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In the News this Week: DNA Barcoding Detects Contamination, the Advantages of Aptamers & Atomic Spectroscopy Innovations

SelectScience
8 May 2014
Sarah Thomas
Associate Editor

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Read our top news stories from this week:

Supplement Contamination – DNA Barcoding Detects Contamination and Substitution
According to a recent publication in the British Medical Journal, the adulteration of herbal products is commonplace and could be problematic for consumer health. This SelectScience article discusses the study which used a sequencing technique called DNA barcoding to investigate product integrity and authenticity of herbal supplements.

Antibodies Are Good but Aptamers Can Be Better
Aptamers are oligonucleic acids that bind to a specific target molecule. These ssDNA/ssRNA ligands have demonstrated comparable affinity and specificity but benefits such as smaller size, stability, and synthetic nature make them more optimal in many research and diagnostic applications.

First Pipetting Workstation to Provide Simultaneous, Multiple Tube Decapping and Recapping
Hamilton Robotics has launched the Decapping Microlab® STAR Workstation, a fully automated tube tracking, decapping and recapping workstation that offers up to eight decapping modules for safe and secure sample preparation.

Innovative Atomic Spectroscopy Offerings
PerkinElmer Inc., has announced the launch of the NexION® 350 Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS), its newest atomic spectroscopy product and Syngistix™ for ICP-MS Software, its next generation atomic spectroscopy software platform, designed to enhance the efficiency of elemental analysis and provide more accurate detection of nanoparticles.

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Atomic Absorption / Emission SpectroscopyAtomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) — also called optical emission spectroscopy (OES) — are used to detect the elemental constituents in samples. Both techniques involve the atomization of a sample. Atomic absorption spectrometers may use a flame or furnace to create an atomic vapor of the sample before irradiation with spectral light. Optical emission spectrometers may use a flame, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), microwave plasma (MP) or spark arcs to atomize and excite the sample. At higher excitation energies, electrons can be emitted instead of photons, which can be useful for samples that can’t be atomized and for surface analysis. Explore electron spectroscopy equipment such as Auger spectrometers and photoelectron spectrometers for surface elemental analysis of samples. Find the best atomic absorption, photoelectron and optical emission spectrometers in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.HematologyIn Haematology / Hematology, complete blood cell counts (or full blood counts) are obtained using automated blood count analyzers to enumerate blood cell types.  Hematology also encompasses haemostasis and coagulation, thrombophilia and hemophilia, plasma viscosity and ESR analysis, hemoglobinopathies, cell morphology and haematinic measurement.ImmunologyImmunological techniques measure and characterize immune responses. Immunology kits and analysis systems often use techniques such as ELISA, radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunodiffusion assays, Immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Immunologists use equipment such as flow Cytometers, plate readers, plate washers and fluorescent microscopes.Robotic WorkstationsRobotic workstations are automated platforms enabling the user to perform high-throughput, multi-application processes, from sample preparation tasks such as PCR set-up, DNA purification and NGS library preparation, to integrated sample prep and analysis workstations. Automation makes processes consistent, fast, precise and fully walk-away. Find the best robotic workstations in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Clinical ChemistryBiochemistry (or clinical chemistry) involves the analysis of bodily fluids using chemical tests. Techniques used include HPLC, chromatography, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, immunochemical, electrophoresis, turbidometric / spectrophotometric assay, MRI and ISE analysis. Tests are often carried out on plasma or serum but urine (urinalysis) and fecal specimens are also processed.Food and Beverage AnalyzersFood and Beverage Analyzers are commonly used to provide information about the chemical composition, structure and physical properties of food materials.Food TestingFood testing refers to a variety experiments including PCR, mass spectrometry, processing, QuEChERS, analyzing and Kjeldahl.AptamersDietary Supplements

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In the News this Week: DNA Barcoding Detects Contamination, the Advantages of Aptamers & Atomic Spectroscopy Innovations