Using unique technology, the SC-120 slide maker and stainer is able to make blood films, print the barcodes and other patient information directly onto the slides, stain them with different types of staining protocols and dry their wet surfaces. A total of 120 slides can be processed per hour. The stained slides, ready for microscopy, are loaded in cassettes located at the unloading area. The MindrayOmniLab CAL 8000 hematology system combines the BC-6800 hematology analyser with the SC-120 slide maker and stainer into one comprehensive workstation. With the possibility to include up to four BC-6800s and two SC-120s, the system can be scaled-up to meet the workload requirements of even large labs. Manual interruptions are minimized as the workflow of the SC-120 allows user-defined staining protocols and enables users to define decision rules. The resultant efficient workflow and higher reliability of the system reduce operating costs as well.
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Early detection and treatment of inherited metabolic disorders in newborns can lessen the severity of health problems, which could cause mental and physical disabilities or death, if undetected. The window of opportunity to determine if a baby is at risk of a serious or life-threatening condition before symptoms begin is small; therefore, test results for indicators of these disorders must be accurate, comprehensive and timely. To address this challenge, a newborn screening assay is now available in Europe only and is specifically designed for in vitro diagnostic use in conjunction with AB SCIEX mass spectrometry instrumentation for clinical analysis. With the new SCIEX IVD-MS kit for newborn screening, clinical diagnostic laboratories in Europe will be able to analyse panels of amino acids and acylcarnitines simultaneously – rather than one by one, as commonly done in hospitals today – and obtain information about indicators of multiple metabolic disorders from the same sample in a single run. Tandem mass spectrometry makes it possible to detect extremely low concentrations of compounds that can be used to indicate whether a baby is likely to have an inborn metabolic disorder. For example, mass spectrometry can be used to measure the markers for early screening of Phenylketonuria, or PKU. Babies diagnosed with PKU by their physician can be treated with a special diet of limited amounts of phenylalanine (Phe) to avoid build up in the blood and brain, which reportedly leads to mental disability. PKU reportedly occurs in nearly one out of every 10,000 newborns in most of Europe. With an accurate diagnosis, early treatment significantly decreases the severity of symptoms the child will experience as he/she grows up. Another example is the use of mass spectrometry-based newborn screening to find indicators of Medium-chain acyl-Coenzyme Dehydrogenase deficiency (MCAD). Twenty-five percent of children with undetected MCAD die the first time they have an illness. However, if the disorder is detected within days of birth, a treatment as simple as frequent meals and avoidance of fasting would set the child on a path to good health. Studies have shown that MCAD is most common among Caucasians from Northern Europe and includes numbers potentially as high as one out of every 4,900 in Northern Germany. The SCIEX IVDMS kit for amino acid and acylcarnitines in dried blood spots will be a fully validated mass spectrometry method with all the reagents necessary to prepare the sample for MS injection. Using these kits, healthcare professionals will be able to test dried bloodspots from a heel prick on newborns and run the test on an AB SCIEX 3200MD CE-marked IVD system where measurements of the analytes are translated into clinically relevant results, generated with easy-to-use software.
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The VACUETTE TUBE-TOUCH is a safety product of the newest generation with an automated activation of the protective shield. This product is a further development of the already existing VACUETTE PREMIUM Safety Needle System. It was developed in close collaboration with users. The result is the VACUETTE TUBE-TOUCH Holder. The new name vividly captures the product’s functional capabilities. The safety mechanism is activated by placing the tube in the holder. In this way, needlestick injuries are automatically avoided. Apart from being easy to use, the VACUETTE TUBE-TOUCH is characterized by its newly designed protective shield, which is freely movable upon activation. Graduation marks have been added to the protective shield in order to easily demonstrate the position of the needle in the vein for the user. These marks show how far the needle is located in the vein. During removal of the needle from the vein, the protective shield automatically encloses the needle making the product practical, simple and safe. This product will be introduced this year in July at the AACC in Houston. Stand 4511.
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Building on the principles of SMART Automation, Sakura Finetek introduces the next step in total laboratory automation, the Tissue-Tek AutoSection Automated Microtome for histopathology laboratories. The first of its kind, this fully-automated and programmable microtome aligns and trims blocks with optimal precision, section after section. AutoAlign, the core technology behind AutoSection, precisely orients blocks and dramatically reduces the risk of losing tissue. In addition, with AutoTrim technology, blocks are ready for sectioning in seconds. Another major benefit of automation and stress-free microtomy is the reduction of repetitive motion and the increase of staff satisfaction. AutoSection ensures consistent high-quality sectioning, preservation of valuable tissue, improved productivity and minimal repetitive motions.

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