The latest Technical Hichrom Chromatography Columns and Supplies Catalogue (v9) contains a wealth of valuable information and advice for the chromatographer and features over 100 LC column brands and 35 chromatography suppliers.

In addition to HPLC, UHPLC and superficially porous particle columns, the latest catalogue contains details of SFC, GC, SPE, TLC, Flash, CE, LC-MS and GC-MS products. Vials, syringe filters, tubing, fittings and other chromatography accessories are also included. This catalogue includes a comprehensive and invaluable technical summary section with a wide range of LC and LC related topics, plus detailed overviews on C1 to C30 columns and Polar Embedded, Wide Pore, HIC, Phenyl, PFP, Polar Bonded, HILIC, Silica, Ion-Exchange, SEC, Affinity and Chiral phases, all with helpful column recommendations.

Drawing upon a wealth of experience of working with a wide range of 3D cell culture procedures and formats - AMSBIO has produced an extensive 48-page handbook for research scientists looking to culture cells in more physiologically relevant environments.

Over the past two decades, many researchers have actively sought ways to culture cells in 3D. The conclusion reached by many researchers is that there is no single optimal solution, each cell type needs a different environment and many biological processes may need specific methods to study them. Leading the field in the provision of solutions for 3D Cell Culture, AMSBIO’s scientists have distilled the best technologies into a useful guide....

The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) has released an updated edition of Nucleic Acid Sequencing Methods in Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine.

Approved Guideline—Second Edition (MM09-A2) and published a new document entitled Microarrays for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Infectious Diseases; Approved Guideline (MM22-A). MM09-A2 addresses diagnostic sequencing using both automated capillary-based sequencers and massively parallel sequencing instruments. Topics in this guideline include specimen collection and handling; isolation and extraction of nucleic acid; template preparation; sequence generation, alignment, and assembly; validation and verification; ongoing quality assurance; and reporting results...

In Print, PDF and Interactive Mobile Versions

Chromatographers can now use the latest interactive mobile technology, in addition to standard print and on-line catalogs, to access the comprehensive portfolio of chromatography columns, consumables and accessories from Thermo Fisher Scientific. 656 pages of product listings are organized into four sections: Sample Preparation, Sample Handling, GC Columns & Consumables, and LC Columns & Accessories....

Porvair Sciences' has produced an informative new guide entitled ‘Top 10 tips for positive ChIP results’.

The success of a Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay is highly dependent on the quality of chromatin prepared.  Written by scientists with many years experience of ChIP, the new 8-page document provides an informative 10-point illustrated guide to help you improve your ChIP assay results. ChIP is a commonly used immunprecipitation technique for mapping the DNA-protein interactions in cells which are crucial for correct gene regulation. In a ChIP assay  DNA-protein complexes (Chromatin) are selectively immunoprecipitated using....

Microbiology company Lab M has made its comprehensive Product Guide available as a digital flip book or a pdf download, as well as offering printed versions for those who prefer to access a hard copy in the laboratory.

The latest additions to Lab M’s portfolio are featured in the guide. These include the new µPREP™ Buffered Peptone Water (ISO), the first in a line of bagged, sterile dehydrated culture media that are made ready to use simply by adding water. Designed for high throughput laboratories where speed, convenience and cost-effectiveness are paramount, and where storage space is at a premium, µPREP™ media are reconstituted and ready for use in minutes....

The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) has released a new quality management systems standard on laboratory internal audit programs.

A laboratory audit program is critical to ensuring laboratories meet applicable requirements for quality system essentials assessments. QMS15-A—Laboratory Internal Audit Program; Approved Guideline provides guidance for how a laboratory can establish an internal audit program to enhance the quality of its services through continual improvement. Whereas an audit program defines the “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” and “how” of meeting requirements for internal auditing, the audit process describes the details of how to conduct individual laboratory internal audits...

FLIR Systems has produced an informative guide entitled '7 Things to Know When Selecting an IR Camera for Research & Development'.

Every day researchers around the world are looking for new methods to help them solve their scientific questions. Infrared thermography has proven to be an invaluable tool in solving a wide variety of scientific problems based on heat and temperature measurement. Because of their non-intrusive analysis capabilities, thermography systems have become the defacto standard methodology for a growing range of Research & Development applications. In Research & Development - thermal imaging cameras are widely used for capturing thermal distribution data and recording temporal variations in real time....

Porvair Sciences' product catalogue for 2013-2014 is packed with vital information on the company's wide range of microplates, plate sealers and microplate evaporators to help you get the best from your separations, assays and storage applications.

Socorex releases its 2014 general catalogue marking its company’s 50th anniversary.

The new edition features a large manufacturing programme, including the exceptional Calibrex™ organo and solutae bottle-top dispensers. Made of sturdy materials, well thought out in terms of innovative functions and metrological performance, the new Calibrex line has rapidly and successfully proven itself in the hands of demanding scientists....

For 55 years, Fluid Metering, Inc. has been providing their unique valveless, ceramic piston pump design for precision fluid control in Laboratory, Process, and Industrial applications. 

In addition, FMI’s miniature OEM pumps have proven ideal for micro-volume fluid control in analytical, medical, and process analyzers and instrumentation. FMI’s newly released 2014 Full Line Catalog contains new products as well as expanded flow and configuration information.  FMI’s New “Intelligent” Programmable Pump is a compact stepper pump with integral programmable driver electronics.....

Global IT spending will increase at a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6% to reach $40.8bn by 2017, predicts Ovum.

According to new figures from the global analyst firm, highest growth will be in the Asia-Pacific region, in the small to mid-sized enterprise subsector, and in the BI and analytics solution area. In its latest Global Life Sciences IT spending forecast* Ovum reveals that the increase in IT spending will be fuelled in large part by the growth in data analysis and related technologies, the acquisition of systems to comply with new regulatory requirements, and increased spending on applications that advance operating efficiency and automation. Asia-Pacific will continue to...

Titan Enterprises has produced an informative illustrated guide to help simplify the process of identifying and selecting the best type of small bore flowmeter (< 0.5-inch / 12.5mm bore) for a particular application.

Achieving optimal performance from small bore flowmeters has very different challenges to those faced when using larger diameter meters. As the flows are lower, less energy is available in the liquid to convert to mechanical movement. The liquid is often running in the laminar flow region and viscosity and boundary layer effects become very important....

Link Technologies provides key protocols for oligonucleotide synthesis and modification 

Link Technologies Ltd, an ISO 9001:2008 certified specialist oligonucleotide reagent manufacturer, is providing scientists with a complete resource for oligonucleotide synthesis and modification. Spanning the breadth of oligo chemistry, the Link Technologies 2013/14 Product Guide leads users through practical methods and application-based advice for total assurance in reagent selection and performance of the resulting oligos....

Asynt in conjunction with the Department of Chemistry, University of St Andrews (UK) and Advanced Chemical Safety Inc. (USA) have produced an 8-page illustrated document to provide laboratory staff with an IN BEST PRACTICE GUIDE to safe use of heating block systems.

Heating blocks provide a safe, convenient and productive alternative to heating mantles and oil baths for heating round bottomed flasks, tubes and vials. Used in combination with a standard hotplate stirrer - heating blocks such as the Asynt DrySyn range have proved themselves with their ability to outperform the heat-conducting properties of oil baths....

Harvard professor explains how to programme complex oligo structures for new applications 

The quarterly newsletter DECODED, from Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) explores the work of Dr Pen Yin, assistant professor of systems biology at Harvard Medical School, who is harnessing the base pairing properties of DNA to create 3D structures of “DNA bricks”. This new nano-construction technique is based on short DNA oligos, which assemble at right-angles to interlocking sequences, forming 3D units. With such a heavy dependency on oligonucleotide quality, Dr Yin has relied on IDT. These DNA bricks are inspiring many future applications, such as catalysts and drug compounds, and can eventually be used to create electrical circuit boards on the nanometer scale...

Neutrophils are a vital part of the body’s immune system.

Recognized as the most abundant type of white blood cell present in human blood, neutrophils function primarily as the body’s first line of defense against infection and inflammation. Within minutes of stimulation, neutrophils migrate from the blood to tissue where they accumulate at sites of infection. One of the most common lab tests ordered on a regular basis is the counting of neutrophils in the blood (absolute neutrophil count)...

OGT provides insight on NGS enrichment optimisation

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), provider of innovative genetics research and biomarker solutions to advance molecular medicine, has produced a free whitepaper titled ‘The importance of enrichment assay choice and optimisation for confident variant detection.’ The paper investigates the main strategies employed to optimise target enrichment for next generation sequencing (NGS) assays, assisting researchers to make informed decisions when designing studies...

Autoscribe has published a new case study that shows how Thornton & Ross has improved its QC laboratory efficiency using the Matrix Gemini Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

Thornton & Ross Ltd is the largest independent pharmaceutical manufacturer in the UK. Its QC laboratory has an important function in both raw material evaluation and in production and this can significantly impact overall manufacturing performance. Thornton and Ross identified the need for a LIMS capable of controlling, managing, organising, documenting, analysing and reporting information, since increasing volumes of laboratory test data were overwhelming existing practices. Matrix Gemini was installed to manage data for a wide range of analytical techniques for both the raw materials and finished products teams...

The new 5th edition of BCPC’s Manual of Biocontrol Agents – a toolbox for biocontrol and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – was launched as an online resource at the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM), in Basel, Switzerland in October.

“In my lifetime the world population has doubled and it is forecast to double again by 2050,” explains editor, Dr Roma Gwynn. “Alongside many other issues, this increase puts tremendous pressure on farmable land, requiring a doubling in output per unit area. If we are to conserve biological resources and ensure food security in a sustainable way, we need to use the best crop protection technology and methods available. Integrated Pest Management – including the use of biological control agents such as macro-organisms, micro-organisms, botanicals and semiochemicals – will play an important part, and it is encouraging that demand for and availability of these technologies is increasing rapidly...

Recognising both the importance and complexity of specifying a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) prior to purchase, Autoscribe has published a comprehensive (29 page) User Requirements

Check List to help with the assessment of each LIMS vendor and to fully understand how each vendor meets the specific user requirements.  Equally suitable for first time buyers and those looking for a replacement LIMS, this free document is available on request. The check list ranges from commercial to system support issues. Consideration is given to programming and coding responsibilities, system configuration/customisation and user access and security. There is a thorough review of functionality, including: sample/work registration, sample receipt, sample preparation, work scheduling and result entry. There are sections concerning static data tables, reporting, and options...

Updated Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology Document on Measurement Procedures for the Determination of Lead Concentrations in Blood and Urine

The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) has published a new version of C40-A2—Measurement Procedures for the Determination of Lead Concentrations in Blood and Urine; Approved Guideline—Second Edition. C40-A2 is intended for members of the clinical laboratory testing community involved in the collection and measurement of lead in blood and urine. C40-A2 provides direction for specimen collection, measurement by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, anodic stripping voltammetry, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. It includes guidelines for quality assurance and quality control, as well as information on proficiency testing programs and laboratory certification. This edition of the document addresses the clinical significance of lead concentrations < 10 μg/dL (0.48 μmol/L)...