DiaSys has launched a fluid-stable, particleenhanced immunoturbidimetric assay for determination of procalcitonin (PCT) in serum and plasma on clinical chemistry analysers.
Procalcitonin FS offers high precision at clinical cut-off levels for sepsis with a measuring range from 0.2 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL. Procalcitonin FS has an outstanding onboard and calibration stability. No prozone effect was observed up to 1000 ng/mL.
The assay performance is complemented by high tolerance to endogenous interferents and common therapeutics used in sepsis management. Method comparisons of Procalcitonin FS show good comparability to established tests and present the new assay as a reliable alternative for clinical chemistry analysers.
For more information, visit: www.diasys-diagnostics.com/products/reagents/ immunoturbidimetry/reagent-details/227- procalcitonin-fs/reagent.show
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AMS Biotechnology offers a comprehensive range of end-to-end services for exosome purification, characterization, and engineering.
Exosomes are small endosome-derived lipid nanoparticles, actively secreted by exocytosis in most living cells. Acting on tissues in both the local environment and further afield, they function as important signal carriers through their transport of RNA, proteins, lipids and DNA. Exosomes are involved in a wide range of normal and pathogenic processes, making exosome research crucial in multiple areas. Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicle (EV) that show promise for use as unique drug carriers to deliver protease inhibitors to treat COVID-19.
In this application, EVs may provide targeted delivery of protease inhibitors, with fewer systemic side effects. More importantly, EVs are highly suitable for major aseptic processing and can be upscaled for mass production.
The Exosome Isolation & Quantification Service from AMSBIO provides reliable and reproducible isolation of exosomes from almost any biofluid ranging from plasma and tissue culture media to cerebrospinal fluid. Using this service, exosomes are isolated by ultracentrifugation and quality assessed using a NanoDrop spectrophotometer. Options are also available to isolate by differential/gradient ultracentrifugation, immunoaffinity, size exclusion chromatography, precipitation/low speed centrifugation.
For scientists interested in exosome miRNA isolation and sequencing, AMSBIO offer a service to extract RNA from exosomes, and subject it to the Small RNA-Sequencing. In addition, basic analysis will be performed on the raw data, and screening for specific miRNA can also be performed.
AMSBIO also offers analysis of exosome surface proteins using MACSPlex kit. For proteomics analysis, samples will be analysed by LC/Q-TOF mass spectrometry to characterize the peptides formed. The analysed samples are also differentially analysed using molecular features finder and mass profiler to determine changes in the peptide profile. The resultant MS/MS data from the selected peptides will be imported into Spectrum Mill proteomic server software to identify the protein that is consistent with the imported peptide sequence. Both NCBInr and Swiss-Prot databases are available to search for users of this service.
In addition, AMSBIO can undertake a wide range of exosome functional assays including exosome-induced cell proliferation, exosome induced collagen production, Exosome-induced inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and In vitro wound healing (scratch assay).

• For further information, visit: www.amsbio.com/exosome-research-services

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Awareness Technology has recently introduced their ChemWell RPR Automated Nontreponemal analyser for the detection of syphilis. The company reports that it is the “most significant innovation to syphilis testing in the last 30 years”.
The analyser provides qualitative testing and screening for syphilis in human serum or plasma utilizing an advanced camera and software algorithm to analyse each sample.
In place of manual RPR cards, the system uses 4 standard 48-well microwell plates to analyse up to 192 samples per hour with no user intervention. High-resolution images captured by an advanced optical system are interpreted by a proven algorithm and provide an accurate and reliable negative or positive result based on the captured images.
An additional test can be run on positive samples to determine titers up to 1:2048 dilution for therapeutic monitoring. The software is included with the instrument at no additional cost and features an intuitive interface that allows for easy navigation and use.
Automated features such as fluid handling, mixing, timing, image capture, image processing, and reporting are all handled by the software.
Awareness Technology, with HQ in Palm City, Florida, US, develops, manufactures, and markets high quality in-vitro diagnostic instrumentation, and diagnostic test kits.
For more information, visit: www.awaretech.com
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EKF Diagnostics’ novel viral transport media PrimeStore MTM (Molecular Transport Medium) has been successfully evaluated for effective SARS-CoV-2 inactivation in a new study published by Public Health England (PHE). To work safely with live SARS-CoV-2 samples requires the use of high-containment laboratories. However, after inactivation SARS-CoV-2 material can be handled at a lower containment level, allowing more laboratories to undertake testing and thereby increasing COVID-19 testing capacity.
The PHE study evaluated numerous commercially available reagents and laboratory formulations commonly used for viral inactivation protocols by public health agencies and research laboratories globally. All the reagents tested have been used during the current COVID-19 pandemic for sample transportation and subsequent molecular processing. A total of 23 commercial reagents designed for virus inactivation, clinical sample transportation and nucleic acid extraction were assessed by PHE for their ability to inactivate SARS-CoV-2.
The study used TCID50 and blind passage techniques to test for any infectious virus still recoverable from all samples treated with the inactivation reagents. Notably, the study showed that PrimeStore MTM was the only commercially available transport reagent from the many tested from which no residual virus was detectable by either TCID50 or by the passaging of treated purified sample. This demonstrates the efficacy and safety of PrimeStore MTM in inactivating live SARS-CoV-2 samples whilst maintaining the ability to detect the target viral RNA.
In addition to this successful PHE evaluation of its effectiveness at deactivating SARS-CoV-2, PrimeStore MTM is also an FDA cleared and CE-IVD marked sample collection device. PrimeStore MTM removes the need for all cold chain logistics including sample storage; RNA and DNA are perfectly preserved for downstream molecular processing for up to four weeks at room temperature. Furthermore, because samples are rapidly inactivated, the risk of infection is eliminated, meaning samples are ready for safe testing immediately on arrival at a laboratory.
For more information, visit: www.ekfdiagnostics.com
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Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched the Thermo Scientific Smart-Vue Pro, a next-generation remote monitoring solution for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, clinical and academic laboratories. The device is designed to enable superior levels of sample protection, workflow efficiencies, asset/cost optimization and regulatory compliance.
With the option for an on-premise or cloud setup, the Thermo Scientific Smart-Vue Pro Remote Monitoring Solution provides real-time, continuous monitoring of critical laboratory equipment parameters and immediately notifies users about off-limit measurements that, if left unattended, could compromise sample safety and integrity. Notifications are delivered by email, text message or phone call, through a secure network, prompting corrective action.
Importantly, the Smart-Vue Pro solution delivers fully traceable data logging and secure user-level access to the complete system functionality at anytime from anywhere with Internet access, facilitating compliance with a wide range of regulatory standards, including 21CFR Part 11 and cGxP.
Operating on the LoRaWAN (Long-Range Wide Area Network) technology, the Smart-Vue Pro solution can simultaneously monitor conditions across several laboratories located on different floors or buildings. The LoRaWAN technology ensures a single receiver can cover up to 2km line of sight in urban areas, eliminating the need to invest in multiple monitoring systems. Scalability is further enhanced through the advanced modular, customizable architecture of the Smart-Vue Pro solution that supports up to four pre-calibrated Smart Digital Sensors. As a result, the system can monitor many pieces of equipment or multiple parameters within one piece of equipment at the same time. Finally, the Smart-Vue Pro solution allows for easy expansion to accommodate additional pieces of equipment without the need for costly upgrades. Overall, this improved scalability results in considerable installation, hardware and maintenance cost savings.
The Smart-Vue Pro solution features an interactive, colour touchscreen that displays data along with visual and audio alarms for at-a-glance monitoring, while enabling simplified and customizable views for an enhanced user experience.
Thermo Fisher Scientific supports the Smart-Vue Pro solution with end-to-end service and support packages to guide users through installation, validation, implementation and maintenance.
The Smart-Vue Pro solution is capable of monitoring temperatures ranging from −200°C to +150°C, relative humidity and dry contact state, with CO2 concentration and differential pressure set to be added to the system’s measurement capabilities in the near future.

• For more information, visit: www.thermofisher.com/smartvuepro

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