It is often a challenge to identify Salmonella species in samples heavily contaminated with competing microbiological flora, so Lab M has added new Xylose Lysine Tergitol-4 (XLT4) agar to its extensive range of products for Salmonella isolation and identification. XLT4 is a highly selective and very cost-effective medium for the specific detection and enhanced recovery of non-typhi Salmonella species from clinical (and other) samples. It enables labs to rapidly determine whether or not these pathogenic organisms are present, for effective monitoring even when faced with difficult materials.
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This unique kit enables the exact analysis of 1,25(OH)₂ Vitamin D3/D2 with high specificity and sensitivity and without ion suppression by interfering matrix components. This is due to a superior sample preparation step: Vitamin D is extracted from clinical specimens in a specific single-step affinity purification with the ID Immunotube, thereby separating it from disturbing matrix components and isobaric interferences. The published and market proven product is suitable for flexible use on high-end LC-MS/MS instruments.
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These innovative new ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers have been designed to provide laboratories with an energy efficient approach to cold storage. The Thermo Scientific Revco UxF Series incorporates users’ choice of high-performance or energy saving modes, which are easily selected via the intuitive touch-screen interface. This new range of freezers provides outstanding sample protection while using significantly less energy than previous generation models. The series helps laboratories to obtain an energy-efficient approach to maintaining sample viability during long- and short-term cold storage. In addition to providing efficient operation, the series offers temperature uniformity throughout the internal chamber. As a result, users can maximise the use of all available space with the knowledge that all samples will be held at the pre-set optimal temperature.
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Pertussis toxin is a protein exclusively produced by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which causes the respiratory infectious disease pertussis (whooping cough) in humans. The typical symptoms are frequent and severe cough attacks with a whooping sound and vomiting. The infection can be fatal for infants that have not yet been vaccinated against pertussis. Vaccination does not provide lifelong protection. Adult pertussis can be difficult to diagnose due to milder symptoms and often due to the lack of the characteristic whooping sound and vomiting. Adults with pertussis are therefore the main source of infection for unvaccinated infants. Diagnosis and treatment of adult pertussis can eventually reduce infant pertussis cases. Bordetella pertussis is only present in the airways for the first few weeks after the infection but the symptoms last for a longer period due to presence of the toxin and several other virulence factors. Diagnostic methods detecting the bacterium itself (culture and PCR) are therefore only useful early in the infection. Serology is, however, very efficient for diagnosis of patients with prolonged cough. Pertussis toxin is the recommended antigen for pertussis ELISA as there is no risk of cross-reactions with other bacterial antigens. The Bordetella pertussis IgG-PT ELISA kit is a traditional ELISA setup, which has been developed using purified pertussis toxin. Four standard samples are provided to establish the standard curve. The dilution method is the same for the standards and samples. Heat-treated sera can be analysed with this method without the risk of false-positive results. The sensitivity and specificity value is 81 % and 96 % respectively based on data from Denmark using a cut-off at 75 IU/mL. The test can be carried out either in one day or with overnight incubation for the first step. The plate can be split to facilitate more than one run of the kit. The kit contains enough reagents including controls to perform 24 – 44 test. Shelf life is minimum one year from date of shipment.
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The KL-800 Semi-Auto Chemistry Analyser offers four channels designed to carry out four simultaneous tests, eight filters (340nm~700nm) and allows up to 200 tests to be programmed. It is energy efficient with a sleep mode to prolong the lifespan of the light source and equipped with power failure protection. The analyser is available with a standard RS232 interface and optional touch-screen, keyboard and mouse. It offers real time monitoring of reaction curve and process, an auto wash feature and an accurate temperature control system.
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