The HistoMailer, developed by the Mayo
Clinic and refined for commercialization by
BioCision, ensures simple, reliable transfer of
tissue samples from the clinic to the laboratory

BioCision, LLC has launched a new product - the HistoMailer - for safely sending tissue blocks for laboratory analysis.  The HistoMailer represents the first in a series of products designed to specifically address the need for safe, reliable transfer of samples between laboratories.

"We immediately recognized the need for a reliable tool to ship paraffin-embedded tissue blocks, which can melt during transport if not packaged correctly," said Hugh Douglas, BioCision's Chief Operating Officer.   "The HistoMailer is a great fit with our expanding product portfolio of integrated solutions for biomedical sample handling from preparation to shipping. In the coming months, we will be introducing additional products to serve the specific tissue processing needs of clinical histology and pathology labs."

The HistoMailer was originally developed by technicians at Mayo Medical Laboratories, which receives approximately 30,000 specimens per day from hospitals across the country.  According to Mayo Clinic Operations Coordinator Jeff Wills, "The HistoMailer provides end users with a value add when transporting lab specimens.  The container is a full--circle tool, from start to finish and provides Mayo with the opportunity to become more green.   Mayo's Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology is currently using the technology, along with over one-thousand users across our client base."   Wills is also an inventor of the HistoMailer technology.

"Working with leading academic institutions to develop new tools and products is an important part of BioCision's overall strategy to best serve biomedical researchers and clinicians," said BioCision's CEO Rolf Ehrhardt, MD, PhD.

BioCision specializes in benchtop products that ensure consistency, reproducibility and standardization of laboratory samples, with applications in drug discovery, and basic and clinical research. Users benefit from high sample reproducibility and consistency - experiment to experiment, lab to lab and research/clinical site to site.

Mayo Clinic and Mr. J. Willis have a financial interest in the technology referenced in this news release. 

BioCision in profile
BioCision®, headquartered in Mill Valley, CA, is committed to the standardization of pre-analytical sample handling.  They are the leading global developer of benchtop sample and assay management tools that enable collection, organization, protection, freezing, thawing, cooling and cryopreservation of samples in a consistent and highly reproducible manner. BioCision's patent-pending line of benchtop tools include CoolRack®, CoolSink™ and CoolTray™ thermo-conductive tube and plate modules; CoolBox™ ice-free portable cooling/freezing containers; CoolCell® alcohol-free maintenance-free cell freezing containers; and accessories.

For further information, view website: www.biocision.com  Refer to page 248

SANYO's H2O2 system completes CO2
incubator decontamination in less than 3 hours

SANYO's unique hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination option provides complete decontamination while limiting incubator downtime to less than three hours - an industry first. The automated H2O2 cycle protects user safety and can be validated, if desired, ensuring compliance with the highest cGMP, GLP and GRP standards.

Available with SANYO's MCO-19AIC CO2 and MCO-19M multi-gas incubators, the H2O2 system enables full decontamination and incubator cleaning to be completed in less than a morning, achieving significant time savings compared with standard heat decontamination methods. As this is a low temperature process there is no heat stress on electrical components and zero impact on adjacent equipment and the surrounding environment.

This easy-to-use high-speed vaporised H2O2 process provides total chamber decontamination. All interior components and the CO2 sampling loop are decontaminated in situ, bypassing the need for a separate autoclave cycle. Following a 7-minute H2O2 vaporization, the UV lamp switches on for 90 minutes, reducing the H2O2 to water vapour and oxygen. The incubator's interior fan circulates air throughout the chamber during the entire cycle. As the H2O2 system is fully verified as a method of decontamination it is especially suitable for use in highly demanding pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications, such as monoclonal antibody production.

User safety is given high priority, with the incubator automatically locked during the decontamination cycle. Should a power failure occur, the H2O2 breakdown process is started from the beginning, eliminating any possible hazard. In case of a UV lamp failure, the incubator remains automatically locked to allow for natural breakdown of the H2O2_.

The H2O2 incubator decontamination system complements SANYO's patented SafeCell UV treatment of interior airflow and exclusive InCu saFe copper-enriched stainless steel interior incubator surfaces. These continuous Active Background Contamination Control features give constant germicidal protection while cell culture protocols are in process.

For further information, e-mail: sales.nl.seee@sanyo.com or view website: www.eu.sanyo.com/biomedical  Refer to page 244

Thermo Scientific immunoassay plate guide
is a searchable tool for diagnostic applications

Thermo Scientific's new immunoassay plate guide is a keyword rich, fully searchable online resource, as well as in a tablet PC format. As a result of the keyword driven content, you can simply type a phrase into the search box to pull out all relevant sections. Furthermore, the interactive guide allows you to navigate through the pages using click button arrows, or by typing the specified page number into the page window. You can also click directly on the contents page titles to be taken instantly to the desired page and insert virtual sticky notes to keep track of your thoughts. The user-friendly tablet PC format incorporates all of the same functionality, which is accessible on the move.

Providing in-depth detail on the range of Thermo Scientific Nunc immunoassay plates, the immunoassay plate guide provides an easy to use laboratory resource. For sensitive protocols, it is essential that you match the correct plate type to your assay to ensure that accurate, reproducible results are obtained for downstream analysis. 

For further information on the complete portfolio of Nunc™ immunoassay plate formats, and to download the immunoassay plate guide, view the company's website: www.thermoscientific.com/oemdiagnostics  Refer to next page

Dolomite and Clearbridge BioMedics develop
revolutionary instrument for cancer detection

Microfluidics expert, Dolomite, are collaborating with Clearbridge BioMedics in the development of a novel instrument capable of detecting and isolating Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs) from small quantities of whole, unprocessed blood.

The innovative ClearCell™ System can isolate, enumerate and most importantly retrieve wholly intact and viable CTCs from patient whole blood. Benefiting a broad range of application areas including molecule analysis, cancer diagnostics and cancer treatment decisions, this revolutionary instrument also paves the way for personalised cancer medication for patients.

Speaking of this success, Andrew Lovatt, the CEO of Dolomite, says, "We are excited to be working with an innovative company like Clearbridge BioMedics. The collaboration is an excellent example of how Dolomite is able to help start-up companies productize science. By combining the cutting edge scientific research of Clearbridge BioMedics and National University of Singapore with the proven track record in product development of Dolomite, both companies have leveraged their expertise to gain early traction in the novel field of automated capture of viable CTCs. We are looking forward to extending our partnership beyond research tools and into the clinical diagnostic domain."

"We see microfluidics playing an increasing key role in many Companion Diagnostics and In-Vitro Diagnostics devices. Dolomite has demonstrated that they are indeed a leader in this field, and we look forward to developing our future platform devices and systems together", commented Johnson Chen, Managing Director of Clearbridge BioMedics.

For further information on Dolomite's instrument development solutions as well as the complete portfolio of microfluidic products including chips, connectors/ interconnects, pumps, valves and custom devices view website: www.dolomite-microfluidics.com 

Labtech is appointed to drive global sales and
marketing support for the G-Storm's PCR machines

Leading distributor of life science instrumentation, Labtech International Limited, has agreed a formal arrangement to provide a global sales and marketing support service for the innovative G-Storm range of PCR machines that target the international life science research marketplace. 

The agreement allows the UK-based manufacturer of the G-Storm range of PCR machines, Agilegene Technologies, to focus solely on engineering and software development of future products.

With 19 years of sales and marketing experience in the life science instrumentation sector, Labtech International is well equipped to offer G-Storm's global distributors and customers a high quality sales support service.

Providing a new benchmark of thermal cycler excellence, the G-Storm range of thermal cyclers is purpose built to meet the demands of cutting edge molecular biology.  All the G-Storm systems are designed with the scientist in mind and deliver superb thermal performance characteristics.  The G-Storm touch-screen user interface is easy to use and makes programming, file management and cycler control a simple process.

"To mark the implementation of this new global sales and marketing initiative G-Storm's new thermal cycler product range is to be launched using a striking new livery," explained Labtech International's Marketing Communications Manager, Kirstie Bean "The new solid black styling will be a key element of the upcoming 'Back to Black' sales and marketing campaign".

Labtech International Limited in profile
Based in Ringmer, Sussex, Labtech International Limited is a foremost distributor of life science instrumentation in the United Kingdom and France.  Representing many major manufacturers on an exclusive basis Labtech International Limited provide exceptional technical, applications and service support together with personal service that ensures a high level of customer satisfaction. Committed to continuous development of products and services, Labtech International Limited endeavours to provide significant added value for its customers at all levels.

For further information, e-mail: sales@labtech.com or view website: www.labtech.com