The QCS H150 front loading autoclave is one of the safest and most efficient autoclaves available and should help any laboratory increase its sterilizing throughput owing to a combination of improved load capacity and exceptional operating performance. Users could also benefit from lower overall running costs associated with reduced power and water usage.
Design and manufactured by Priorclave, the QCS H150 autoclave has a 500mm diameter sterilizing chamber and delivers sterilizing temperatures up to 140oC at 2.4 bar, all easily controlled through the Tactrol®2 microprocessor system using single push-buttons on the control panel. One touch controls allows for adjustment of temperature and time for simple cycles to fully featured multi-programme operation. In addition a log is stored of the sterilizing cycle, data such as temperature, pressure and time is held in an archive file which can be subsequently downloaded.
An advantage for any busy laboratory is a secure key-lock switch on the front of the control panel which governs access to certain parameter settings.
Built to International Standards, the QCS H150 autoclave incorporates epoxy coated panels and frame members treated with an anti-bacterial agent that is highly effective against all bacteria and fungi including MRSA, E.coli, Listeria, Legionella, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Pseudomonas, preventing cross contamination within the laboratory.
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The next generation portable diagnostic (immunofluorescence assay) system
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaThe i-chromaTM Reader is a portable scanning instrument for measuring the concentration of target analytes in human blood; urine and other specimens.
The system consists of fluorescence readers and test cartridges and can be used to screen cardiac diseases; cancers; diabetes; infectious diseases and hormonal disorders.
All products are CE marked
Specifications
Dimensions: 250x185x80 mm
Weight: 1.2 kgs
Interface: RS232 (serial port)
Key pads: 5 function keys
LIS/HIS connection via PC
Thermal printer (optional)
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Randox automated small-dense LDL assay
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaRandox Laboratories are at the forefront of pioneering diagnostics, and as such have produced an assay for the automated detection of small-dense LDL (sLDL), the first of its kind on the market. Traditionally, ultracentrifugation and electrophoresis-based methods have been used for the measurement of sLDL but these methods are both laborious and time-consuming. Randox offers a superior “Denka Seiken” method for sLDL testing – a direct method that produces results in ten minutes, and designed for use on automated chemistry analysers.
Research has shown individuals with a predominance of sLDL have a 3-fold increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Elevated levels of sLDL are associated with a sedentary lifestyle, a diet high in saturated fat, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and genetic disposition.
May not be available for diagnostic use in every country. Please check with your local representative.
For more info please click here
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High-performance water purification
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaThe AFS 40E / 80E / 120E and 150E water purification systems have been developed to provide clinical laboratories with an economical and reliable water purification solution for daily water volumes of up to 3000 L. They rely on two powerful technologies to produce water quality meeting Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) clinical laboratory reagent water standards. State-of-the-art, proven Elix electrodeionization (EDI) technology ensures constant water quality with low and predictable running costs, while unique E.R.A. (Evolutive Reject Adjustment) technology takes feed water quality into account in order to automatically optimize water recovery – and reduce water usage costs. The AFS 40E / 80E / 120E and 150E systems also offer users powerful 24/7 real-time monitoring and remote control over their water purification systems, as well as a new generation of enhanced services. These advanced monitoring features, along with an unprecedented level of service, also help maximize water purification system and analyser uptime. The systems have been designed to provide quick and precise remote diagnostics and offer proactive service in order to avoid downtime. Service starts with feed water analysis by a certified Merck Millipore field service engineer prior to system installation. Then, over time, users can ensure the best upkeep of their AFS E water purification system with a customized Watercare Pact service plan. With its large new touch screen, the system is designed for intuitive operation and for supporting the user with easy step-by-step instructions during routine maintenance. For increased flexibility, the system interface can also be accessed from another location, using a PC, tablet, or smart phone through a web browser. Mobile and customizable, the new range of systems is designed to make the best use of lab space. The quiet, compact systems are mounted on wheels, and can be moved around the lab – or to another location – depending on current lab requirements. AFS E system users can choose from a number of options and accessories to match their specific requirements, including an online Total Organic Carbon (TOC) monitor, degassing option, and sanitary sampling valve, among others.
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Digital pathology system
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaSectra’s solution for storing, viewing and sharing digital pathology images has received the CE mark for primary diagnostic use. The system enables more efficient cancer care by enhancing collaboration and sharing of images between pathologists and radiologists. Pathologists will now be able to review cases digitally on a computer screen, enabling them to eliminate the microscope. The digital format brings new tools to the pathologists’ fingertips and also allows samples to be sent easily to other pathologists to share the workload or for specialist consultations, thereby facilitating quicker and more accurate diagnosis. Pathology and radiology are at the centre of cancer diagnosis and their collective findings are the basis for patient treatment and its outcome. Both disciplines are highly dependent on adequate clinical information in order to provide accurate and useful reports for the clinician, surgeon, oncologist or patient. Despite their joint responsibility for cancer diagnosis, the exchange of information between the two groups is often very limited as the radiology and pathology workflows are usually completely different. Sectra’s system for digital pathology is built on the same platform as its radiology PACS for managing radiology images. The common technical platform enables closer collaboration between the two specialties, sometimes referred to as integrated diagnostics, facilitating, for example, more efficient multi-disciplinary team meetings. Focusing on end-user experience and workflow efficiency, the system provides a platform where images from different hardware vendors can be viewed and archived, and where histology or cytology images can be shown together with macro images. Furthermore, it allows full case overview including integration with other image systems, enabling access to radiology or dermatology data and images in the same workstation. Sectra digital pathology workstation, IDS7/px, consists of a dedicated image window for pathology images and the regular IDS7 information window. The information window includes worklists, full patient information, with possibility to access images from other specialties such as mammography, radiology and dermatology and a reporting window with support for speech recognition. The possibility to reach different types of images, such as pathology and radiology from the same workstation is especially useful for multidisciplinary teams (MDT) meetings. The image window supports the pathologist during review, preparation of MDTs and education and it contains for example tools for text annotations, distance and area measurements. Images from the same block are registered as such and if similar enough are automatically synchronized by the software enabling efficient comparison of the same structure stained with different techniques.
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Serological diagnosis of Chikungunya virus infections
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaAntibodies against chikungunya virus (CHIKV) can be detected with high sensitivity and specificity using new ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT) systems from EUROIMMUN. Serological analysis is an important supplement to direct pathogen testing in the diagnosis of CHIKV infections, especially given the short viremic phase. Antibodies against CHIKV are detectable from 6 to 8 days after onset of clinical symptoms, when direct detection is generally no longer effective. The determination of CHIKV antigens or anti-CHIKV IgM antibodies is, moreover, of major importance in the screening of blood reserves. The Anti-Chikungunya Virus ELISA (IgM) is a fully automatable test for the detection of acute infections. The assay is based on recombinant structural proteins from CHIKV and shows 100% sensitivity, as demonstrated with clinically characterized samples. The Anti-Chikungunya Virus ELISA (IgG) is based on the same antigen and is used to demonstrate seroconversion following infection with the virus. A four-fold IgG titre increase between acute and convalescence samples taken at least 14 days apart indicates an acute infection. The Anti-Chikungunya Virus IIFT (IgM or IgG) utilizes virus-infected cells for detection of specific antibodies. In the Arboviral Fever Mosiac 1 IIFT, the CHIKV substrate is combined with other arbovirus substrates for the differential diagnosis of CHIKV infections from e.g. dengue virus or Japanese encephalitis virus infections, which often show similar clinical symptoms.
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Ultrasound tissue processor
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaDeveloped for histopathology applications, the Histra-GT utilizes ultrasound to allow rapid tissue processing and diagnosis in one day. The proper use of ultrasonic energy ensures uniform radiation of the tissue, eliminating uneven processing and distorted cell morphology. The Histra-GT is a rapid processor that requires only 80 minutes to process any tissue less than 3mm thick in one batch processing with 100-cassette capacity, and can also process larger specimens in a shorter time than when using conventional methods. There are 3 modes to processing – rapid processing mode, normal processing mode and rapid preprocessing mode – enabling the instrument to address variations in daily workload. Using the rapid processing mode for biopsy samples, only 80 minutes are required from fixation to paraffin infiltration (including the time for liquid supply and drainage). The normal processing mode enables the user to set the required processing time, including overnight processing. The rapid preprocessing mode allows delipidation of fat tissue and rapid refixing of the half-fixed tissue. A large touch key pad makes for easy operation. A dual safety system is also featured. Volatilized gas does not leak because of active carbon.
The ultrasonic technology not only performs rapid processing of tissue specimens, but also allows high quality staining. The Histra-DC is a processor for recalcification, delipidation and fixation that shortens the processing time to one fifth or one sixth of the time needed for conventional methods, using ultrasonic technology and temperature control. Specimen sizes can vary with the use of the optional specimen cassette basket.
Optimized for use with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human breast cancer tissue samples, the Histra HER2 FISH kit detects amplification of the HER2/neu gene via fluorescence in situ hybridization. This advanced kit, which utilizes pretreatment of the samples with hydrochloric acid, is very easy to use and involves only six steps, providing very clear results via a strong fluorescence.
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Bench-top clinical chemistry analyser
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaThe new Altair 240 clinical chemistry analyser fulfills an international market need for a fully automated bench-top platform supported by the Stanbio chemistry reagent menu. The fully automated system with LIS bi-directional connectivity is capable of performing up to 480 tests per hour. In addition to being supported by EKF’s broad menu of Stanbio ready-to-use, bar coded, liquid reagents for routine and special chemistries, the Altair 240 also provides the flexibility to configure open channel applications for many esoteric assays. EKF will expand the international presence of its clinical chemistry range with the Altair 240, as its customers have long asked for a cost-effective platform designed with Stanbio Chemistry products in mind. Built on 54 years of clinical chemistry expertise, this new platform enables EKF to offer a cost-effective solution, as either a main or back-up analyser, to improve productivity in both the hospital and physician office laboratory environments. Because it runs on Windows 7, operators can easily navigate its intuitive, touch screen menu. Features such as the capability to use bar coded, primary sample tubes, auto-rerun, auto-dilution and STAT interruption, all function to maximize the system’s overall efficiency.
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Glucose meter system receives FDA clearance for use with critically ill patients
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaLast May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared Nova Biomedical’s StatStrip Xpress Glucose Hospital Meter System for use throughout all hospital and all professional healthcare settings, including critically ill patients. StatStrip Glucose and StatStrip Xpress Glucose are now the only two hospital blood glucose meters to be cleared by the FDA for use with critically ill patients. Use of all other glucose meters with critically ill patients is considered off-label by the FDA and high complexity testing under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. High complexity testing requirements are so stringent that to use a glucose meter other than StatStrip Glucose and StatStrip Xpress Glucose with critically ill patients is not a practical alternative. StatStrip Xpress Glucose utilizes the same test strip measurement technology as StatStrip Glucose, which was cleared in 2014 after an extensive, four-year study conducted at five major university medical centres. The study included 1,698 critically ill patients with over 257 medical condition subcategories as designated by the World Health Organization. Over 8,000 medications were investigated for potential interference to StatStrip Glucose measuring technology. StatStrip Glucose demonstrated excellent agreement compared to central laboratory reference methods and no clinical interferences were found. In addition to the study submitted to the FDA, 138 other independent studies over the last eight years—including 53 critical care studies—have found no clinically significant interferences for StatStrip Glucose measuring technology.
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Automated molecular diagnostics system
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaELITechGroup Molecular Diagnostics and Precision System Science, Co., Ltd (PSS), a Japan-based global provider of laboratory instruments for nucleic acid extraction, jointly announced the upcoming CE-IVD marking of ELITe InGenius for IVD applications in Europe and the upcoming availability of the instrument as Laboratory Use Equipment in the US.
ELITe InGenius automatically performs all the steps of molecular diagnostics including extraction, amplification and result analysis. 1 to 12 samples can be processed with greater flexibility offering the possibility to potentially mix any kind of sample matrices within the same run and perform multiple and independent PCR even with completely diverse thermal profiles simply on demand. In addition, each of the 12 real-time PCR thermal cyclers is equipped with 6-optical channels, supplemented when appropriate with melt-curve analysis to provide extended multiplexing capability. The system is enabled with a unique real-time PCR menu based on ELITechGroup’s proven MGB technology, providing a rapid introduction of CE-IVD infectious disease menu for transplant monitoring and Healthcare Acquired Infections. The versatile system can also be used as an open platform running laboratory developed tests or other tests of interest. The ELITe InGenius combines unique capabilities not available on other sample-to-result systems, like universal extraction, storage of extracted nucleic acid and multiple and independently controlled RT PCR with multiplexing capabilities, offering to the laboratory an unprecedented flexibility and assay menu possibility. ELITechGroup has more than 12 assays in the pipeline for infectious disease testing.
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Cylindrical autoclaves securely improve lab performance
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaThe QCS H150 front loading autoclave is one of the safest and most efficient autoclaves available and should help any laboratory increase its sterilizing throughput owing to a combination of improved load capacity and exceptional operating performance. Users could also benefit from lower overall running costs associated with reduced power and water usage.
Design and manufactured by Priorclave, the QCS H150 autoclave has a 500mm diameter sterilizing chamber and delivers sterilizing temperatures up to 140oC at 2.4 bar, all easily controlled through the Tactrol®2 microprocessor system using single push-buttons on the control panel. One touch controls allows for adjustment of temperature and time for simple cycles to fully featured multi-programme operation. In addition a log is stored of the sterilizing cycle, data such as temperature, pressure and time is held in an archive file which can be subsequently downloaded.
An advantage for any busy laboratory is a secure key-lock switch on the front of the control panel which governs access to certain parameter settings.
Built to International Standards, the QCS H150 autoclave incorporates epoxy coated panels and frame members treated with an anti-bacterial agent that is highly effective against all bacteria and fungi including MRSA, E.coli, Listeria, Legionella, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Pseudomonas, preventing cross contamination within the laboratory.
Read more