Permeability leader Versaperm has introduced a sensitive new instrument to measure vapour permeability for a wide range of gasses, including O2, N, He, Hydrocarbon-based and water vapour. Versaperm’s new-version MkVI meter can measure permeability and diffusive flow across samples, finished packages, seals and equipment – for an enormous range of commonly used gasses. Most materials, seals, pipes and equipment are subject to vapour diffusion which can lead to performance changes in many materials. It can also result in anything from reduced drug potency through instrument and electronics failure. The Versaperm meter can
determine vapour permeability for almost any material and gas, and can give results in as little as 30 minutes. Conventional gravimetric measurement takes days or even weeks and is less accurate and repeatable.

Firstsight Vision offers a new image processing capability through the Common Vision Blox (CVB) hardware-independent imaging toolkit from Stemmer Imaging. The latest version
of CVB makes use of the GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) processor on the PC graphics card. Since this is the fastest available processor in the system and is optimised for imaging algorithms, using the GPU in this way can boost speed for some image processing functions up to a factor of 10. Graphic processors outperform other imaging acceleration methods including the fastest available FPGAs. Even allowing for delays in data transfer between the main memory and the GPU, a rise in performance by a factor of between 2 to 10 is possible when using a GPU in place of a CPU, with the added benefit that the CPU can then be used for other tasks simultaneously.

A new range of miniature dispense pumps which are designed to meet the increasing demand for machine components which need to be smaller, yet capable of providing a precise,
repeatable and reliable performance, have been introduced by Lee Products. The pumps are available in three types, high and standard performance LPV models, along with LPL solenoid pumps, in a range of full stroke volumes from 50 - 3000µl. These pumps, which are an ideal alternative to conventional syringe or peristaltic pumps, combine a compact, lightweight design, with low power consumption so they can be located wherever fluidic requirements dictate, regardless of maintenance accessibility.

TTP LabTech has announced that it has been granted a licence for the application of Resonant Acoustic Profiling technology
incorporated in the RAPid 4 instrument in the areas of drug discovery and life sciences by Inverness Medical. RAPid 4 is a flow-based analysis system which reduces the need
to purify samples and generates accurate kinetic, affinity and concentration measurements from complex mixtures, such as
blood, serum, cell culture supernatants and periplastic extracts. A stand-alone, fully automated platform, RAPid 4 requires minimal user intervention and is controlled via user-friendly software, typically processing an average of 400 samples per day.

The Titrino plus range is Metrohm’s new entry class in potentiometric titration. The Titrino plus range of instruments offers significantly more than what you would expect from this price segment: large live display with titration curve, plug and play, functionality of exchange unit, stirrer and USB printer, high-resolution measuring interface and operation via mouse-click. The instrument dialogue is tailored for routine users making operation of the Titrino plus instruments so easy that the familiarisation period is very short. Added to this is their robustness which makes them the ideal titrators for daily routine determinations. The Titrino plus is the ideal titrator for routine
applications such as aqueous and non-aqueous acid/base titrations and redox titrations (e.g. iodometry, permanganometry, cerimetry).

A key feature of the new Morphologi G3 automated particle characterisation system from Malvern Instruments is a novel, fully integrated Sample Unit (SDU). Morphologi G3 provides microscope quality images and delivers statistically significant data through the rapid analysis of hundreds of thousands of particles, with little or no user intervention, giving information on both particle size and shape. The software-controlled dry powder dispersion system reduces sample preparation times, significantly improves repeatability of measurements and offers safer handling of hazardous substances. Reliable particle characterisation of dry powders requires strict control of dispersion
conditions - using the Morphologi G3 ensures highly reproducible measurements across a broad range of samples.

The new Friabimat SA-400 from Copley Scientific uniquely delivers friability testing for even the hardest, most robust solid dosage forms. Its use is detailed in Chap 2.9.41 (Method B) of the European Pharmacopoeia, which came into effect on 1 January 2008/. With tests taking an average of just 2 to 4
minutes, the system is suitable for both QC and research applications. For some hard coated and uncoated tablets, granules and spheroids, it is impossible to determine friability using conventional drum testers, even with significantly extended test times. The Friabimat SA-400, a small footprint unit originally designed for testing granules and pellets, is ideal for such materials.

Cutting mills are used in sample preparation, particularly for elastic, fibrous or soft/tough materials. Where the performance demands are very high or the material is particularly problematical Fritsch suggest using the universal cutting mill Pulverisette 19 in addition to the standard cutting mill Pulverisette 15. In
the standard configuration, the Pulverisette 19 is supplied with a V-shaped cutting rotor; its cutting geometry results in fewer blockages even when larger or harder materials are processed than with a parallel cutting rotor. It also “draws in” the material better, forcing the material through the cutting gap better than
a disc rotor. Fritsch also offer rotors with parallel cutting and disc geometry, however only as special rotors for very specific and limited applications. They are the sole provider of V-shaped cutting rotors.

Mettler Toledo is running a trade-in promotion until 30 June 2008 on its Excellence balances - allowing you to increase efficiency, enhance security and reduce errors. Simply trade in
your existing AT or AX balance - which have now been discontinued - and you’ll receive a 25% discount on any Excellence balance. The Excellence balance range offers many innovative features, built-in applications and useful accessories which have been carefully designed to meet your needs. The touchscreen display makes operation fast and easy; up to eight personalised operator settings can be configured, saved and retrieved; plus a set of built-in QM tools guarantees GLP compliance
plus comprehensive data security and documentation.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has an online tool to enable scientists and engineers to design their own integrated fluid transfer and bioprocess systems using NALGENE and NUNC brand
products for handling high value products. The Online Custom Tubing Set Configurator, which can be viewed at www.nnibioproduction.com/configurator, was created to meet increasing customer demand for the deployment of singe-use systems in
upstream and downstream biopharmaceutical production applications. The easy-to-use browser interface enables customers
to select fluid handling products, assemble them in a virtual system, obtain immediate price quotes and place orders. A 2-D CAD drawing is generated by
the configurator to verify the design and assure its functionality.

Laboratory-sized vacuum processes such as drying, distillation and sample preparation each require their own respective performance characteristics regarding pumping speed, ultimate vacuum and continuous parameter adaptation. Vacuubrand’s new chemistry pumping unit PC 3001 VARIO meets all these
demands in an ‘all in one’ solution. It builds on proven reliability of its predecessor PC 2001 due to the chemistry diaphragm pump MD 1C, combined with innovative user friendly control
technology – the new vacuum controller CVC 3000. It has an more intuitive user control interface due to a new simple to use jog wheel and large clear text display. Bidirectional data
communication via serial interface
RS 232C comes as standard.

Designed specifically for the wine, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, agricultural and chemical processes the Konelab Arena from Labmedics has proved successful in a wide range of tests. Launched in 2005 the Arena discrete analyser has four high quality models to suit the analytical rates and sizes of any laboratory. Advantages include advanced automation, reliable testing and cost efficiency. Labmedics, the UK and EIRE
distributor, offers a variety of Arena system reagents, including glucose/fructose, ethanol, L-Malic acid, D-and L-Lactic acid. Other test kits are also available. Operators are able to set up their own applications using several user definable parameters such as sample and reagent volumes, temperatures, incubation times and wavelengths.

Anachem is pleased to announce the launch of its completely new website at www.anachem.co.uk. Based on customer
feedback numerous enhancements have been made, including, a much more effective search engine, easy online catalogue navigation and improved online ordering functionality. Forever
striving to make online information access and ordering as easy and stress-free as possible, Anachem’s new website enables you to see your basket clearly at all times, displaying
a full list of it’s contents, individual prices, online savings and total cost. There are a number of technical downloads available and in-depth information on products, to ensure that users have all the information needed to make an informed decision. Additionally, all stock information is displayed.

Applied Biosystems now provides pathogen detection kits directly to food companies and food testing laboratories for surveillance and analysis of food products. The kits quickly and
accurately detect contamination and enable food companies to take timely action to prevent outbreaks of food-borne illness and avoid costly recalls of products. Among Applied Biosystems’ pathogen detection solutions is the TaqMan Salmonella enterica Detection Kit, which detects and identifies a wide range of Salmonella strains. The Salmonella detection kit is real-time PCR-based, and optimised for use with Applied Biosystems’ real-time PCR instrument systems to yield results in less than 24 hours, significantly faster than alternative methods which can take up to five days.

Developed to improve the isolation and identification of a variety of microorganisms, Lab M’s Harlequin chromogenic media can help eliminate or reduce the need for subculture
and confirmatory biochemical tests. The Harlequin range now includes media for Listeria monocytogenes isolation, the enumeration of coliforms, and E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella
species isolation. Chromogenic media represent one of the most significant advances in microbiological culture in recent years. They provide a rapid, accurate means of isolating and enumerating target microorganisms based on the detection of specific enzyme activities. Lab M’s Harlequin Listeria Chromogenic Agar (Agosti & Ottaviani formulation) was the first chromogenic dehydrated Listeria medium as specified by ISO 11290. Designed
for food industry applications, it can be used as the primary isolation medium for L. monocytogenes.

Researchers at TopChim, a developer of materials and technology solutions for the paper industry, have integrated the Zetasizer Nano particle characterisation system from Malvern Instruments into the company’s nanoscience development program. One of the first nanoparticle technologies to result from the program was made available commercially last year. The patented NanoTope technology is used in paper production surface treatment and is designed to improve properties without the need for a coating. The Zetasizer Nano’s role in the development and manufacture of NanoTope has been two-fold: first in supporting the creation of a stable monodisperse suspension of nanoparticles of defined size; and second in quality control, to ensure the production of consistent materials. This has resulted in good understanding and control of those parameters affecting product performance.

Applied Biosystems has developed a line of reagents for streamlining the process of quantitative reverse transcription PCR in RNA-based research applications. The new solutions
expand Applied Biosystems’ portfolio of reverse transcription PCR reagents. The High Capacity RNA-to-cDNA Master Mix and High Capacity RNA-to-cDNA Kit are for first strand cDNA synthesis, TaqMan RNA-to-CT 2-Step Kit and Power SYBR Green RNA-to-CT 2-Step Kit are for screening a large number of targets from the same sample, and TaqMan RNA-to-CT 1-Step Kit (to be released April 2008) and Power SYBR Green RNA-to-CT 1-Step Kit are for one-step workflows with reduced hands-on processing.

New tools from Copley Scientific streamline inhaler product screening, accelerating acquisition of the data required to implement Quality by Design (QbD). These tools modify the performance of cascade impactors currently specified in USP and Ph.Eur, allowing rapid identification of the fraction of a dose that will be inhaled. Cascade impactors are routinely used for the testing of all inhaled products. The need for information to ensure QbD is fuelling a demand for analytical tools
that can quickly deliver useful data. Copley has responded by developing accessories for cascade impactors that simplify the study
of key performance characteristics. Options are available for the Andersen and Next Generation
Pharmaceutical Impactors (ACI and NGI) and for the Multi-Stage Liquid Impinger (MSLI).

Beckman Coulter UK has introduced the gTox Flow Kit – a new flow-cytometric approach to genotoxicity testing. This mouse micronuclei assay is designed to evaluate the ability
of a compound to cause chromosomal damage. It detects micronuclei formed from chromatin that are displaced as result of chromosomal breakage. These nuclei are formed outside the main nucleus of the dividing cell. The gTox Flow assay enumerates micronucleated red cells in peripheral blood of treated mice. It is ideal for preclinical drug candidate testing,
environmental testing and other academic and commercial toxicology applications. It is also one of a battery of tests that chemical companies can use to comply with stringent new REACH (registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical substances) regulations in Europe.

Lamerholm is pleased to announce the launch of the Shock-Watch range of temperature-sensitive environmental indicators. These new temperature sensors are designed to provide
a reliable indication of temperature fluctuations for goods in transit and storage. Both ColdMark and WarmMark ideally complement Lamerholm’s existing range of impact and tilt detectors and the company can now offer a comprehensive
range of monitoring labels for goods in transit or storage. The new products are small, easy to use sensors that can be applied to any clean, dry surface. Their design means they provide indisputable visual evidence of exposure to unacceptable temperature levels. The tamper-proof indicators are available for a wide variety of temperature thresholds.

NLISIS Chromatography has launched the Meltfit One, a breakthrough in coupling capillary columns. This new solution solves a major nuisance among analysts who experience
difficulties in establishing stable and solid connections. The Meltfit One has solved all issues with the help of a small glass tube, which is gently positioned around the columns as a ‘second skin’, leaving no room for dead volume or leaks. This is achieved by melting the glass and adding pressure at the same time. Meltfit One, is a solution that has a low cost of ownership, absolute leak tightness, no dead volume, no adsorption, no band broadening and no thermal degradation. In other words, a much higher sample throughput for the lab.

Hamamatsu Photonics introduce the new 1 inch cube miniature spectrometer module, the RC series. These new miniature spectrometer modules are ideal for use in small, hand held sensor products and instruments. Applications include visible spectroscopy, industrial process control, environmental monitoring, colour measurement, blood analysis, water pollution monitoring, food inspection and many more analytical and biotechnology applications. The new C94XX series features a reflection grating permanently attached to a wide dynamic range CMOS linear image sensor. The C9407MA/C9409MA cover the spectral range from 340nm to 780nm and the C9408MA/C9410MA from 640nm to 1050nm. Light is input from the sample under measurement via a 30cm long
integrated fibre-optic cable.

Applied Biosystems has launched a new family of TaqMan Cells-to-CT Kits for performing cell-based gene expression research more rapidly. The kits eliminate the time-consuming step of RNA purification, reducing the amount of time that is typically necessary to prepare and analyse RNA from cultured cells using real-time PCR in applications such as siRNA-mediated
gene silencing and microRNA analysis. The TaqMan Cells-to-CT Kits allow expression analysis to be performed directly from cultured mammalian cells derived from a variety of tissue sources, including epithelial cells and stem cells. Sample preparation time is reduced to under ten minutes, compared to the traditionally required 30 to 60 minutes, and loss of RNA is eliminated.

Olympus has announced that external performance evaluation has confirmed that the newly launched AU-Connector has excellent operational capabilities. This compact, consolidated system which combines high workload Olympus analysers with Intelligent Sample Management was put to the test by
scientists at a busy private laboratory in Munich, Germany. It was evaluated with differing combinations of Olympus analysers, these included two AU2700 clinical chemistry systems together and the combination of an AU3000i immunoassay
analyser with an AU2700. In particular it was noted that both AU-Connector hardware and software were easy to operate and that start up and shut down times were superior compared to other integrated systems to date.

Immunalysis Corporation tailors the Tecan Freedom EVO 75 liquid handing workstation to provide customised semi and fully automated drugs of abuse screening solutions, including
entire panels of test kits in ELISA format, to forensic toxicology laboratories. Michael Vincent, vice president of operations at
Immunalysis, explained: “The Freedom EVO 75 workstation is a robust instrument with excellent sample and error tracking properties that give our customers the accuracy and safety assurances that are vital for their work, because their results can have a direct bearing on the verdict in a court of law. Our screening solutions process 24 to 96 samples and controls in each run, using panels of six to fifteen assays; when so many samples are going through multiple assays, the integrity of the testing is critical and the Freedom EVO 75 maintains this admirably.”

The flagship Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire has appointed Beckman Coulter UK as their managed service provider for the next 10 years transforming the lab into a fully automated, single-site blood science facility. Chester already runs 3.1 million tests a year and needed a solution which was custom designed to the laboratory’s exact requirements. After an extensive tendering process, it chose a total automation solution, installing two separate lines of tracking, including a fully integrated aliquotting module and a 3,000 sample refrigerated
stockyard. The Beckman Coulter Power Processor carries samples to two UniCel DxI 800 immunoassay analysers and three UniCel DxC 800 clinical chemistry
systems.

Now available with an S9 protocol to detect genotoxic metabolites, GreenScreen HC from Gentronix is a human cell-based genotoxicity screening assay used in drug discovery programmes during lead compound optimisation and candidate selection. Potential pharmaceutical compounds which only present a genotoxicity hazard after metabolism, usually by the liver, are known as pro-genotoxins. The utility of Green-Screen HC has now been extended to detect pro-genotoxins as well as all common mechanistic classes of genotoxin including mutagens, clastogens, aneugens, as well as both topoisomerase and polymerase inhibitors. Minimal investment in early genotoxicity screening delivers major time savings, avoids unnecessary animal testing and prevents costly late stage failures of lead drug
compounds through early detection of genotoxic potential.

Beckman Coulter has announced that Cisbio has awarded its homogenous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) certification to the PARADIGM Detection Platform. Cisbio’s certification verifies that the detection platform meets or exceeds performance criteria for HTRF assays. A new HTRF detection
cartridge is now available for the modular PARADIGM platform, bringing the growing total selection to 10. These detection cartridges can be interchanged in less than five minutes to
meet different assay needs. PARADIGM is claimed to be the first user-upgradeable and -configurable multimode reader. It is ideal for labs with multiple users and applications. The high-throughput
detector reads on the fly, in formats from 6 to 1,536 wells.

A Tecan Freedom EVO liquid handling workstation recently starred in a two-hour special episode of the long-running, forensic science-based television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Sheila Thomas, product integrator at CSI approached Tecan on behalf of the program and explained: “It is part of my
job to make the show realistic, sinc3e technology is constantly changing we like to stay on the cutting edge by asking for the recommendations of current crime scene investigators who are out in the field every day. We contacted several law enforcement agencies and I also met with various forensic experts at the 2007 International Association of Identifications
Conference, who all agreed that Tecan’s Freedom EVO platform is one of the best systems available for processing DNA.”

ELGA Process Water has supplied water purification equipment to a state-of-the art laboratory at the University of Liverpool. The Centre for Materials Discovery in the University’s Chemistry Department is developing high throughput robotic techniques in formulation and synthesis chemistry and analysis to provide support for companies in the North West. A high throughput laboratory uses a lot of water, as the facility’s operations
manager, Dr Neil Jones explains: “Most of the water we use is general purpose laboratory water for our formulation work, reagent make-up and rinsing glassware - typically about 1MΩ.cm resistivity is good enough - but we also need ultrapure water for analytical techniques like mass spectrometry and HPLC.” Jones’s needs are met with two laboratory water purifiers from the ELGA Lab-Water PURELAB range: an Option S7 and an Ultra Ionic.

Patent Filtration offers a range of air purification systems for use in a wide variety of laboratory settings. The range extends from convenient portable purifiers to the Filtaire 5000HP designed for use in laboratories of up to 150m3 ,filtering up to 600m3 of air per hour. All Filtaire purifiers are available with a range of standard filters (down to 0.3µ) or tailored custom filters to suit specific requirements. The Filtaire range comes with a standard two year warranty. Patent Filtration has been a leading supplier of air filtration systems for over 35 years, its commitment to research and development and manufacturing quality has enabled it to become a
leading supplier of air purification technology into a wide variety of environments such as IVF clinics, research and chemical laboratories and hospitals, as well as a range of industrial and domestic settings.

New 4titude FRAMEstar PCR plates, now available from Anachem have a novel two-component design that combines the advantages of a rigid skirt and deck for reliable robotic handling together with thin-walled wells for optimum PCR results. The wells are constructed from virgin polypropylene,
providing the most efficient heat transfer, along with an inert surface with low binding capabilities for nucleic acids, proteins and other molecules. 4titude provides superior products for rapid PCR and small reaction volumes by utilising novel injection moulding technology, enabling the wall thickness to be
reduced without compromising on tube integrity. In comparison with the traditional single piece products, the mechanical stability of the plate is greatly improved by moulding the plate frame in polycarbonate.

Astech Projects has announced the launch of its new automation maintenance service -REACTS: Rapid, Effective, And Complete Technical Support. Combining Astech’s long-standing automation experience and extensive engineering expertise, REACTS is an extension of the high quality customer service for which Astech is well known. In addition to exiting Astech automation specialists, the company has recruited four highly respected engineers with many years’ experience working with top ten pharma companies worldwide. The new REACTS team will provide automation installation and maintenance services,
and technical support for any automation system in the drug discovery and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors throughout Europe, North America and Asia.