In the News This Week: State-of-the-Art Food Testing, Monitoring Food-Borne Disease & Scientists’ Choice Awards

29 May 2014
Sarah Thomas
Associate Editor

Product news

Read our top news stories from this week:

First Fluorimetric Assay for Measuring Glutaminyl Cyclase Activity
AnaSpec is pleased to announce the release of the first commercially available 96-well format, fluorimetric assay for measuring Glutaminyl Cyclase (QC) activity - the SensoLyte® Green Glutaminyl Cyclase Activity Assay Kit.

Monitoring Food-Borne Disease Outbreaks in the U.S.
Sonia Nicholas, Clinical Diagnostics Editor, interviews John Besser, PhD, Deputy Chief, Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch, CDC. Read the article to find out more about the PulseNet network, its role in identifying foodborne disease outbreaks, and current and future challenges facing the laboratories.

State-of the-Art, Full Service Analytical Food Testing
Bioo Scientific’s Lab Testing Group offers full service testing for contaminants in complex food matrices using state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and analytical testing methods, including high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis and ELISA.

SelectScience Opens Nominations for the Scientists' Choice Best New Clinical Laboratory Product of the Year 2013
SelectScience is inviting laboratory scientists and point-of-care professionals to nominate products for the best new Clinical Laboratory Product of the Year 2013. The Scientists’ Choice Awards create the opportunity for laboratory scientists to nominate and vote for the diagnostic product which they feel has most significantly contributed to the work of clinical laboratories.

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AutosamplersAutosamplers are automated sample loaders used with a number of separation and analytical techniques. HPLC autosamplers use automated partial or full-loop injection systems and place samples in vials or microplates for analysis. Autosamplers can also be used for elemental analysis. Features to consider include repeatability, syringe capacity, footprint and temperature controls.  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.AntibodiesAntibodies are used in techniques such as confocal and fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistochemistry, western blotting and immunopreciptation. Select specific antigen reactivity, high specific affinity, low non-specific binding, monoclonal or polyclonal, primary or secondary antibodies and associated conjugates such as an enzyme or dye for visualization.MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. Microorganisms commonly grow readily in incubators with microbial culture media; this can contain chromogenic supplements to differentiate between cell lines. Estimate your culture’s density of microorganisms with colony counters, or screen and select colonies for desirable clones with automated colony pickers. Additionally, equipment is available to monitor environments for the presence of microbes and identify with microbial identification instruments. Find the best microbiology products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Robotic InstrumentsRobotic instruments can be used for high-throughput automation of many lab processes. Such processes use instruments for assays like cell based assays and ELISA, for sample preparation like shakers, centrifuges and incubators, and for analysis such as sequencing and western blot analyzers. Useful features of robotic instruments include speed, reproducibility, barcode readers, software and automation.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 MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. Microorganisms commonly grow readily in incubators with microbial culture media; this can contain chromogenic supplements to differentiate between cell lines. Estimate your culture’s density of microorganisms with colony counters, or screen and select colonies for desirable clones with automated colony pickers. Additionally, equipment is available to monitor environments for the presence of microbes and identify with microbial identification instruments. Find the best microbiology products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell AnalysisThe analysis of cells allows researchers to understand the factors which contribute to cell health and function. These influencing processes can then be predicted and altered, leading to the development of medication and disease treatments.Food FraudFood adulteration refers to food when it has been has been altered unlawfully with the addition of another lower commodity food product to increase quantity. The 2013 European horsemeat scandal saw the adulteration of beef products with the addition of horse meat.
In the News This Week: State-of-the-Art Food Testing, Monitoring Food-Borne Disease & Scientists’ Choice Awards