controller can be connected via USB, CANopen, RS232, or RS485 interfaces. It features five digital inputs, two analog inputs, and three digital outputs. Applications developed in the NanoJ programming language can be executed directly in the unit. The programs are synchronized with the digital inputs and outputs, in addition to instructions received from the field bus in 1-ms cycles through the real-time operating system. Simple applications can then be performed without higher-level control, reducing the bus load and leaving the higher-level controller unburdened during complex operations.
Nanotec
(781) 219-3343; us.nanotec.com

[MISCELLANEOUS ]

Monoclonal Antibodies
For detection of the P1 antigen
Virostat_Mycoplasma pneumoniae 640ViroStat, Portland, Me, has released a new set of monoclonal antibodies to the P1 adhesin of Mycoplasma pneumonia, which joins the company’s existing collection of ViroStat M. pneumoniae antibody reagents. The antibodies function well in IFA staining and as ELISA pairs for the detection of the P1 antigen. M. pneumoniae is a parasitic pathogen of the human respiratory tract that causes atypical pneumonia and most commonly affects children and young adults. The bacteria lacks a cell wall, rendering many antibiotics that inhibit cell wall synthesis ineffective as treatment. M. pneumonia adheres to respiratory epithelial cells via several adhesins. The P1 adhesin is a major virulence factor of this organism.
ViroStat
(207) 856-6620; www.virostat-inc.com

Certified Reference Materials
Includes five synthetic tryptamines
Cerilliant_tryptamines 640Cerilliant, Round Rock, Tex, has introduced eight new Certified Spiking Solutions of tryptamines for use in quantitative mass spec-based testing applications such as clinical toxicology. The certified reference materials include five synthetic tryptamines (5-MeO-AMT, 5-MeO-DALT, 5-MeO-MiPT, 5-MeO-DMT, and 5-MeO-DiPT), three naturally occurring tryptamines (N, N-dimethyltryptamine, and psilocybin); and a stable-labeled internal standard. Tryptamines have experienced a resurgence of abuse due to their ease of availability on clandestine and legal websites combined with a growing trend among drug users to vaporize tryptamines using e-cigarette devices. Cerilliant’s reference standards are manufactured and certified to industry standards, including ISO Guide 34, ISO/IEC 17025, and ISO 13485, and are compliant with ISO 15194.
Cerilliant
(512) 238-9974; www.cerilliant.com

Linearity Control Products
For Roche clinical chemistry systems
AUDIT - General Chemistry copyAudit MicroControls Inc, Eatonton, Ga, has expanded its line of calibration verification and linearity controls with the Linearity FD set of general chemistry controls for Roche systems. The set of controls is designed to simulate human serum samples for determining linearity, calibration verification, and verification of the reportable range for quantitative assays performed on Roche clinical chemistry analyzers. The Linearity FD set is a lyophilized product comprising five levels and matching diluents that have a linear relationship to one another when assayed for albumin, alkaline phosphatase, ALT, amylase, AST, BUN, calcium, chloride, CO2, creatine kinase, creatinine, gamma-GT, glucose, iron, lactate, LDH, lipase, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, total bilirubin, total protein, and uric acid. The product has an open-vial stability of 7 days when stored at 2°C to 8°C.
Audit MicroControls
(866) 252-8348; www.auditmicro.com

Tube Formats
For simplified liquid extraction
Phenomenex Novum Tubes_crop640Phenomenex Inc, Torrance, Calif, has expanded its Novum simplified liquid extraction sorbent line to include tube formats, in addition to the original 96-well plate formats. Now available in 1, 3, 6, and 12 cc tubes, Novum tubes can be used to clean up biological samples prior to testing. They can be automated using a liquid handler and can also be run using a vacuum manifold to run 12 or 24 samples at once for increased throughput. The synthetic, patent-pending Novum SLE sorbent simplifies the liquid-extraction process by eliminating manual steps, reducing solvent consumption, and delivering higher sample recovery. It is designed to eliminate analyte loss due to emulsions that can form at the interface of the two liquid phases.
Phenomenex
(310) 212-0555; www.phenomenex.com

Storage Bin
Molded using industrial-grade polymers
Akro-Mils AkroBin 30237_crop500Akro-Mils, Akron, Ohio, has expanded its line of AkroBins with the addition of a new bin. Measuring 9.25 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 5 inches tall, the unit can be used back to back as a two-bin kanban solution on 18-inch deep shelves. AkroBins are now available in 15 sizes and a variety of colors, including clear. Designed to help control inventories, shorten assembly times, and minimize parts handling, the bins are molded using industrial-grade polymers and are resistant to weak acids, alkalis, corrosion, rust, and water. Furthermore, the unit can be used alone or with the company’s steel shelving, wire shelving, hanging systems, and pick racks to create a complete storage and organization solution.
Akro-Mils
(800) 253-2467; www.akro-mils.com

[TESTING/DIAGNOSTICS]

DNA Microarray Platform
Multiplexed 24-well and 96-well formats
Arrayit_DNA microarraysThe DNA microarray platform from Arrayit, Sunnyvale, Calif, enables whole-genome and targeted analysis of DNA sequences for gene-expression and genotyping applications. The DNA microarrays combine patented contact printing technology, ex situ oligonucleotide manufacturing, proprietary glass and coupling chemistry, cleanroom manufacturing, and post-manufacturing quality control to achieve excellent testing specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy for human, plant, animal, fungal, bacterial, and viral identification purposes. The low-density, targeted DNA microarrays utilize multiplexed 24-well and 96-well formats to improve testing throughput and affordability.
Arrayit
(408) 744-1331; www.arrayit.com

High-Purity Protein
For vitamin B12 detection
BBI_intrinsic factor 640BBI Solutions, Cardiff, United Kingdom, has released a high-purity intrinsic factor protein for the detection of vitamin B12. With a high affinity and specificity to the vitamin, the porcine tool is well-suited for use in immunoassays. Specifically, it features purity greater than 95% and aids in the diagnosis of pernicious anemia, which is caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency. As the lone commercial manufacturer of the protein, BBI seeks to offer supply security by fully developing the product at its own UK-based facility and producing it at sufficient scale to meet the growing market’s future demands. The intrinsic factor is available now for testing.
BBI Solutions
(800) 423-8199; www.bbisolutions.com

Syphilis Assay
Produces results in as little as 26 minutes
Siemens_H_DX_ADVIACentaur_Reagent_Syphilis_Box 640The Advia Centaur syphilis assay from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, allows for sensitive and specific detection of antibodies to Treponema pallidum proteins in human serum or plasma (EDTA, lithium or sodium heparinized, sodium citrate). Use of a treponemal assay as the initial assay followed by a non-treponemal test has been shown to increase detection of both early primary and late-latent infections that would have been missed using a traditional testing approach. Unlike manual syphilis testing methods, the automated Siemens assay helps improve laboratory workflow efficiency and testing accuracy and reliability. The test reduces testing turnaround time, producing results in approximately 29 minutes on the Advia Centaur and Advia Centaur XP immunoassay systems, and approximately 26 minutes on the Advia Centaur CP system. It is not intended for blood and tissue donor screening.
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics
(914) 631-8000; www.usa.healthcare.siemens.com

Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity Assay
Wide linear range
Sekisui_UIBCassayA quantitative direct measure unsaturated iron binding capacity assay (UIBC-SL) from Sekisui Diagnostics, Lexington, Mass, provides accurate results with reduced repeat testing. Serum UIBC levels vary in disorders of iron metabolism, where iron-binding capacities are often increased in iron deficiency and reduced in chronic inflammatory disorders or malignancies. UIBC testing is used as an aid in managing various iron disorders, including anemia. Applicable to multiple instrument platforms, the assay features a wide linear range of 17 ?g/dL to 600 ?g/dL, reducing the need for dilution. It also offers increased result reliability, laboratory flexibility, and minimized reagent waste. UIBC-SL is a two-part stable liquid ready-to-use reagent.
Sekisui Diagnostics
(781) 652-7800; www.sekisuidiagnostics.com