The MiniBeadbeater-24 cell disrupter disrupts and homogenizes all cell types, from bacteria and spores to animal and plant tissues. Cell lysis takes place in sealed 2 ml microvials containing glass or ceramic beads. Nucleic acids and proteins are isolated in 1-2 minutes of bead beating. The ultra-high energy shaking machine processes up to 24 samples, has variable speed for special applications and simple controls. Essential for PCR methodologies, the MiniBeadbeater-24 uses disposable vials and beads, thus eliminating any possibility of cross-contamination between samples.

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Patients with Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) have a very high thrombosis risk. They require alternative anticoagulant treatments which increase the bleeding risk. In the absence of a rapid and reliable laboratory assay, many clinicians simply replace heparin based on clinical suspicion only. However, only about 10% of HIT suspicions are actually confirmed by appropriate tests. Current immunoassays can rule out HIT but have limitations, especially a high number of false positive tests, long time to result, complex handling, and reagent wastage. The STic Expert® HIT kits match all laboratory requirements, including reliability (100% Negative Predictive Value), which rules out HIT when combined with the pretest clinical score, and 93% specificity, which reduces false positive results and the number of confirmatory tests required. Results are available in 10 minutes. Easy and ready to use, the unitary test is available 24/7 STAT compliant for laboratories of all sizes. It reduces the cost of HIT outsourcing and eliminates the need for extra equipment. Two packaging sizes are available, 5 tests per kit and 20 tests per kit, with individual tests in blister packs.
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Three new ELISA testing kits for the detection of sedative drugs Zopiclone, Zaleplon and Zolpidem are now available. These drugs behave in a similar ways to benzodiazepines. The Z drugs are found in prescription medications, however, they should only be used for a short time period as extended use can lead to tolerance. The misuse of Z drugs is widespread as a result of both dependence and recreational use. Incidents of unusual or inappropriate behaviour have been linked to misuse of Z drugs, where the patients had no memory of their actions. Some users have reported sleepwalking, sleep driving, binge eating, and performing other daily tasks while asleep. Randox Toxicology has developed three ELISA kits for the detection of Z drugs in urine and blood specimens. The Zolpidem ELISA offers an unbeatable Limit of Detection (LOD) of 0.4ng/ml in urine and 0.52ng/ ml in blood. The Zopiclone and Zaleplon ELISA kits are the first immunoassays available for the rapid detection of these drugs. Prior to this, the only way to detect Zopiclone and Zaleplon was with timely chromatographic analysis. The company also provides an automated ELISA plate reader, capable of reading 96 wells in 30 seconds. In addition to the Z drug ELISA kits, Randox Toxicology provides a multiplex Biochip Array which targets Zolpidem, Zopiclone, Zaleplon and their metabolites simultaneously from a single, undivided specimen. The advanced multiplex method consolidates ELISA tests onto a small 9x9mm biochip, enhancing the ability for toxicologists to quickly detect these sedatives.
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Developed for easy and reliable measurement of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) used in the detection and management of diabetes, the Quo-Test analyser, which is awaiting FDA clearance with a launch expected early in 2013, will be sold in North, Central and South America by Stanbio Laboratory acquired by EKF Diagnostics in May 2011. Quo-Test enables clinicians to make a rapid determination of diabetes management , thereby improving patients’ experience, thanks to the fast and accurate results obtained from the machine in just four minutes from 4μl of blood from finger prick or venous sample. The user-friendly device has a multi-lingual menu and allows for efficient data handling, with a barcode reader and storage of up to 7,000 results, which can be downloaded to a computer via a USB port. Quo-Test uses a patented Boronate Fluorescence Quenching Technology (BFQT): a simple, fast and accurate method, based on the well-documented boronate affinity for glycated hemoglobin, which is not affected by hemoglobin variants. Although Quo-Test has been developed to be used in a point of care setting, it is a professional product providing laboratory level accuracy, reporting its results in IFCC and DCCT standards (Mono S & JDS reporting are also available). The CE-marked analyser has been approved by China’s SFDA for the monitoring of HbA1c in diabetes patients.
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Expanding Bio- Systems’ fertility line portfolio, the Fertility Biochemistry Control is a lyophilized control (1 mL) containing component concentration suitable for the quality control of fertility testing in clinical laboratories: Citrate, Fructose and Zinc. This new product complements the company’s line for laboratories dedicated to fertility control.
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