Promega has launched its benchtop capillary electrophoresis (CE) instrument, the Spectrum Compact CE System, developed in collaboration with Hitachi High-Tech. The personal CE system is an integrated DNA analysis instrument that enables life scientists in laboratories of all sizes to perform Sanger sequencing and fragment analysis at the bench.
The Spectrum Compact CE System features:

• flexible run scheduling
• easy-to-use interface
• convenient benchtop size
• separate plug-and-play consumables
• on-site installation and operational training

The instrument supports applications such as microsatellite instability analysis, mixed sample analysis, forensic STR analysis, and cell line authentication. It processes up to 32 samples in a single run and can be controlled by either the integrated touchscreen or by additional software that allows access from any registered computer on the same network. Guided software brings capillary electrophoresis capabilities to the hands of any scientist in the laboratory regardless of skill level.
“The Spectrum Compact CE is personal and that’s one of the huge advantages that scientists will see with this instrument,” commented Doug Storts, Promega Head of Research. “An individual can walk into the laboratory and with minimal training, be able to change all the consumables, select which chemistries they want to use for both DNA sequencing as well as for fragment analysis, and perform the experiment.”
Promega is also offering extensive support to laboratories integrating a Spectrum Compact CE System into their workflow, including on-site instrument and software installation and operational training. Technical Services Scientists are prepared to assist with data analysis and summary reports, and Field Support and Validation Services Scientists are available to assist with maintenance and validation requirements.
For more information, visit: www.promega.com/SpectrumCompactCE
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CytoSMART Technologies has launched an automated organoid counter. The software application detects organoids using bright-field image analysis and runs on the Corning Cell Counter, a CytoSMART product.
Manually counting organoids is a routine part of laboratory operations, but is time consuming and user dependent. To overcome these issues CytoSMART has introduced this organoid counting application.
Joffry Maltha, CEO at CytoSMART Technologies, explained: “The 3D cellular structures that are formed in organoids have great potential in drug discovery and developmental biology. This has fuelled the ever-growing interest in culturing new sub-types of organoids and optimization of current protocols. Growing organoids does however take a substantial amount of time and skill. We believe that implementation of an automated solution for organoid counting can really speed up day-to-day work in the lab and is a logical step towards further implementation of organoids in cell culture-based research.”
The main features of the CytoSMART Organoid Counter are:

• The main features of the CytoSMART Organoid Counter are:
• Low-cost – works with a common reusable glass hemocytometer. No consumables required.
• Precise – software allows for data gating and image selection for statistical analysis.

• For more information, visit: https://cytosmart.com/products/organoid-counting

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As COVID-19 continues to impact countries worldwide, accurate screening is needed to establish serological status of different populations. Bio-Rad now offers the Platelia SARS-CoV-2 Total Ab assay, for the detection of total anti-nucleocapsid antibodies (IgM, IgA, IgG) to SARS-CoV-2. In one test, the assay helps identify the immune response to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the virus associated with COVID-19.
For more information, visit: https://info.bio-rad. com/cdg-sars-cov-2-ous?WT.mc_id=200814028804
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BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. FDA for the BD FACSLyric™ Flow Cytometer with the Integrated BD FACSDuet™ Sample Preparation System.
The new integrated system enables clinical laboratories to fully automate the sample to answer process and improve their efficiency by reducing errors and limiting the manual user interactions required to run assays on the BD FACSLyric™ Flow Cytometer.
The BD FACSDuet Sample Preparation System builds new capabilities into the BD portfolio of clinical flow cytometry solutions offering a pre-analytical system, that combined with the BD FACSLyric Flow Cytometer is the first truly walkaway sample-to-answer solution for clinical labs.
Physical integration between the BD FACSDuet Sample Preparation System and the BD FACSLyric Flow Cytometer allows technicians to load samples and reagents’ samples are acquired and analysed on the BD FACSLyric Flow Cytometer. Data integration using the BD FACSLink™ Middleware Solution offers bidirectional communication between the instruments and connectivity with laboratory information systems.
The BD FACSLyric™ Flow Cytometer with the integrated BD FACSDuet™ Sample Preparation System is now available as an in vitro diagnostic (IVD) system in the United States as well as countries recognizing the CE-IVD certification, which was achieved in March 2019.
For more information, visit: www.bdbiosciences.com/en-us/instruments/ clinical-instruments/clinical-cell-analyzers/facslyric
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BioChromato, a respected Japanese manufacturer of high-quality products for chemical laboratories, reports that it has installed more than 1200 units of its Smart Evaporator C1 – a compact system that delivers rapid concentration or complete drying of samples in even high boiling solvents such as DMSO, DMF or water.
Designed to be easy to use, the Smart Evaporator C1 is an affordably priced system optimised to concentrate or dry single samples directly from any tube or vial (up to 32 mm neck diameter).
Drawing upon BioChromato’s patented spiral plug evaporation technology, the compact, benchtop Smart Evaporator C1 offers fast and effective evaporation in tubes or vials without solvent bumping thereby eliminating risk of sample loss, cross contamination and saving researchers time.
Proven to be the ideal lab tool for simple removal of high boiling point solvents, the C1 also excels at safe drying temperature sensitive compounds and efficient evaporation of small volume samples.
The Smart Evaporator C1 is optimised to handle solvent volumes up to 40 mL which can be extremely useful for concentrating compounds after organic synthesis or drying analytical samples at relatively high speeds. The versatile C1 can also take small tubes and vials (e.g. 1.5mL) where solvent volumes can be as little as 0.1ml (or less).

• For more information, visit: https://biochromato.com/smart-evaporator/

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