Products

Beckman Coulter has expanded the drugs-of-abuse test menu on its UniCel DxC and Synchron family of chemistry systems with the release of the DRI Ecstasy assay. This assay aids mid- to large-volume hospitals and reference laboratories in the qualitative or semi-quantitative determination of ecstasy drugs in human urine. The assay provides a simple and rapid analytical screening procedure for detecting ecstasy drugs at a cut-off level of 500ng/ml. The Ecstasy assay uses a specific antibody which can detect ecstasy drugs in urine with minimal cross-reactivity to various amphetamine compounds. When run on Beckman Coulter’s UniCel DxC or Synchron CX and LX Clinical Systems, a qualitative, interpretive report automatically compares patient results to the cutoff value.

Tutela automatically monitors refrigerated stock to ensure it is stored under ideal conditions and meets all current and anticipated legal requirements for record keeping. A smart, electronic temperature monitoring system, Tutela utilises GPRS technology to link sensors to a dedicated website. Installation is inexpensive, quick and easy with zero capital pricing options available. From ISO 9001-2001 compliant Next Systems, Tutela has already been specified by a number of hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories and blood banks in the UK and America. Tutela is a real-time, fully manned, web-based temperature recording and alarming service which automatically issues an alarm via a manned call centre when refrigeration fails night and day.

A PTFE coating service for kink-resistant nitinol tubes and stainless steel tubes that are used in cardiovascular medical devices for arterial transfer is now available from Applied Plastics. The PTFE-coated nitinol tube features a highly lubricious coating while maintaining the kink-resistant characteristics of the nitinol tube and can be processed in sizes from 0.0508mm OD up and lengths to 3.048m. Suitable for guide wire, catheters, needles and other devices the PTFE coating can be applied with coating tolerances from 0.00254mm to 0.0762mm. Available in green, grey, blue and black colours, these coated tubes can incorporate marker bands at user-specified intervals. All hypotube variations can be catered for including spiral, skived, flared, crimped, ground and slotted types.

Reports of high levels of inhaler testing productivity are fuelling interest in a range of labour-saving devices offered by Copley Scientific. These devices are designed for use with cascade impactors – traditionally a labour-intensive process. Copley Scientific supplies a broad range of labour-saving devices, supporting both the Next Generation Pharmaceutical Impactor (NGI) and the Andersen Cascade Impactor (ACI). The fully integrated Andersen and NGI Sampe Recovery Systems (A-SRS and N-SRS respectively) automate and accelerate the entire sample recovery process, reducing work-up times to around 10 minutes. Induction port- and pre-separator rinsers, the Gentle Rocker and the NGI Assistant, individually semi-automate specific parts of the procedure.

UK Biobank is using 11 Freedom EVO liquid-handling workstations from Tecan to process thousands of samples taken each day from volunteers for a new study. Detailed information about lifestyle and medical history, together with physical parameters (weight, height etc), blood and urine samples, are being collected to give an insight into a wide range of diseases. The huge sample size and large amount of health information make it the most detailed study of its kind ever undertaken. Paul Downey, director of operations, explained: 'An efficient liquid-handling system was absolutely essential to handle and store so many blood and urine samples. We are confident that the Tecan workstations best address [our] issues.'

Grant Instruments has partnered with Scientific Laboratory Supplies to equip a large laboratory with a bank of modern, high-performance digital water baths.The Grant SUB Aqua water baths have been installed for use by scientists at the University of Cambridge Institute of Metabolic Science - Metabolic Research Laboratories. 'We specified Grant baths because they are renowned for their quality, reliability and precision temperature control which is important in biological applications,' said Svitlana Korolchuk, chief technician at MRL. The stylish SUB Aqua baths are available in a wide range of stainless steel tank sizes and feature user-settable sample protection and fixed thermal cut-out so both samples and users are protected.

Burnley General Hospital has recently installed the new Ves Easy system for rapid ESR measurement. Ves Easy provided the ideal solution to the haematology department’s problem of being unable to provide an ESR result to its paediatric patients and clinic. Andrea Hartley (BMS2) said:' The Ves Easy has provided our paediatric department with access to an ESR which requires only a third of the sample volume compared to our alternative system. The analyser is very easy to use, reliable and gives a rapid result which would also make it suitable for an out-patient clinic where patients may need to wait for a result.'

The forthcoming Focus Exhibition in Birmingham (18-22 May 2008) will feature Beckman Coulter's newly released UniCel DxC 880i Synchron Access clinical system, an integrated work cell which consolidates chemistry and immunoassay testing targeted to high-volume laboratories. The DxC 880i is the latest addition to the company's work cell family, combining Beckman Coulter's market-leading chemistry system, the UniCel DxC 800, and the industry's highest-throughput immunoassay system, the UniCel DxI 800. The DxC 880i advances the company's strategy of delivering standardised work cell solutions for greater laboratory efficiency. The system features Beckman Coulter's exclusive closed-tube sampling and closed-tube aliquotting capabilities.

Welch Allyn, global suppliers of frontline medical products and solutions, has streamlined blood pressure measurement with the launch of its new FlexiPort blood pressure cuffs which connect to virtually any manual or electronic blood pressure device. For the first time, FlexiPort provides a solution by allowing users to remove and attach the tubing on the cuff with a single universal connection point. This means that FlexiPort cuffs can be used on one and two tube devices interchangeably. The end results of FlexiPort technology are fewer part numbers, reduced inventories and easier ordering. Furthermore, it's quicker and easier for nursing staff to locate the correct cuff to help ensure an accurate diagnosis is provided and reduce incorrect readings.

When samples are stored under HTA rules for purposes such as research, transplantation or teaching, a traceable inventory system is required by law. Newly released versions of Brady Corporation's Pro-curo sample inventory software provide a complete, cost-effective solution to keeping track of samples. Pro-curo would also be ideal in many other situations like contract laboratories or QA/QC applications. Pro-curo uses a familiar user interface based on MS Explorer to provide easy-access 'cradle-to-grave' traceability of every event in a sample's history. Records can be set up to log essential information about the sample in pre-formatted or user-defined data fields. Once a record is created it can never be permanently deleted.

The introduction of the first FDA-approved prescription medication that reduces blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels in patients will see hospitals having to carry out more regular screening of PKU patients' blood plasma samples to monitor their Phe levels. Biochrom is geared up to provide healthcare providers with both the necessary screening instrumentation and the PKU diagnostic reagents. The Biochrom 30 Physiological is a compact bench-top instrument designed for metabolic disorder screening and research applications. The instrument's lithium high-performance columns perform a full routine analysis of physiological fluids, enabling the determination of up to 53 different amino acids, including physiologically important amino acids for early detection of hereditary metabolic disorders.

Once you've used the new prowipes from Prospect Diagnostics you'll wonder how you managed without them. One side of these novel wipes has a lint free, absorbent surface for wiping excess blood off microcuvettes, capillaries, tips and nozzles, and the reverse has a hydrophobic coating allowing blood or QC materials to be dropped onto the surface for sampling. Developed and manufactured in the UK by Prospect Diagnostics, prowipes are already listed in the NHS PASA procurement catalogue. Supplied in a purpose-designed, refillable dispenser the deceptively simple wipes are convenient to use in any point of care or laboratory situation where specimens are measured from microcuvettes, capillaries or specialised sampling devices.

Oxoid has launched the IDEIA range of products for the rapid diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis. These rapid enzyme immunoassays can be used to detect the four leading causes of viral gastroenteritis: Norovirus, Rotavirus, Astrovirus and Adenovirus, in human stool samples. Each IDEIA viral gastroenteritis kit follows the same standardised protocol and is suitable for manual or automated testing. The assays are quick and easy to perform, either individually or in a panel using a single sample dilution. Sensitive and specific results are read photometrically in less than two hours. Barbara Fallowfield, marketing manager, said, 'IDEIA Norovirus provides rapid and reliable results that are of enormous value to those involved in the investigation and prevention of Norovirus outbreaks.'

A revolutionary new blood sciences laboratory has been opened at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Bringing together the disciplines of clinical chemistry, haematology, immunoassay and serology, the laboratory's total automated solution from Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics has streamlined and improved the analysis of blood samples helping the trust to meet cost improvement objectives. The new automated system from Siemens Diagnostics incorporates two ADVIA 2400 chemistry analysers, two ADVIA Centaur immunoassay analysers and two ADVIA 2120 haematology analysers, linked on the ADVIA LabCell Automation Solution with online centrifugation and data concentration provided by an ADVIA CentraLink Networking Solution.

Astech Projects has developed a fully automated solution for the Andersen Cascade Impactor inhaler test, the Xelize. Using its extensive industry and automation expertise, Astech has developed the fastest and most robust system on the market which can greatly reduce time spent on labour-intensive processes and minimise errors associated with manual systems. The Astech Xelize is designed around the traditional Andersen Cascade Impactor system, but can be tailored to the specific needs of the tester and device, and as a true high-throughput system, can significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of the inhaler testing and particle size determination (PSD) process.

Pipework from Durapipe is being used in hospitals up and down the country as an integral part of a new Autoscope ISIS machine. Durapipe ABS and Vulcathene pipework were specified for the machine, known as an Automated Endoscope Reprocessor, which is made by Labcaire. The high-quality plastic pipework is being used to convey fluids inside the latest version of the machines, which measure 1.265 x 2.4 x 0.7m. Endoscopes are loaded into the machine to undergo a thorough 20-minute cleaning process. In each of the machines, ABS pipework carries cold water and detergent for the initial detergent wash process and Vulcathene chemical drainage pipework is then used to carry the pathology waste that results from the washing and disinfectant cycles.

Tristel's fully automated chlorine dioxide generators are being installed alongside a leading brand of endoscope washer-disinfector in a number of NHS hospitals. Twenty-three of the patented generators are now in place at sites across the UK and are being used to automatically deliver measured amounts of CIO₂ to BHT's Innova E Series of endoscope reprocessing systems. The Tristel Generator doses water supplies with the company's patented chlorine dioxide chemistry at concentrations that are pre-set within a range of 1ppm to 125ppm. Chlorine dioxide production is instantaneous and continuous. An onboard probe monitors and records the chlorine dioxide concentration and the system is equipped with a printer to provide a record of the volume of water dosed.

The neonatal ICU at St Michael's Hospital, Bristol, has purchased a RapidLab 1265 blood gas analyser from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics to provide comprehensive critical-care testing parameters The RapidLab 1265 is a high-volume, low-maintenance whole blood analyser that offers blood gas, electrolyte, metabolite and full co-oximetry analyses from a single sample. It delivers accurate results in 60 seconds or less, allowing medical staff to make critical decisions at the earliest opportunity. Neonatal technician Bridget Robbins said: 'It is vital that our blood gas analyser gives fast and accurate results since ventilator settings, fluids and drug levels are calculated on these results. We find that the Siemens RapidLab 1265 gives us faster results, which saves staff time and is better for the patients.'

Oxoid is pleased to announce the launch of the Remel RapID STAPH PLUS (product code: 8311009) for the biochemical identification of Staphylococcus species and related organisms isolated from human clinical specimens. This rapid and convenient manual identification system offers clinical laboratories of any size a valuable new diagnostic tool for an important group of opportunistic pathogens, with results in only four hours. The RapID STAPH PLUS panel incorporates a series of 18 carefully selected biochemical tests directed towards this group of organisms. The novel, one-step, inoculation method allows all of the test wells to be inoculated simultaneously, saving time and simplifying the procedure. The panel is then incubated aerobically for just four hours.

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) has launched the Oligome, a comprehensive database of more than 10 million oligonucleotide probes designed to the latest release of the human genome. This invaluable resource makes it possible to provide custom-designed oligonucleotide arrays for array-based comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH) on request, within a very short space of time and at a lower cost than would normally be expected for a custom array. OGT’s 60mer oligonucleotide microarrays allow high-precision feature placement and denser coverage of regions of interest. OGT offers custom-designed CGH arrays for analysing chromosomal abnormalities within focussed areas of the human genome at high resolution.

The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust has opted for a total pathology solution to meet all its blood science analytical requirements. Under the terms of this managed service agreement, Siemens Diagnostics will provide everything the Trust needs (including building works, instrumentation, service and maintenance, consumables and equipment/software updates) to deliver its test requirements in blood chemistry, haematology, immunoassay and coagulation testing services. The 15-year contract has the option to extend into other pathology disciplines. A Trust spokesman said: 'Siemens experience in managing large and complex projects meant that it was able to offer the best technical solution which also delivered best value for money'.