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Wide Range of Reagent Reservoirs


Water Activity Meter Saves Time and Money for Charcuterie Producer


Labcell Ltd has supplied a Decagon Devices (Meter Group) AquaLab Pawkit portable water activity meter to Chiddingstone Farm for testing the salt-cured lamb, mutton, goat and venison that it produces.


Sending samples for laboratory analysis took days and incurred a cost each time. Now, with the Pawkit available at all times, cured meat can be tested and sliced immediately, then vacuum packed ready for sale.


Available in 96- and 384-well configurations, Porvair Sciences reagent reservoirs are designed for simple integration into any automated liquid handling system.


Reagent reservoirs provide an economical way to divide up reagents and wash stations on the deck of automated liquid handling systems. Made to the ANSI/SLAS standard, Porvair reagent reservoirs can be used with most liquid handlers and are fully automation compatible. By placing more than one reagent or wash station in each position, the overall size of the automation platform can be reduced, saving valuable bench space. Moulded from high-purity polypropylene, each Porvair reservoir tray offers high resistance to heat, as well as to most organic solvents, acids and bases.


When pipetting precious reagent, it is advantageous to reduce the waste or dead volume in the reservoir. Incorporating a low plate profile and a novel ‘pyramid bottom’ design, Porvair reservoir trays provide easy access to all liquid contents, as well as ensuring a low reagent dead volume (down to <7ul) for 96- and 384-well filling applications.


With a choice of over 20 working configurations, as well as liquid volumes, an optimised reservoir plate is available to suit liquid handling applications using eight or 12-channel pipettes right through to 96- and 384-tip automated pipetting systems.


For further information please visit https://www.porvair- sciences.com/reservoirs-1/.


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Environmental health officers and independent laboratories spell out the need to measure the water activity of cured meats for storing at ambient temperatures. The FSA (Food Standards Agency) also has guidelines covering water activity, pH, temperature and other factors relating to the production of cured meat products. While some producers still rely on shrinkage to indicate a reduction in moisture content, water activity is a far more reliable indication of food safety, as controlling water activity is vital in inhibiting microbial growth.


Making a measurement with the Pawkit is just a matter of opening the sensor cover, placing the Pawkit over a standard AquaLab sample cup and pressing a button. The result is ready within five minutes. Moreover, there is no need to operate the Pawkit in a laboratory environment, as it is sufficiently robust that it can be used in production areas.


Labcell is the sole UK distributor for the AquaLab Pawkit portable water activity meter. Go to www.labcell.com to contact Labcell for more information or to request a demonstration.


45816pr@reply-direct.com New 15 mL and 50 mL Conical Tubes Enables Better Sample Recovery


Eppendorf ‘s latest major innovation is the introduction of two Conical Tube versions; Protein LoBind and Amber.


The Protein LoBind Conical Tubes minimises the risk of non-specific protein and peptide samples sticking to the walls of the tubes. This ensures the best possible sample recovery, which is especially important when working with samples with low initial concentration.


The innovative material of the amber-coloured Conical Tubes is highly transparent, while at the same time effectively protecting the sample from low-wavelength light. This way, the pipette tip immersion can be safely monitored during liquid transfer, which helps avoid cross-contamination.


Further information can be found at www.eppendorf.com/conicals. 46453pr@reply-direct.com


New Website Supports Biological Sample Transport Compliance


Do you send away human or animal samples such as blood, urine, faeces or tissue for diagnostic, research or clinical trials purposes? Are you aware of the specific packaging requirements necessary for legal compliance with the UN3373 regulation for transport of these category B biological materials?


Now, a new website www.UN3373.co.uk from Alpha Laboratories Ltd, provides an excellent resource for advice and easy access to the appropriate materials to help ensure your samples are packaged correctly, in accordance with these strict regulations.


There are key requirements under UN3373 for primary sample containment, secondary and outer packaging. The website guides you through these, providing suitable options for a wide range of samples. In addition, whether your transportation is by road or air, the website provides clarity on suitable packaging to meet the ADR (road) or IATA (air) stipulations.


UN3373.co.uk is also a source of bespoke sample collection and transport solutions that can be custom designed for your specific specimen handling needs. From clinical trials, home test diagnostics, sexual health to screening kits these can include any components and be designed with your own branding and instructions for use.


Please visit www.un3373.co.uk for further information or contact Alpha Laboratories directly. 46473pr@reply-direct.com


Biological Decontamination of Newly Constructed Hospital’s Clinical Areas Completed


Bioquell have completed a 6-log decontamination of the key clinical areas within a newly constructed world class hospital, Sidra Medicine. This involved a suite of 12 operating theatres, sterile processing unit, paediatric and neonatal intensive care units and other high risk patient areas such as oncology and dialysis. Working alongside numerous departments at Sidra Medicine, the project was successfully completed within the allocated three-week time frame.


The process was validated with Bioquell’s 6-log Geobacillus stearothermophilus biological indicators as well as a third party air sampling procedure organised by Sidra Medicine. A 6-log reduction was achieved in all areas within the scope with 100% of the independent air sampling results being within the acceptable range.


Bioquell’s Rapid Bio-decontamination Service (RBDS) was chosen to establish a degree of sterility as high as practically possible within key areas. The company used its scientifically-proven Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour technology due to its ability to offer a scalable solution while maintaining a high efficacy standard.


The largest area of the hospital to be treated as a single zone was the operating theatre complex with a total volume of c.7000m3. This entire suite was decontaminated within one day using 32 of Bioquell’s Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour generators simultaneously to provide effective decontamination. Distribution fans were also used to disperse the vapour within specified zones, whilst Bioquell’s aeration units provided the capacity to quickly break down the vapour to complete the decontamination cycle rapidly.


Bioquell’s 6-log Geobacillus stearothermophilus spore biological indicators were placed in challenging locations within each area, as well as proprietary Bioquell chemical indicators designed to give a real-time verification of a successful bio-decontamination process. Biological indicators provide insight to the success of a cycle after a 24-hour incubation period, with final results available after seven days.


All areas decontaminated strictly adhered to Bioquell safety protocols with doors giving access to each target area sealed using Bioquell tape to prevent leaks, warning signs placed to prevent entry to the area during the cycle and calibrated low level sensors to continually monitor the perimeter of each area throughout the cycle. The sensors also ensure that the Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour concentration had fallen below the safety limits after the cycle was complete.


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LABMATE UK & IRELAND - JULY 2018


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