[AUTOMATION]
Molecular Diagnostics System
Aligns with Lean laboratory environment
Luminex Corp, Austin, Tex, has received FDA premarket notification (510(k)) clearance for its Aries molecular diagnostics system and proprietary assay for herpes simplex virus 1 and 2. Aries is a sample-to-answer system designed to increase laboratory efficiency, ensure result accuracy, and fit into today’s Lean laboratory environment. The system uses internal barcode scanning to minimize operator errors. Two independent modules each support from one to six cassettes. As a result, the system can run stat and batch testing in vitro diagnostic and MultiCode analyte-specific reagents simultaneously, using a common universal assay protocol. An integrated touchscreen PC eliminates the need for a separate computer, standalone keyboard, and mouse, thus maximizing bench space.
Luminex Corp
(866) 401-5450; www.luminexcorp.com
[INSTRUMENTATION]
Inverted Microscope
Designed to improve cell culture throughput
The CKX53 from Olympus Corp, Waltham, Mass, is a next-generation inverted microscope designed for efficient cell culture checking and documentation. The microscope’s advanced imaging capabilities and intuitive design aim to reduce operator fatigue and improve cell culture throughput. The microscope offers a newly developed integrated phase contrast system that enables the operator to view samples at 4x, 10x, 20x, and 40x, without exchanging or recentering the ring slit. Brightfield imaging is improved with a new energy-efficient LED light source that is brighter than earlier halogen bulb systems. The microscope is 20% lighter than previous models, so it can be moved as needed and placed on a sterile bench when aseptic conditions are required.
Olympus
(781) 419-3900; www.olympus-lifescience.com
[MISCELLANEOUS]
Rack Options
Resolve space constraints
Akro-Mils, Akron, Ohio, has expanded its line of Akro-Tubs with the addition of two new rack models that hold three or six of the 25 inch x 16 inch x 8.5 inch cross-stack Akro-Tubs. Constructed of 16-gauge steel with a powder-coated finish, the rack options allow users to maximize space utilization, and enable them to build stable, 90° stacks. The three-tub and six-tub racks have 300-pound and 600-pound weight capacities, respectively. The three-tub unit includes a steel worktop to create additional workspace. Four caster options are available for each model, so that users can customize for specific applications.
Akro-Mils
(800) 253-2467; www.akro-mils.com
Foam Liners
Protect pneumatic tube system carriers
Atreo Services, Denver, has released a collection of foam liners designed specifically for its recently launched 6-inch, sealed pneumatic tube system carrier. The new liners provide cushioned protection for lab samples, blood specimens, medications, or other contents requiring secondary containment during transport, and offer leak protection when sending liquid contents within most common brand-name pneumatic tube systems. In addition to offering foam inserts specifically designed for the transport of specimen tubes, the company also manufactures flat liners, wrap liners, and carrier end caps. The company offers a carrier and liner combination purchase program that reduces costs when buying both products.
Atreo Services
(844) 819-5897; www.atreoservices.com
Redesigned Capsules
Offer higher binding capacities
To more effectively recover large molecular weight proteins, such as blood factors and conjugated proteins or viruses and virus-like particles, Sartorius Stedim Biotech, Goettingen, Germany, has reconfigured its Sartobind membrane chromatography capsules. A range of capsule sizes with a 4 mm bed height is now available, from the 1 mL nano unit to a new 2.5 L version. The capsules’ upstream flow channels have been optimized, and an internal core forms a miniaturized downstream channel. The new Q, S, and salt-tolerant interaction chromatography (STIC) PA ion exchanger capsules, all with a 4 mm bed height, increase dynamic binding capacity by approximately 15% and reduce void volumes by approximately 40%, compared to their predecessors, while maintaining high flow rates of 10 to 30 membrane volumes per minute. Also available are new 400 mL and 800 mL Sartobind Q, S, and Phenyl capsules with an 8 mm bed height.
Sartorius Corp
(631) 254-4249; www.sartorius.com
Microfluidics Chip
Enables creation of single cell libraries
Dolomite Microfluidics, Charlestown, Mass, has launched the Single Cell RNA-Seq chip for simple, reliable creation of single cell libraries. The chip enables researchers to use droplet-based microfluidic methods to help explore the behavior of thousands of individual cells, providing a rapid and easy way to screen for new or cryptic cell types. Manufactured from glass, the chip offers optical transparency and robust, reproducible processing of 1 ml samples in approximately 12 hours. Cells are individually encapsulated with uniquely barcoded RNA capture beads for high-throughput sequencing. Combined with a gentle sample loop method to minimize bead shearing and contamination due to premature cell lysis, the chip enables rapid preparation of single cell cDNA libraries.
Dolomite Microfluidics
(617) 848-1211; www.dolomite-microfluidics.com
[TESTING/DIAGNOSTICS]
Serum Protein Kit
Stores from 2ºC to 8ºC
Maine Standards Company LLC, Cumberland Foreside, Maine, offers the Validate SP2 calibration verification and linearity test kit, which evaluates albumin, C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, and prealbumin in a human serum-based matrix. The product enables clinical laboratories to complete their required serum protein linearity testing and maximize the reportable range while minimizing manual dilutions. Prepared using the “equal delta” method recommended for linearity testing by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, the kit contains liquid, ready-to-use linearity testing material. Lab professionals can simply add the product from the dropper bottle directly into a sample cup and run as a patient sample in duplicate or triplicate. It stores from 2ºC to 8ºC.
Maine Standards Company
(800) 377-9684; www.mainestandards.com
Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel
Requires approximately 1 hour
BioFire Diagnostics, Salt Lake City, has received a de novo premarket notification (510(k)) clearance from FDA for its FilmArray meningitis/encephalitis (ME) panel. Developed to address the critical need for quick and accurate identification of central nervous system infectious agents, the panel requires approximately 1 hour to test cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the 14 most common pathogens (six bacteria, seven viruses, and one yeast) responsible for community-acquired meningitis and encephalitis. Currently, testing CSF for multiple organisms is not always possible because it can be difficult to obtain enough fluid from each patient to run multiple tests.
BioFire Diagnostics
(800) 735-6544; www.biofiredx.com
Flu Kit
FDA-cleared for additional virus strains
The Simplexa Flu A/B and RSV direct kit from Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, Calif, has received premarket notification (510(k)) clearance from FDA for 46 additional influenza A and influenza B virus strains and seven additional respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strains. With the most recent clearance, the Simplexa test can detect a total of 92 influenza and RSV virus strains, including all four influenza strains the World Health Organization recommends be included in vaccines during the Northern Hemisphere’s upcoming influenza season: A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus, A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus; B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus; and B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus. In addition, the 46 new influenza strains include 20 avian influenza A and two swine influenza virus strains, which can carry over into human populations.
Focus Diagnostics
(800) 838-4548; www.focusdx.com
In Situ Hybridization Assay
Features pretreatment reagent enhancements
Advanced Cell Diagnostics Inc, Hayward, Calif, has released the latest version of its RNAscope in situ hybridization assay, RNAscope 2.5. Incorporating refinements to its predecessor, the assay now enables rapid assessment of tissue-based biomarker expression across the full spectrum of clinical formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples without the need for lengthy rounds of assay optimization. A universal pretreatment reagent kit bundles all RNAscope pretreatment reagents, and is recommended for lab professionals routinely working with multiple tissue types or different assay types. RNAscope 2.5 HD reagent kits are available in two options: singleplex chromogenic brown reagents and singleplex chromogenic red reagents, both of which provide reproducibility, improved signal-to noise ratio with new pretreatment reagents, and ease of use. For research use only.
Advanced Cell Diagnostics
(877) 576-3636; rna.acdbio.com/rnascope2.5
