[COMPUTERS/IT]
3D Fluidics Printer
Uses translucent cyclic olefin copolymer
Dolomite Microfluidics, Royston, UK, recently unveiled the first commercially available 3D printer for fluidically sealed devices. The Fluidic Factory uses translucent cyclic olefin copolymer to enable rapid prototyping of fluidically sealed devices, such as chips, sensor cartridges, fluid manifolds, valves, connectors, and medical devices. The system’s software and hardware ensures reliable sealing of fluidic paths, allowing the creation of precise channel geometries and various features not possible using etching, embossing, molding, or machining techniques. Users can choose a design from the system’s design library, or create and print their own unique devices using virtually any computer-aided design software. With complete design flexibility, the system is suited for a wide range of applications, including organ-on-a-chip, point-of-care diagnostics, drug development, chemical synthesis, and analytical and biomedical assays.
Dolomite Microfluidics
(617) 848-1211; www.dolomite-microfluidics.com
[EQUIPMENT]
Benchtop Centrifuge
Incorporates hybrid rotor
The Thermo Scientific Medifuge benchtop centrifuge from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Mass, features a hybrid rotor that has interchangeable fixed-angle and swinging buckets. Designed to improve productivity, the two-in-one DualSpin rotor facilitates quick switching between applications, eliminating the need to exchange or purchase additional rotors. The centrifuge incorporates such safety and environmental sustainability features as an emergency lid-lock release, in case of power failure; quiet operation at less than 56 dBA; and a lightweight composite rotor that saves energy during acceleration and deceleration. The centrifuge features a large, brightly lit display with intuitive controls and a fast one-click closure. The unit has two spacer options and can accommodate a wide range of tubes from 1.4 mL to 15 mL, including clinical in vitro diagnostic blood tubes, gel tubes, standard syringes, and conical tubes.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
(800) 678-5599; www.thermofisher.com
Louvered Cart
Equipped with locking doors
Akro-Mils, Akron, Ohio, has expanded its line of louvered carts with the addition of models with locking doors. Available in small (37 inches x 18 inches x 36 inches) and large (49 inches x 24 inches x 37.5 inches) sizes and a variety of AkroDrawer configurations, the flexible, mobile workstation can be used in a variety of work environments. Color options include textured charcoal gray, textured putty, and textured black. Locking doors protect 6.5 cubic feet of storage space to secure users’ valuable items, while a keyed flush handle avoids protrusion into workspace. Louvered carts also feature a welded steel frame, tubular steel push handle, steel-reinforced butcher block work surface, and louvered panels on cart ends that accommodate AkroBins, InSight bins, and universal hanging bins. Carts ship assembled and ready to use.
Akro-Mils
(800) 253-2467; www.akro-mils.com
Programmable Stirring Hot Plate
Stores 10 programs
The EchoTerm HS40 programmable digital stirring hot plate from Torrey Pines Scientific Inc, Carlsbad, Calif, is suited for laboratories that require reproducible, accurate chemical reaction control, and sample preparation. Programming is done through a front panel membrane switch and full-functioned custom liquid crystal display. The unit can store 10 programs of as many as 10 steps each. Steps consist of temperature, temperature ramp rate, stirring speed, and time. Each program can be made to repeat itself automatically from 1 to 98 times, or infinitely. Heater plates are 8 inches x 8 inches of white, solid ceramic glass for chemical resistance and quick heating. The plate surface can be heated from ambient to 450°C in less than 3 minutes. Plate surface temperature or solution temperature can be controlled directly to 1°C of the target.
Torrey Pines Scientific
(866) 573-9104; www.torreypinesscientific.com
[INSTRUMENTATION]
Automated Live Cell Imager
Transforms images into intelligent information
BioTek Instruments, Winooski, Vt, has launched the Lionheart FX automated live cell imager with augmented microscopy technology. The instrument is optimized for kinetic live cell imaging, with up to 100x air and oil immersion magnification in a variety of slides, dishes, microplates, and flasks. Imaging channels include brightfield, color brightfield, phase contrast and fluorescence, with both image-based and laser autofocus. A unique environmental control cover provides convenience beyond that of typical digital microscopes, allowing for incubation up to 40ºC and gas control, while the optional humidity chamber and dual reagent injectors enhance environmental support for live cell imaging workflows. Gen5 3.0 software provides automated image capture and analysis, plus annotation and movie maker functions, offering ease and simplicity across a broad range of live and fixed cell applications.
BioTek Instruments
(888) 451-5171; www.biotek.com
[MISC SUPPLIES]
Maternal Serum II Control
Designed for second trimester screening
The Liquichek maternal serum II control from Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc, Hercules, Calif, is a frozen liquid, human serum-based material designed to monitor the precision of laboratory test procedures used during maternal serum second trimester screening. The control includes AFP, free estriol, hCG, and inhibin A, making it suitable for laboratories performing triple- or quadruple-marker screening. The liquid form eliminates the need for reconstitution, increasing efficiency and allowing samples to be treated the same way as patient specimens. As an independent quality control, the control is not optimized for a specific test system, and provides laboratories greater confidence in patient results. Designed for use on various instruments and reagent systems, the control offers a 3-year shelf life when stored at –20°C to –70°C, and open-vial stability of 30 days when stored between 2°C and 8°C.
Bio-Rad Laboratories
(800) 224-6723; www.bio-rad.com
Disposable Lab Waste Containers
Consist of sturdy paperboard
Whitney Medical Solutions, Niles, Ill, has redesigned its disposable Bench-Top Keepers lab waste containers. With input from lab managers, the company has revamped its product to streamline infectious waste collection in the lab. The containers have more useable interior space, but keep the same small footprint. A wide opening allows for convenient disposal of items and closes securely with self-locking tops. Plastic-lined to avoid leaking, the containers easily store such contaminated waste items as applicator sticks, petri dishes, pipettes, swabs, test tubes, and other non-sharp items. The units store flat, and are made of sturdy paperboard printed with orange biohazard symbols.
Whitney Medical Solutions
(800) 338-4237; whitneymedicalsolutions.com
Linearity Set of Brain Natriuretic Peptide Controls
Consists of five levels
Audit MicroControls Inc, Eatonton, Ga, has added to its line of calibration verification, linearity, and daily quality control products with the extended Linearity FD brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) control. The lyophilized product is intended to simulate human patient serum samples for the purpose of determining linearity, calibration verification, and verification of reportable range. Consisting of five levels that demonstrate a linear relationship to each other when assayed for BNP-32 and NT-Pro BNP, the product has an open-vial stability of 2 days for BNP-32 and 5 days for NT-Pro BNP when stored at 2–8°C. Report results are stored on the Auditor QC, a free online, real-time data reduction program.
Audit MicroControls
(866) 252-8348; www.auditmicro.com
Reference Material
Covers entire Zika virus genome
SeraCare Life Sciences, Milford, Mass, has launched the AccuPlex Zika reference material to fast-track the development and validation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based Zika virus assays. Utilizing AccuPlex recombinant virus technology, SeraCare’s Zika reference material contains the entire RNA genome of the ZIKV 2007 strain in four separate overlapping virus constructs. This product is formulated at ~1.0E+05 copies/ml in 0.25ml of defibrinated human plasma; the copy number is assigned based on results from a digital PCR assay developed in-house. As a recombinant virus product, the AccuPlex Zika reference material utilizes a mammalian RNA virus that closely mimics the Zika virus in both size and complexity. Ongoing accelerated and real-time stability studies indicate that AccuPlex recombinant viruses are stable at room temperature for at least 20 months and at 4°C for at least 2 years.
SeraCare Life Sciences
(508) 244-6400; www.seracare.com
[TESTING/DIAGNOSTICS]
FISH Kit
Delivers bright, specific signals
Oxford Gene Technology, Oxford, UK, has launched the CE-marked Cytocell Aquarius 1p36/1q25 and 19q13/19p13 deletion probe kit, a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) kit created specifically for the investigation of codeletion status in glial tumour specimens. The kit delivers bright, specific signals with minimal background. By enabling clear and accurate scoring, the need for repeat testing is minimized, saving both time and resources. Ready-to-use premixed probes save aliquoting time, while also minimizing potential errors. The cost-effective, quality-assured kit brings confidence to glioma investigations, with optimization for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples enhanced when used alongside the Cytocell tissue pretreatment kit.
Oxford Gene Technology
(914) 467-5285; www.ogt.com
