The Uniqsis FlowSyn™ flow chemistry system now has an upgraded pump manifold that continuously monitors each high pressure reagent channel and alerts the user to any flow abnormalities, saving time and precious reagents by preventing experiments continuing under erroneous conditions.
Reagent immiscibility, incomplete wetting of pump components or the presence of static or transient air bubbles are the usual causes of the flow irregularities that sometimes occasionally occur during a run, and in most cases can be corrected by re-priming the pump. Unfortunately with most systems this usually means aborting the experiment, but with the reagent manifold used in FlowSyn the pump can be re-primed "on the fly", so that the run can continue.
Interlocks are provided so that if the error is not remedied within a specified period, the experiment is aborted. If an error condition is detected in one pump channel, the other is automatically stopped simultaneously until the problem is dealt with.
New and improved automatic injection valves are now available for FlowSyn, with specially designed, highly inert rotor seals and larger diameter channels that allow sample loops to be filled more quickly and are less easily blocked. These new valves can be retro-fitted to any FlowSyn unit with electrically operated injection valves. As an added convenience, vertical syringe ports mean that syringes can be left in place during a run to make re-priming easier.
The FlowSyn Continuous Flow Reactor integrates all the essential elements for continuous flow chemistry into a single, easy to use package. FlowSyn is simple to set up and operate and offers safe, unattended operation for tasks such as synthesis, reaction optimisation and scale up experiments, in quantities from milligrams to hundreds of grams. Visit the Web

A new, cost-effective instrument that lowers the cost of entry to multiparameter clean and waste water testing has been introduced by Camlab, one of the UK's leading scientific equipment suppliers.
The Camlab Water MC500 multiparameter colorimeter is designed to test more than 70 different clean and waste water testing parameters for the cost equivalent to two single parameter colorimeters.
The MC500's design combines the mobility of a portable photometer with the characteristics of a modern laboratory photometer. The instrument addresses all the important parameters of water analysis, from aluminium to zinc. The high level of accuracy of Camlab water reagents and the user-friendliness of the MC500 enable rapid and reliable analysis of water samples for a variety of application markets including utilities, power, field measurement, aquaculture and industrial manufacturing.
Depending on the application, or the users' requirements, this versatile instrument is capable of operating with powder pillows, tablets reagents or liquid reagents.
The easy-to-use MC500 features automatic wavelength selection and operates with six interference filters and uses long-life LEDs as a light-source. The MC500 has a memory capacity which is able to store up to 1000 data sets.
An optional infra-red interface for the MC500 enables data to be transmitted to a computer or printer (RS 232 / USB). Visit the Web

Bridge4Bio, an international business consultancy group focused on promoting the growth of life sciences and biotechnology companies, is targeting four strategic areas to assist both startups and established companies plan and grow their businesses globally. Bridge4Bio's team of senior consultants addresses the following:
Channel Development Bridge4Bio's senior management team with its global coverage helps clients find the appropriate distributor, or choose appropriate partners for OEM mergers or licensing deals to expand their business.
Strategic Marketing Bridge4Bio provides guidance on how to build and implement a global business plan including developing new and existing product line channel strategies. Advice covers implementing market promotions and communication programmes, agreement negotiation, as well as ensuring IP and profitability are solid to capitalize on future opportunities.
Global Sourcing Bridge4Bio's international experience simplifies identifying the best sources to manufacture product, reduce cost, negotiate contracts, or improve quality through long-term global partnerships to gain a competitive advantage.
Capital Investment Bridge4Bio is well connected to Silicon Valley and global investment contacts to act as a bridge between the client and an appropriate investor or partnership company.
"Forming a partnership with Bridge4Bio allows life sciences and biotechnology companies, both large and small, to maximize their growth potential while working with tight budgets," explained Hugh Douglas, Bridge4Bio's president. "Start-ups, small to mid-sized companies or those organizations needing to develop and expand their business globally with limited resources can all benefit from our global team of experts that are highly skilled and experienced at driving and managing operations, marketing, sales and business development across the full spectrum of the life sciences sector".
Bridge4Bio's knowledge and expertise covers academic research, drug discovery, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, proteomics and genomics, medical devices and diagnostics.
Douglas continued: "Bridge4Bio provides our clients the experience of a network of ten international life sciences and biotechnology consultants who have all experienced first-hand the start-up and growth challenges faced by life sciences and biotechnology businesses in global markets". "We cover the world. Clients benefit from our pool of experienced professionals immediately." "Retaining Bridge4Bio also helps a company minimize risk by automatically giving access to a team of ten business experts with specialist global knowledge to work on projects. In this way an organization can benefit from growing the business for a fraction of the cost of hiring a single employee for a year and then finding out later that the hire strategy did not work out. We call it simply the 'Power of Ten'".
"Another advantage of using Bridge4Bio's team is that we recognize that companies may not have the funds for high-priced consultants. So much of our fee structure is charged as commissions based on the sales/results of a growing business. The client pays us based on the success of the implementation which means that the up-front cost and risk is further reduced for our clients."
Bridge4Bio will be exhibiting on stand number A3-380 at Analytica 2010, March 23 -26, 2010 Munich, Germany Visit the Web

The new Label Attachment System from Brady is enabling a Histology Unit to put an end to hand-writing sample identification on tissue cassettes, and winning praise for the clear printed labels from researchers in Cardiff University's School of Biosciences.
The Histology Unit offers standard paraffin wax histological services, including haematoxylin and eosin staining. Around 300-400 experimental samples are processed each month, mainly from cancer research projects undertaken by the internationally renowned Genetics group within the Cardiff School of Biosciences.
The Histology Unit previously used pencil to identify samples in tissue cassettes, causing a number of potential problems. According to unit manager, Derek Scarborough, 'This method required writing very small in order to fit all the necessary information into the available space. The pencil marking sometimes became smudged, and reading someone else's handwriting could be problematic. However, using Brady's chemical-resistant labels and the new BSP™31 Label Attachment System, all our cassettes are permanently identified with absolute clarity. We can print one, two or three lines of text and know that the label will remain readable after all the histology processing, and it cannot become detached. At the embedding stage each sample is placed into a mould filled with molten wax and the cassette, minus its lid, is placed on top. Once the wax is cooled the labelled cassette acts both as the sample identifier and as a support for the block during sectioning on the microtome.'
Brady Tissue Cassette labels, printed with the BBP™11 printer and specially developed thermal transfer ribbon, are resistant to all the chemicals required for histological processing. The BSP™31 unit has four tiny heat probes which pierce the label and tissue cassette, melting the plastic just sufficiently to form permanent rivets which hold the label in place throughout the paraffin embedding process.
In the Cardiff Histology Unit, after sectioning, the unused portion of paraffin block with the labelled cassette attached is sent back to the research lab along with the associated slides. The blocks are stored in the lab and it is quite common for further slides to be required at a later date, for example, if a second immunohistochemistry run is needed. The advantages of the Brady labelling system are also evident at this stage, as Derek Scarborough explains: 'We have received very positive feedback on the Brady cassette labels from researchers. They report that, as well as looking much more professional, the printed labels save time when they need to search through their archived blocks for a particular sample. Black text printed on a white label is very much quicker and easier to read than pencil on a green cassette. The clear labels therefore eliminate any confusion or mistakes which could occur with handwritten data.' The Brady BSP™31 Label Attachment System provides a fast, simple and cost-effective way of guaranteeing labelling integrity throughout processing, embedding, sectioning and storage for up to 20 years. Visit the Web

A new software application has been created by Quality Systems International (QSI) of Aylesbury that enables companies and laboratories to easily and efficiently manage their consumables stock control.
The new WinLims stock control module allows a stock record to be created for each consumable item used during an analysis procedure. The stock record includes the suppliers' details, a description of the consumable item, opening stock figures, re-order levels, re-order amounts, shelf life as well as the cost per item or amount. With each receipt of stock the suppliers' batch details are recorded including the cost per item, date it was receipted as well as the quantity for each specific shipment.
"Many types of laboratory analysis require consumables to be used to perform the analysis. There is nothing more frustrating if you run out of a required consumable which causes delays in the analysis workflow," explained Clive Collier, QSI's managing director. "With the WinLims stock control solution the user can define the analysis method, select the consumables used with this method and detail the amount of each consumable that is used to perform the analysis. So when processing samples, any assigned methods that use consumables will trigger the reduction of each consumable's stock level by the amount defined by the method. When reorder levels are hit the users are prompted to order new supplies, which will prevent them from running out of stock".
The new stock control solution also enables traceability of the consumables used to be associated with the analysis samples being processed. The system will not allow any consumables outside of their shelf life to be assigned to a method. The quality loop is effectively completed by being able to show for each sample tested, that the methods have been performed correctly and the consumables used, were in specification and within their shelf life.
The WinLims 'Out of the Box' solution combined with QSI's unique WinLims rental scheme provides the first true 'Off the Shelf' LIMS within the market place, making LIMS technology available to all companies at low cost and risk-free. Visit the Web