PCR Biosystems, the UK-based specialists in DNA and RNA analysis, have launched a range of IsoFast Bst Polymerase reagents for rapid, robust and sensitive DNA and RNA amplification. Through its nucleic acid strand displacement capabilities, Bst polymerase eliminates the need for the high temperature denaturation step associated with traditional Taq enzymes. This enables faster time to result and facilitates DNA and RNA amplification in the field without specialised thermocycling equipment.
The new range of IsoFast Bst reagents from PCR Biosystems can be used for a variety of techniques including whole genome amplification, multiple displacement amplification and isothermal amplification. Such techniques have important applications in sectors ranging from environmental and food pathogen testing to clinical diagnostics and next generation sequencing. Scientists performing DNA and RNA amplification using IsoFast Bst Polymerase can benefit from consistent results over a wide dynamic range and sensitivities down to 3 copies of target DNA (10fg).
To continue PCR Biosystems’s support of the global fight against COVID-19, the Bst Polymerase reagents have been validated for qualitative detection of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. Combined with the reagents’ suitability for use in the field, this validation opens the potential for rapid SARS-CoV-2 testing in environments such as airports, hospitals or care homes, without the need for a central laboratory, delivering results in 30 minutes and supporting initiatives for community or regular testing to safeguard public health. Sensitivities down to 12 copies of SARS-CoV-2 targets can be achieved, providing confidence in the quality and accuracy of results.
“DNA and RNA amplification has been a staple technique in the scientific toolbox for more than 40 years, and with its application for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing, there has been an increased demand for rapid and reliable reagents for mass testing,” says Alex Wilson, co-founder of PCR Biosystems. “The launch of the IsoFast Bst Polymerase range aligns with our commitment to provide robust solutions to support COVID-19 testing and will continue to expand diagnostic capabilities for viruses such as Zika and Ebola long after the COVID-19 pandemic.”
While many supply chains have been disrupted due to the pandemic, PCR Biosystems continues to scale up and optimise operations to provide consistent, reliable supplies to customers, ensuring laboratories have the critical DNA and RNA analysis reagents needed for uninterrupted research and diagnostics.
The IsoFast Bst range is available in flexible formats, with 2X mix formats streamlining set up for high throughput applications and components available separately for those customers wanting to optimise the reaction for their specific needs. Furthermore, the reagents are offered with optional fluorescent dyes, facilitating real-time amplification tracking.
Horiba Medical obtains CE Mark for new generation Microsemi CRP LC-767G
, /in Product News /by HORIBA MedicalHoriba Medical, specialists in automated in vitro diagnostic systems for haematology, haemostasis and clinical chemistry analysis, has obtained the CE Mark certification for its new generation of the Microsemi CRP haematology analyser, the Microsemi CRP LC-767G.
The role of protein S-acylation in cardiac function
, /in Featured Articles /by panglobalby Dr O. Robertson-Gray and Dr W. Fuller Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the umbrella term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels and remains the leading cause of death worldwide. New therapeutic strategies to aid in the prevention and treatment of CVD are therefore necessary. This article discusses the potential for S-acylation, a post-translational […]
Separation and characterization of viruses using multi-detector field-flow fractionation
, /in Featured Articles /by panglobalby Dr Robert Reed and Dr Soheyl Tadjiki Viruses are increasingly used as gene therapy vectors in modern medicine. In order to minimize unwanted side effects such as immunogenicity, accurate determination of viral aggregation status is important. Field-flow fractionation is emerging as one of the most robust techniques for the separation and size measurement of […]
Waters introduces Acquity Premier liquid chromatography solution
, /in Product News /by Waters CorporationWaters Corporation has introduced the Waters Acquity Premier Solution, the next generation in liquid chromatographs featuring Waters’ breakthrough MaxPeak High Performance Surface (HPS) technology. The solution leverages HPS to vastly improve analytical data quality and eliminate the need for timeconsuming and costly passivation.
AMSBIO offers mutant spike proteins, antigens for SARS-CoV-2 variant research
, /in Product News /by panglobalAMSBIO has introduced a collection of mutated SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and recombinant antigens for the new virus variants – B.1.1.7 and B.1.351. These reagents can be used by researchers to evaluate the efficacy of the antibodies and identify targets for development of improved therapeutic drugs and vaccines.
Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin testing: a truly traceable and specific biomarker for chronic alcohol misuse
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Choosing the correct tip for your pipettes: are third-party manufactured tips a good alternative?
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Thermo Scientific introduces Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 mass spectrometer
Laboratory, /in Product News /by panglobalThermo Scientific has introduced the Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 – a new gas chromatography (GC) high-resolution mass spectrometer (MS) with unrivalled mass resolving power, sensitivity and wide dynamic range.
The GC addresses the need for increased flexibility, speed and accuracy in research applications throughout academic and industry laboratories, and offers researchers the capability to achieve new depths of analysis and drive scientific understanding. With new-generation system architecture and instrument control software, the system provides simple yet powerful data acquisition capabilities.
Research power
The Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 MS takes research capabilities to a new level with a resolving power of 240,000, for accelerated innovation. By delivering both quantitative and qualitative information from a single injection, the new system enables precise and comprehensive compound identification, allowing researchers to make fast and accurate discoveries with confidence. As research laboratories require the versatility to answer myriad questions in their studies, the Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 MS also provides the flexibility to tackle a diverse range of analytical challenges, from identifying unknown contaminants and extractables and leachables, to applied quantification and metabolomics. The system offers the capability of MS/MS for compound structural information and both electron and chemical ionization without system venting to speed up time to result.
User benefits
Users of the Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 MS will benefit from:
Orbitrap Exploris portfolio
The new system, along with the Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris GC, extends the Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris portfolio of high-resolution accurate mass systems, which is now comprised of the Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 480 mass spectrometer, launched in 2019, and the recently introduced Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 240 and Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 120 mass spectrometers.
PCR Biosystems unveils advanced Bst Polymerase reagents for accelerated DNA and RNA amplification
Biochemistry, Laboratory, /in Product News /by panglobalPCR Biosystems, the UK-based specialists in DNA and RNA analysis, have launched a range of IsoFast Bst Polymerase reagents for rapid, robust and sensitive DNA and RNA amplification. Through its nucleic acid strand displacement capabilities, Bst polymerase eliminates the need for the high temperature denaturation step associated with traditional Taq enzymes. This enables faster time to result and facilitates DNA and RNA amplification in the field without specialised thermocycling equipment.
The new range of IsoFast Bst reagents from PCR Biosystems can be used for a variety of techniques including whole genome amplification, multiple displacement amplification and isothermal amplification. Such techniques have important applications in sectors ranging from environmental and food pathogen testing to clinical diagnostics and next generation sequencing. Scientists performing DNA and RNA amplification using IsoFast Bst Polymerase can benefit from consistent results over a wide dynamic range and sensitivities down to 3 copies of target DNA (10fg).
To continue PCR Biosystems’s support of the global fight against COVID-19, the Bst Polymerase reagents have been validated for qualitative detection of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. Combined with the reagents’ suitability for use in the field, this validation opens the potential for rapid SARS-CoV-2 testing in environments such as airports, hospitals or care homes, without the need for a central laboratory, delivering results in 30 minutes and supporting initiatives for community or regular testing to safeguard public health. Sensitivities down to 12 copies of SARS-CoV-2 targets can be achieved, providing confidence in the quality and accuracy of results.
“DNA and RNA amplification has been a staple technique in the scientific toolbox for more than 40 years, and with its application for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing, there has been an increased demand for rapid and reliable reagents for mass testing,” says Alex Wilson, co-founder of PCR Biosystems. “The launch of the IsoFast Bst Polymerase range aligns with our commitment to provide robust solutions to support COVID-19 testing and will continue to expand diagnostic capabilities for viruses such as Zika and Ebola long after the COVID-19 pandemic.”
While many supply chains have been disrupted due to the pandemic, PCR Biosystems continues to scale up and optimise operations to provide consistent, reliable supplies to customers, ensuring laboratories have the critical DNA and RNA analysis reagents needed for uninterrupted research and diagnostics.
The IsoFast Bst range is available in flexible formats, with 2X mix formats streamlining set up for high throughput applications and components available separately for those customers wanting to optimise the reaction for their specific needs. Furthermore, the reagents are offered with optional fluorescent dyes, facilitating real-time amplification tracking.
Lonza introduces high-quality cryopreserved Leukopaks
Laboratory, Research, /in Product News /by panglobalLonza has expanded its renowned human primary cell offerings with the launch of fully customizable, high-quality cryopreserved Leukopaks. The frozen Leukopaks will enable long-distance shipping of leukapheresis products without the concern of reduced cell viability encountered with fresh Leukopaks. Being suitable for long-term storage in research labs, the cryopreserved Leukopaks will also allow immediate access to viable cells for greater convenience and workflow flexibility.
The cryopreserved Leukopaks come in a range of sizes, and multiple donor characteristics and testing options are available through a unique costing structure that allows customers to only pay for the customization that they need.
What is a Leukopak?
A Leukopak is an enriched leukapheresis-derived product containing high concentrations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells like T cells, B cells and monocytes. Such cells are a critical raw material in immunotherapy research and for optimizing cell therapy process development before progressing to full clinical manufacture. However, fresh Leukopaks can be hard to access and must be used rapidly to avoid cell degradation. International transportation options are thus severely limited, and logistical delays or donor cancellations can have catastrophic impacts on research costs and quality.
Global shipping
Cryopreserved Leukopaks allow reliable global shipping while maintaining cell viability and functionality, and the ability to thaw cryopreserved Leukopaks when needed means researchers are better able to plan ahead for more cost-efficient therapy development.
Lonza’s cryopreserved Leukopaks are available in a range of sizes, including packs of 2.5, 5 and 9.5 billion cells, which can be subdivided into separate smaller bags for greater convenience. Specific donor characteristics like age, gender and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) type are also available, with a wide range of recallable donors and several product testing options.
Customization
Customization follows a unique, tailored pricing structure, where customers only pay for the customization they require. Customers will also have access to Lonza’s globally renowned technical support services to facilitate optimized product usage and greater research success.