Handheld electrochemical sensors are part of the daily routine for millions of people with diabetes around the globe who monitor their blood sugar levels with electric glucometers. While such sensors have revolutionized at-home medical testing for diabetics, they have not yet been successfully applied to diagnosing other conditions.
Sensors like glucometers detect glucose in blood based on the activity of an enzyme, and there are only a limited number of enzymes that can be used to sense biomarkers of human disease. An alternative detection strategy based on binding events between antibodies and their molecular targets have been investigated to expand the use of electrochemical sensors for medicine, but these sensors fall victim to the rapid accumulation of “fouling” substances from biological fluids on their conductive surfaces, which deactivate them. Existing antifouling coatings are difficult to mass-manufacture, suffer from quality and consistency issues, and are not very effective. Now, a new diagnostic platform technology developed by researchers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University known as “eRapid” enables the creation of low-cost, handheld electrochemical devices that can simultaneously detect a broad range of biomarkers with high sensitivity and selectivity in complex biological fluids, using as little as a single drop of blood. The technology is described in Nature Nanotechnology.
“As long as an antibody exists for a given target molecule, eRapid can detect it,” said co-author Pawan Jolly, Ph.D., a Senior Research Scientist at the Wyss Institute. “By solving the biofouling problem with a simple yet robust design, we are now able to easily mass-produce biochemical sensors for a wide variety of applications at low-cost.” The team demonstrated the commercial utility of this approach by creating a multiplexed sensor with three separate electrodes, each coated with the BSA/gold nanowire matrix and a layer of antibodies against a specific clinically relevant target molecule: interleukin 6 (IL6), insulin, or glucagon. When they incubated the sensor with the respective target molecules in undiluted human plasma, they observed excellent electrical signals with picogramper- mL sensitivity. Conversely, electrodes coated with a published “PEG-SAM” anti-fouling coating failed to produce distinct signals, indicating that they had been irreversibly fouled by off-target molecules in human plasma samples. In addition, the BSA/gold-nanowire-coated sensors can be washed and reused multiple times with minimal signal loss, allowing serial monitoring of biomarkers easily and at low cost.
Since then, the Wyss team has been able to detect more than a dozen different biomarkers ranging from 100 Da to 150,000 Da in size with eRapid, and they are continuing to experiment with conductive nanomaterials to optimize the electrode coating and the system’s performance, as well as reduce the cost even further.
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Shimadzu’s iMLayer boosts spatial resolution for MS imaging experiments. It enables reproducible matrix coating with small crystals and minimizes delocalization effects. Get a crystal clear view of microstructures in your sample.
Features

• Creation of fine matrix crystals by unique matrix vapor deposition technology (sublimation) enabling high resolution MS imaging experiments
• Minimized delocalization effects compared to conventional spraying method due to sublimation technique
• Good reproducibility through automated matrix layer thickness control
• Simple touch pad operation making the easy-to-use standalone instrument a sample preparation tool for any MS imaging experiment

For information please click here.
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TRIMERO Diagnostics offers IVD CE marked Beta-2 Microglobulin (β2m) serum and urine assays for IMMAGE® series nephelometers.
The assays, for serum and urine samples, have been developed specifically for the Beckman Coulter’s IMMAGE® and IMMAGE® 800 Immunochemical Systems, using UDR particle-enhanced reagents.
In order to ensure lot to lot traceability, assays have been standardized to the to the 1st International Standard for Beta2 Microglobulin (code: B2M) of the WHO (World Health Organisation).
B2-microglobulin turbidimetric assays are also available for the most popular clinical chemistry analysers, for both urine and serum samples.
Other available assays for IMMAGE® nephelometers and turbidimetry include: KLoneus® Free Light Chains (FLC), Serum Amyloid A (SAA), IgD Immunoglobulins, Retinol Binding Protein (RBP) for serum and urine, Soluble Transferrin Receptor (sTfR), Hemopexin, Cystatin-C for serum and urine, A1-Microglobulin, Kappa and Lambda Light Chains for serum and urine, Complement C1q, Complement C5, Factor B (C3 Proactivator), C1 (Esterase) Inhibitor.
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HORIBA UK Ltd, Medical has introduced a new automated digital cell morphology solution in collaboration with CellaVision to help haematology laboratories simplify and expedite the performance of blood and body fluid differentials.
CellaVision’s digital cell morphology systems can now be integrated with HORIBA’s HELO automated haematology platform, enabling unique two-way data flow and rapid validation of cell morphology results. These combined systems automate a number of steps that would otherwise be undertaken manually, thus significantly enhancing laboratory workflows and increasing productivity.
The connectivity and bi-directional information sharing between CellaVision and HORIBA’s haematology systems uniquely support numerous aspects of digital blood cell morphology workflow. These save technician and cytologist time, support ease-of-use, improve flexibility and deliver more accurate results.
Mandy Campbell, Sales and Marketing Manager – Medical, HORIBA UK Ltd, commented, “Slide reading is a mandatory step in laboratories to confirm severe pathology diagnosis. By automating and digitising cell morphology workflow our new joint solution with CellaVision offers significant time saving and results standardisation to enable laboratories to work smarter and perform better.”
CellaVision systems leverage high-speed robotics and digital imaging to automatically locate and capture high-quality images of cells from slides produced by HORIBA’s Yumizen SPS slide maker following automatic slide reflex rules. By automating pre-classification and pre-characterisation of blood cell morphology, this slide digitalisation solution saves time and supports standardisation of slide reading when compared to the use of a traditional microscope for validation of blood smears. In turn, all results and alarms from HORIBA’s haematology analysers can be directly sent to CellaVision.
Data received from HORIBA haematology analysers are used by CellaVision systems in a number of ways to enhance workflows. As all slides are printed with 1D or 2D barcodes by the SPS, automatic distinction of whole blood and body fluids slides are possible without need for specific colour-coded racks when loading.
Furthermore, based on the HORIBA analyser’s WBC value, the CellaVision system will automatically adjust the quantity of pictures it captures to ensure sufficient and representative cell counting. This offers convenience in cases of leucopoenia or aplasia.
A range of CellaVision systems is available to integrate with HORIBA’s HELO haematology platform which can be selected based on a laboratory’s size and throughput. The CellaVision® DM9600 meets the needs of large laboratories with high-volume testing requirements, offering a loading capacity of 96 slides and throughput of 30 slides/hour. For large or small laboratories with lower volume testing needs, the CellaVision® DM1200 and CellaVision® DC-1 offer alternative options.
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Hemco has introduced the CleanAire II Ductless Hoods, designed to meet DH I requirements as defined by SEFA 9. This hood features a built-in carbon filtration system to adsorb non-toxic fumes and odors. It is equipped with an integral blower, vapor proof light, fan and light switches.
The hood superstructure is constructed of chemical and flame resistant, non-metallic (no rust) composite resin with a molded one-piece seamless interior fume chamber. A vertical sliding clear acrylic sash protects the user and contains the process fumes. The carbon filter adsorbs the fumes and then re-circulates the air back to the laboratory.
The CleanAire II Ductless Hoods are available in 24”, 30”, 35”, and 47” models and are shipped completely assembled and ready for operation.
For more information, visit: www.hemcocorp.com/caii.html
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