Polishing cloth helps keep optical faces of cuvettes pristine

The Starna Optical Polishing Cloth (OPC) helps laboratory technicians to maintain the quality of the optical faces of a cuvette, without fear of scratching or damaging the surface.

To enable precision spectrophotometry applications to produce highly accurate results there is a constant requirement to keep the optical faces of a cuvette clean and in a pristine condition at all times. Even the most basic of UV-Visible spectrophotometers are quite capable of measuring differences caused by micro-scratches, surface contamination, etc. not visible to the naked eye. For this reason, the inappropriate use of lens tissues, and/or abrasive or caustic cleaning agents will cause progressive chronic degradation, which again modern instruments are quite capable of compensating for, long after the cuvette should have been discarded.

The Starna Optical Polishing Cloth (OPC) helps keep optical faces of cuvettes pristine.

"Also, in this era of instrumental qualification and control, the day-to-day variation of a modern spectrophotometer pales into insignificance when one considers the effect of a fingerprint on the optical face," explained John Hammond, Starna's Technical and Marketing Manager. "

For the above reasons, a similar product to the OPC is routinely used by Starna's own technicians in all areas of the company's manufacturing facilities and within the Starna Certified Reference Material Calibration Laboratory", and is routinely issued as a complimentary product with our Pharmacopoeia compliance kits.

Starna is the only Certified Reference Material (CRM) producer accredited to both ISO Guide 34 and ISO/IEC 17025 in the UV/Visible/NIR spectral range.

The CRMs are essential for ISO/IEC accredited laboratories, pharmaceutical QA/QC or metrology departments enabling the provision of Operational Qualification (OQ) and Performance Qualification (PQ) of UV/Visible/NIR instrumentation using 'Industry Standard' protocols.

The Starna® Lifetime Guarantee is offered on all Starna® manufactured Certified Reference Materials (CRMs). The guarantee provides for a free of charge replacement should the assigned values move outside the expanded uncertainty budget within the recertification period of two years, subject to conditions of use/care and recertification by Starna at least every two years.

For further information, view website: www.starna.com or e-mail: sales@starna.com  Refer to page 253

Thermo Scientific Sorvall RC BIOS ensures sample safety

The Thermo Scientific Sorvall RC BIOS centrifuge system for high-speed, high-volume batch bioprocessing applications, integrates a six-litre Thermo Scientific Fiberlite carbon fibre rotor and true fit one-liter Thermo Scientific Nalgene bottles to achieve superior yields with faster processing time, making it ideal for bacterial and mammalian cell pelleting, large microbial cultures and harvesting cell and tissue cultures.

The Sorvall® RC BIOS centrifuge system can spin up to 15860 xg, significantly reducing cycle times. The smallest footprint available in its class and quiet performance make it ideal for convenient in-lab placement. The high-capacity centrifuge system has a power-saving design that reduces overall processing and development costs, and a robust refrigeration system ensure sample quality which, in turn, reduces lot-to-lot variability.

The Sorvall RC BIOS centrifuge features a robust, automated lid lock control that protects both users and samples while making opening and closing the system effortless. In addition, the new optional Thermo Scientific Centri-Log data collection software increases quality control, process traceability and component tracking for continued Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) compliance.

The Sorvall RC BIOS joins the complete range of Sorvall large-capacity centrifuges, including the recently released low-speed Thermo Scientific Sorvall RC 12BP Plus centrifuge for blood banking and additional bioprocessing applications. With a maximum capacity of 12 liters, the Sorvall RC 12BP Plus centrifuge can process up to 12 blood bag systems (up to 500 mL) or six 2000 mL Thermo Scientific Nalgene bio-bottles.

For further information, view website: www.thermoscientific.com/centrifuge   Refer to next page

Dolomite Droplet Collection Module allows full flexibility in droplet analysis

Dolomite, a world leader in microfluidic design and manufacture, has introduced the Mitos Droplet Collection Module allowing droplets to be transferred directly from a microfluidic chip to a vessel enabling emulsions to be collected, treated and analysed.

As part of the recently launched Droplet Collection System, the Mitos Droplet Collection Module can be used together with Dolomite's Droplet Junction Chips and Edge Connector 4-way. The droplets are ejected straight from the chip edge into bulk liquid. The microfluidic chip can be inserted into the top or bottom of the vessel allowing the collection of sinking or floating droplets without flow disruption or droplet coalescence, which can be an issue with some liquids on transfer from chip to tubing. Furthermore, the flat-sided quartz vessel enables optical analysis or UV curing of droplets to create polymeric microspheres, beads or particles for diagnostics and biotechnology immediately after formation. Easy to access for cleaning, the Droplet Collection Module provides excellent chemical resistance as well as an overflow port to remove excess carrier liquid.

Pictures show (right): Mitos Droplet Collection Module with a Droplet Junction Chip and Edge Connector, for collection of floating droplets. (left): Mitos Droplet Collection Module with a droplet Junction Chip and Edge Connector, for collection of sinking droplets.

The Dolomite Centre Limited
Established in 2005 as the world's first Microfluidic Application Centre, Dolomite focused on working with customers to turn their concepts for microfluidic applications into reality. Today, Dolomite is the world leader in solving microfluidic problems. With offices in the UK and US and distributors throughout the rest of the world, its clients range from universities developing leading-edge analytical equipment, to manufacturers of chemical, life sciences and clinical diagnostics systems.

Dolomite is pioneering the use of microfluidic devices for small-scale fluid control and analysis, enabling manufacturers to develop more compact, cost-effective and powerful instruments. By combining specialist glass, quartz and ceramic technologies with knowledge of high performance microfluidics, Dolomite is able to provide solutions for a broad range of application areas including environmental monitoring, clinical diagnostics, food and beverage, nuclear, agriculture, petrochemical, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Furthermore Dolomite's in-house micro-fabrication facilities that include clean rooms and precision glass processing facilities allow to prototype and test all solutions rapidly which ensures a faster development cycle and reduces the time to market.

For further information on Dolomite's range of Droplet Systems and the complete portfolio of microfluidic products, including connectors/interconnects, pumps, valves and pressure/flow rate sensors and custom devices, view website: www.dolomite-microfluidics.com   Refer to next page

SANYO's high capacity -150ºC freezer offers
significant advantages over liquid nitrogen systems

The SANYO MDF-C2156VAN freezer provides stable and highly uniform ultra-low temperatures for the long-term preservation of viable cells, tissue and biological material. Offering significant advantages compared with liquid nitrogen systems, this large capacity -150ºC freezer combines exceptional performance and durability with reduced energy consumption and quiet operation.

The MDF-C2156VAN incorporates patented third-generation VIP PLUS insulation panels, reducing the wall thickness from 175mm to 135mm. This achieves up to 25 per cent more storage capacity compared with a conventionally insulated freezer without increasing the footprint. The resulting capacity of 231 litres will accommodate up to 14,000 2ml cryo-tubes. In addition to the SANYO-developed insulation, a double lid gasket helps maintain internal temperature stability by preventing cold-air loss.

Compared to liquid nitrogen systems, the MDF-C2156VAN offers the advantages of lower running costs, greater ease of use and accessibility to stored samples, and no risk of contamination from liquid nitrogen. The freezer also provides uniform storage temperatures without the risks from sudden liquid nitrogen eruptions or splashing when samples are removed.

Equipped with Cool Safe compressors and SANYO's innovative cascade refrigeration system, the MDF-C2156VAN minimises energy use. The internal temperature is accurately controlled and monitored by an advanced microprocessor controller and specially designed graphic display. The LCD display with pop-up menus is easy to use and provides clear and concise information about freezer status and alarm notifications. A data-logging function records the internal temperature and lid openings greater than two minutes, allowing recent freezer performance to be viewed at a glance.

The Status Alert function continuously monitors ambient and system conditions and will notify the user of abnormalities before a problem occurs. For additional protection of valuable or irreplaceable samples, the freezer is equipped with a liquid nitrogen back-up system as standard, which allows connection to a separate supply vessel.

Preserving viable biological material below the -130ºC recrystallization point of water, the SANYO MDF-C2156VAN addresses the long-term storage requirements associated with stem cell research and cell therapy, regenerative medicine, biomedical research, and tissue and cell banks.

For further information, e-mail: sales.nl.seee@sanyo.com or view website: www.eu.sanyo.com/biomedical  Refer to page 276