Human cerebral cortex cryosections were stained with CF 405S GFAP Antibody (glial cells, cyan), then mounted with EverBrite Hardset with NucSpot 640, or EverBrite TrueBlack Hardset with NucSpot 640. Lipofuscin autofluorescence appears orange in the merged image and is effectively quenched after mounting in EverBrite TrueBlack. Nuclei are stained with NucSpot 640 (magenta).

Biotium, a leading provider of reagents for immunofluorescence microscopy, is significantly expanding its line of antifade wet-set and hardset EverBrite Mounting Medium with options that include Biotium’s new far-red NucSpot 640 nuclear counterstain. In addition, Biotium is also releasing EverBrite TrueBlack Hardset Mounting Medium for mounting and quenching of lipofuscin autofluorescence in a single step.

Antifade mounting media, like EverBrite, typically includes DAPI as a convenient blue nuclear counterstain for researchers performing immunofluorescence microscopy. However, cross-talk between fluorescence channels and UV-induced photoconversion of DAPI can cause bleed-through fluorescence in neighbouring FITC or Cy 3 channels. Biotium developed EverBrite Mounting Media with NucSpot counterstains as a novel solution to DAPI cross-talk and UV photoconversion, offering bright and specific nuclear imaging with very limited interference in other channels. EverBrite NucSpot 640 is specific for the Cy 5 channel.

Biotium’s TrueBlack lipofuscin quenchers are unique reagents designed to quench lipofuscin autofluorescence commonly found in human and aged animal tissues. New EverBrite TrueBlack Hardset Mounting Medium is the first reagent to offer both mounting and quenching of lipofuscin autofluorescence in a single step for greater convenience. EverBrite TrueBlack Hardset Mounting Medium will be available with DAPI, NucSpot 640, or without a nuclear counterstain.

“Mounting medium has traditionally only provided antifade properties and a convenient DAPI counterstain, but does little to address other issues with fluorescence,” says Lori Roberts PhD, Director of Bioscience at Biotium. “Our new EverBrite products aim to provide both convenience and novel research solutions for our customers.”

This release adds to Biotium’s growing portfolio of novel reagents for immunofluorescence microscopy, offering innovative solutions for all user workflows. Biotium’s new EverBrite with NucSpot and EverBrite TrueBlack Hardset Mounting Medium will be available in a standard 10 mL size or 2 mL trial size. NucSpot 640 nuclear counterstain is currently available with EverBrite Hardset and EverBrite TrueBlack Hardset Mounting Medium. Mounting media variations with NucSpot 680 for the Cy 5.5 channel will be released soon, according to the company.

• For more information, visit: Biotium EverBrite

Sysmex Europe has launched two new automated blood coagulation analysers, CN-3500 and CN-6500, in specific countries in the EMEA region. They are targeted at medium- and large-scale hospitals and commercial labs, as well as other facilities, the company says.

The new instruments come with a measuring unit that uses the chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) methodology and incorporate all the unique features of their earlier automated blood coagulation analysers CN-3000/CN-6000, making it possible to measure blood coagulation testing parameters including molecular markers for blood coagulation with a single device.

“As a result the CN-3500/CN-6500 blood coagulation analysers allow for flexible measurements in response to a broad range of test orders in the fields of thrombosis and haemostasis, such as molecular markers for blood coagulation measured with CLEIA. This is in addition to the blood coagulation and platelet aggregation parameters, which can also be measured by the predecessors CN-6000 and CN-3000,” a Sysmex spokesperson said.

Sysmex notes that there has been an increase in thrombotic diseases due to ageing populations and changing lifestyles – and, as such, the field of haemostasis has seen more diverse demands for early-stage diagnosis and appropriate treatment of such conditions.

While the demand for greater diversity in testing and prompt provision of test results to physicians is on the rise, haemostasis is typically performed by using multiple instruments with different measurement principles, such as immunoassay systems and platelet aggregation analysers in addition to blood coagulation analysers, to measure different parameters. This not only adds to the complexity of the testing workflow, but also requires lengthy waits before test results become available to determine the disease state and provide appropriate medical care, posing challenges in healthcare settings.

The CN-3500/CN-6500 are integrated analysers which will significantly improve productivity, reliability, operability, and serviceability.

In future, the company says, they will invest in the development of IVD reagents for haemostasis and immunochemistry using CLEIA.

• For more information, visit: sysmex-europe.com

Bio-Rad Laboratories has introduced the SEQuoia RiboDepletion Kit, which improves assay efficiency by eliminating irrelevant ribosomal RNA (rRNA) fragments from an RNA-Seq library.

The SEQuoia RiboDepletion Kit is designed for genomics researchers targeting rare transcripts or working with a limited or degraded sample. The kit can retain RNA transcripts that could be lost when using other methods. In addition, the efficient elimination of irrelevant rRNA fragments helps reduce the costs of sequencing RNA samples.

“Using the SEQuoia RiboDepletion Kit, genomics researchers can obtain the highest quality sequencing data while improving efficiencies and saving costs,” said Steven Blakely, Bio-Rad Global Director of Marketing, Life Science Group, Gene Expression. “We are excited to expand our SEQuoia product line, which complements our portfolio of genomic research products that enable easy integration into NGS workflows.”

Key benefits of the SEQuoia RiboDepletion Kit

• Improves assay sensitivity by eliminating irrelevant rRNA fragments from an RNA-Seq library
• Retains rare transcripts commonly lost from a pre-library RNA depletion strategy
• Enables the pooling of multiple libraries into one depletion reaction to save time and reduce costs
• Streamlines workflow to less than two hours
• Works with a broad input range and is compatible with most available library prep kits

The SEQuoia RiboDepletion Kit is the latest offering in Bio-Rad’s SEQuoia portfolio, an RNA-Seq sample preparation product family.

• For more information, visit: www.bio-rad.com/SEQuoiaRiboDepletion