60 CE Mark for HbA1c Diabetes Diagnosis Test Achieved


The Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics DCA HbA1c test kit, already widely used to monitor diabetes patients’ HbA1c levels, has achieved the CE mark as an aid to diagnose diabetes and identify patients at risk from developing the disease. Available for use on Siemens’ DCA systems, including the DCA Vantage® Analyser, the test kit now provides clinicians with a streamlined solution that delivers fast, accurate results in a range of environments from doctor surgeries to hospitals and clinics. With diabetes currently affecting more than 55 million people across Europe, the benefits of using haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing to measure average blood glucose levels in the management and treatment of patients with confirmed diabetes is well established. Recently, the medical community has recognised the clinical utility of HbA1c testing in the disease’s diagnosis.


With the Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics DCA HbA1c test, only a small (1µL) whole blood finger stick sample is needed, enabling clinicians to identify at-risk patients within minutes, review test results and discuss early intervention and disease management options during the same patient visit. This reduces the need


for follow-up visits and improves patient care through a simple-to-use tool.


“When not diagnosed or managed properly, diabetes can have devastating health consequences,” stated Hilda Crockett, Business Manager, Point of Care at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. “Siemens is committed to equipping clinicians with a highly precise and accurate method to aid diagnosing diabetes to help them intervene early in the management of at-risk patients.”


Diabetes should be diagnosed when HbA1c values are greater than or equal to 6.5%, per guidelines from the International Expert Committee. Also, according to the 2012 ‘Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes,’ the ADA reports that HbA1c values between 5.7 and 6.4% may identify individuals with high risk for future diabetes, a state that may be referred to as prediabetes.


Since 1991, the Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics DCA HbA1c test has been used for monitoring diabetes patients’ HbA1c levels, and its effectiveness is documented in over 140 publications. It is aimed that the dual purpose DCA HbA1c test kit will be available in Europe for the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes during the second quarter of 2013.


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Launch of Immunomagnetic Separation Product for the Isolation of E. coli O104


Particle Size Analyser Shows Multi-Parameter Capabilities for Catalyst Optimisation


A new application note on the Malvern Instruments’ website discusses the criticality of particle size in the development and production of heterogeneous catalyst materials, and presents data to demonstrate the utility of the Mastersizer 3000 particle size analyser in achieving optimum reactivity.


Not only does the Mastersizer 3000 accurately determine particle size distribution for a wide range of catalyst materials, it also uses the laser diffraction measurement to calculate specific surface area.


And uniquely it offers the ability to predict attrition rate in a fluidised bed from dry powder measurements at different pressures. Download ‘Particle size analysis of catalysts’ at www.malvern.com/catalyst


Heterogeneous describes a catalyst that is present in one phase (a solid) with the reactants in another (liquid or gas). For this type of catalyst, the reaction rate depends on the specific surface area of the solid material as this defines the available contact area between catalyst and reactants. Decreasing the particle size of a catalyst in order to increase specific surface area is often a beneficial strategy for improving its reactivity.


Lab M has launched Captivate™ O104, an important new addition to its established range of immunomagnetic separation (IMS) products.


Captivate™ O104 is designed to meet the increasing need to rapidly test fresh sprouted seeds for the presence of E. coli O104.


Captivate™ O104 is used in the isolation of E. coli O104 (including E. coli O104:H4) from food, animal feed, and environmental samples.


While E. coli O104:H4 is generally quite rare in humans, in 2011 it was responsible for a serious outbreak of illness in Europe associated with the consumption of fresh sprouted seeds, prompting calls for tighter rules on testing.


One of the challenges with E. coli O104:H4 is that it is biochemically ambiguous and therefore difficult to isolate from other STEC strains using conventional culture methods.


IMS is the only procedure that makes specific isolation of E. coli O104 possible in a way that results in a viable microbiological culture.


Lab M’s expertise in immunomagnetic separation dates back many years and Captivate™ is one of the company’s best selling product ranges around the world.


As well as producing specific sets of antibody-coated paramagnetic particles for separating targeted microorganisms, the company also offers a highly respected consultancy and custom coating service.


MORE INFO. 172


However, a smaller particle size can be problematic. In some reactions a catalyst with particles that are too fine can cause a number of problems, ranging from health and safety issues due to dust formation through to loss of reactivity through uncontrolled agglomeration. Balancing the efficacy of the catalyst with reducing any risks of having a small particle size means that there is usually an optimum particle size range for a given catalyst.


The Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction particle size analyser delivers rapid, accurate particle size distributions for both wet and dry dispersions with the minimum of effort, bringing operator-independent measurements that every user can rely on. It measures over a wide dynamic range from 0.01 - 3500µm and packs this exceptional performance into the smallest of footprints.


Of particular value for the study of catalyst attrition is the power and precision of the integral Aero dry dispersion engine which enables very close control of the dispersion conditions applied. This enables researchers to gain real insight into the propensity of different catalysts to break down during processing.


MORE INFO. 171


Advanced Laboratory Autoclaves


Tuttnauer laboratory autoclaves provide high quality repeatable performance and accountability for a wide range of applications used in modern laboratories, which include: liquid sterilisation (using flexible PT100 probes) with various cooling options; pipette and glass sterilisation; instrument sterilisation (wrapped or unwrapped); biohazard and waste sterilisation; agar preparation.


Available as vertical (top loading) and benchtop (space saving) autoclaves with chamber sizes from 23 to 160 litres, with fast cooling, efficient drying, biohazard and waste sterilisation, and Fo control.


Tuttnauer's autoclaves successfully meet the challenges in today’s laboratories with a flexible range of features and sophisticated control system.


The controller is highly flexible supporting 10 fixed and 20 customisable cycle programs with optional pre and post vacuum features, a cleaning cycle and other advanced cycle programs. The attractive colour display is designed to be easy to use and understand resulting in exceptional user experience.


R.PC.R Software (optional) enables automatic recording of cycle data to your PC, convenient access to graphs, tables and parameters, easily generate PDF reports and soft-copy of cycle print-outs. R.PC.R enables real-time remote monitoring where you can see the real-time autoclave display on your PC, for up to 8 autoclaves.


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INTERNATIONAL LABMATE - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013


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