Marking a significant advance in speed to results and ease-of-use, the new QuickFISH rapid pathogen tests helps clinical microbiologists and infectious diseases clinicians to optimise antibiotic therapy and care much earlier for patients with sepsis. This rapid, molecular diagnostic platform is based on proprietary PNA probe technology. It enables very fast (20 minutes) identification of bacteria directly from complex samples such as positive blood cultures, with clinical microbiologists obtaining results for causative pathogens, such as S. aureus, E. faecium, P. aeruginosa and Candida species, in time to report these together with Gram stain results. This, in turn, allows therapy selection to be based on more specific information at a critical antibiotic decision point for patients with sepsis. Only limited instrumentation and five minutes of hands-on time are needed for tests, simplifying and streamlining laboratory workflow. The built-in, universal controls ensure confidence in every test result.
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The first of a number of new microarrays for use in cancer research has been released. The new CytoSure Haematological Cancer +SNP array is optimised for the study of the haematological malignancies Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) and Multiple Myeloma (MM), as well as Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) and Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). The new array offers confident detection of both copy number variation (CNV) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on a single chip for these diseases. This is achieved by utilising OGT’s novel array design, which combines long oligo array comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH) probes for CNV detection with fully validated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) content for identifying LOH. The probes on the new array have been optimised to target regions known to be important predictors of disease progression and patient prognosis in haematological cancers, while providing good backbone coverage. These features facilitate the rapid, reliable identification of key genomic aberrations, while the complementary, industry-leading CytoSure Interpret Software allows intuitive, single-click data analysis. Using the new array, researchers can move quickly and assuredly from processing their samples to generating relevant biological insight.
The SNP probe design is unique. Analysis is carried out using an intensity-based comparison between the two SNP alleles, meaning that no changes to the standard aCGH protocol are required and any reference sample can be used. This allows the two tests to operate effectively on the same array. In addition, the arrays utilise 60-mer oligonucleotide probes, which have been shown to offer higher signal-to-noise ratios and increased specificity and sensitivity, providing the highest data quality possible. For optimum performance, the array can be combined with the CytoSure Genomic DNA Labelling Kit, which offers high signal intensities enabling easier allele discrimination.
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IDEX Health & Science multiplies lab productivity with the first independent channel peristaltic pump for low volume, high precision applications. With individually addressable control of each fluidic channel, the new Ismatec ® Reglo ICC peristaltic pump eliminates the clutter of multiple pumps on the bench top and resolves application complexity. Long recognized in Europe as the gold standard of Swiss precision, Ismatec drives now power one, two, or three channels, each independently programmable from the pump or the computer to deliver continuous flow or precision aspiration and dispense with the added advantage of bi-directional flow on each channel. Visit www.WintheICC.com for information
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NoemaLife, Europe’s leading provider of clinical and hospital software solutions, has launched HALIA, new middleware for clinical chemistry, microbiology and molecular biology labs. Utilising a rule-based engine to deliver all-round control over laboratory workflow and sample processing, HALIA’s powerful functionality significantly improves laboratory efficiency, compliance and quality control.
The new HALIA middleware interface provides a complete web-based lab computerisation system, allowing central management and connection of all analysers through a single interface on any workstation.
HALIA’s user-configurable rule-based engine enables autoverification, sample routing and real-time clinical data capture and management for greater quality control. By supporting open automation systems and addressing issues such as regulatory compliance, workforce reductions and enhanced quality control, HALIA effectively meets the challenges facing lab managers.
Responding to the increase in Point of Care Testing, HALIA offers a POCT Data Manager function. This gives lab managers a real-time overview of all the data relating to multiple blood gas analysers or other devices, including instrument maintenance schedules and QC alerts.
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