Visitors to this year’s Biennial National Atomic Spectroscopy Symposium (BNASS) at the University of Sussex are invited to a demonstration of the latest direct mercury analysis equipment from leading instrumentation specialists Quantitech.

The company, now the exclusive distributor of Teledyne Leeman Labs in the UK, will be exhibiting the latest range of ICP Spectrometers and Automated Mercury Analysers in Brighton, on July 7-9.

Dr Gareth Pearson will present a paper in the poster section of the event, on ‘Direct Mercury Analysis using the Hydra C’. He explained: “The Hydra C is easy to use and portable. Visitors to BNASS will have the opportunity to see this instrument, new to the UK market, first hand.”

The Hydra C can provide results for solid or liquid samples in just five minutes without the need of hazardous and time consuming sample preparation. It is suitable for a wide range of applications and sample types with universal calibration.

Since the first meeting in 1982, BNASS has gained an international reputation as the United Kingdom's premier meeting in the field of atomic spectroscopy. The aims of BNASS are to promote and encourage developments in both fundamental and applied atomic spectroscopy by providing a friendly environment where delegates can meet to exchange results, views and ideas. Come and see Gareth at Quantitech’s stand throughout BNASS.

For further information please visit www.quantitech.co.uk or www.bnass.org.


For further information, please contact:
Quantitech Ltd
Unit 3
Old Wolverton Road
Milton Keynes
MK12 5NP
t. 01908 227722
f. 01908 227733
Email sales@quantitech.co.uk

How simple can Mercury Analysis be?

QUANTITECH is running a roadshow in which Dr Gareth Pearson will visit sites around the UK to give free practical demonstrations and training on the HYDRA-C, a fully automated mercury analyser for the rapid direct analysis of liquid or solid samples. Simply weigh your sample and run! Anyone with an interest in this offer should email Dr Pearson on gp@quantitech.co.uk

Commenting on the launch of the Hydra-C, Dr Gareth Pearson says “We are very excited about the potential of this product. The instrument has been designed with simplicity in mind and is significantly more user-friendly than cold vapour liquid-based techniques. Additionally it is truly capable of lab or field based operation being fully portable and incorporating a modular ergonomic design.”

Sample loading is simplified with the self-registering autosampler. This allows unattended operation, sample loading during analysis and automatic sample weight entry (with an optional on-line balance).

The versatile Windows® based software has automated scheduled maintenance to ensure trouble free operation and is 21CFR 11 compliant, providing password protected access control electronic signatures, audit trail and data integrity.

The Hydra-C achieves superior analytical performance with an extremely low detection limit of 0.005 ng Hg and extended dynamic range. It employs thermal decomposition, to evolve the mercury, and dual range atomic absorption detection. Auto scale change is achieved with low and high sensitivity optical cells. THE HYDRA-C avoids lengthy and hazardous sample pre-treatment. No corrosive chemicals are used and no hazardous waste is produced.


Further information is available from Gareth Pearson by Email gp@quantitech.co.uk or Telephone 01908 227722.

For further information, please contact:
Quantitech Ltd
Unit 3
Old Wolverton Road
Milton Keynes
MK12 5NP
t. 01908 227722
f. 01908 227733
Email sales@quantitech.co.uk

Multiple choices for biodiesel testing


Offering a range of equipment from portable instruments to laboratory analysers, leading analytical company Quantitech believes it has the perfect solution for almost any biodiesel testing requirement.

According to HM Revenue and Customs, sales of biodiesel last year were around 347 million litres compared to 169 million litres in 2006 - an increase of more than 100 per cent. This followed a fivefold increase in biodiesel sales the previous year.

Reasons for analysing biodiesel cover financial, practical and authenticity grounds on behalf of producers, retailers and users.
Cold weather performance, engine performance, warranty issues, and tax incentives are all motivations for having an accurate, portable and reliable biodiesel blend measurement. In the UK, a typical biodiesel mix for vehicles is 5-10%.

A quick analytical measurement method to assess the blend ratio can be a valuable asset for fuel distributors, engine manufacturers, fleet operators, and regulatory agencies.

Quantitech can offer customers a range of instruments from high performance laboratory-based instruments to compact on-site analysers.
The low-cost InfraCal Filtometer and the Infra-Spec VFA-IR Spectrometer from Wilks Enterprise, both single wavelength analysers, are capable of monitoring more than one component and are ideal for biodiesel measurement. Both instruments are the ideal choice for easy, on-site biofuel analyses to help ensure product quality. They have been specifically designed as field portable instruments – to be operated by personnel having little or no knowledge of infrared analytical techniques.

Additionally, the FuelPro Biofuels Metals Analyser, from Teledyne Leeman Labs, is compliant with both European (EN 14214) and American (D6751) standards, against which biodiesel can be tested. The FuelPro can detect contaminants including phosphorus, sulphur, sodium, potassium and calcium.

Quantitech’s Dr Gareth Pearson explained: “We are delighted to be able to offer a comprehensive range of instruments for the biodiesel sector and we are confident we can meet most testing requirements within this expanding market.

“The FuelPro is specifically designed for biodiesel and is fully-configured meaning it can be used straight from the box. It is a complete turnkey solution, easy to use and is capable of determining up to 70 different elements in one sample.”

Biodiesel has a number of advantages including a reduction of toxic exhaust emissions, greenhouse gas savings and it can be used in diesel engines with little or even no modification.

For more information on which instrument to choose for biodiesel analysis, please contact Dr Pearson on 01908 227722.


For further information, please contact:
Quantitech Ltd
Unit 3
Old Wolverton Road
Milton Keynes
MK12 5NP
t. 01908 227722
f. 01908 227733
Email sales@quantitech.co.uk

We are delighted to announce a new range of molecular biology reagents exclusively available from Helena BioSciences. The Molecular Tools range, manufactured in the UK, offers a highly effective and comprehensive range of reagents at very competitive prices. To launch this exciting range, we have a number of special offers available for a limited time only.

CALIPER LIFE SCIENCES INTRODUCES LABCHIP GX AND GXII MICROFLUIDIC INSTRUMENTS TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC NEEDS OF PROTEOMIC AND GENOMIC RESEARCHERS

July 15, 2008

- New Systems Provide Advanced DNA, RNA, and Protein Separation Capabilities -

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. today introduced two microfluidics-based separations products, the LabChip® GX and LabChip GXII benchtop systems, for fast, automated, 1-D electrophoretic separations of protein, DNA, and RNA samples. The LabChip GX represents a low price entry system targeted at genomics applications, while the GXII combines both genomics and protein research applications. The LabChip GX series of instruments will be marketed by Caliper and is designed to provide scientists novel benefits including extended walk away time, higher throughput and economical plate processing ability. Caliper also provides solutions to scientists with lower throughput needs through its collaborations with Agilent and Bio-Rad.

Both systems combine Caliper’s highly reproducible assay technology with advanced data analysis and visualization software. With 96-well and 384-well plate compatibility and the ability to select single wells at any location in a plate, the LabChip GX and GXII systems provide researchers with unmatched throughput, flexibility, and performance. Leveraging Caliper’s patented microfluidics technology, users are able to thoroughly analyze samples in seconds instead of minutes, eliminating throughput bottlenecks and improving efficiency. The advanced data management software suite included with each system allows users to visualize results via an electropherogram or virtual gel view. Additionally it provides data in tabular form, which can then be analyzed or easily exported into a spreadsheet format.

“With applications ranging from protein therapeutics research to gene expression analysis to genotyping of transgenic mice, the LabChip GX and GXII represent an integral component of Caliper Life Sciences’ overall strategy of developing products that bridge the in vitro – in vivo translational gap,” said Rick Bunch, Microfluidics Product Manager, Caliper Life Sciences. “The LabChip GX and GXII provide high quality, accurate, and reproducible data that enable researchers to accelerate their discovery efforts, while saving time and money.”

The new LabChip GX instrument has been designed expressly for the needs of genomics researchers for the analysis of RNA integrity for better RT-PCR and microarray gene expression data, DNA fragment analysis for sequencing applications and genotyping transgenic mice, and numerous other applications that require accurate size, concentration, or purity analysis of nucleic acid samples. A unique feature of the LabChip GX is the ability to analyze any single sample, or a subset of samples in a microtiter plate using an intuitive GUI interface. This feature enables researchers to assess RNA integrity by randomly sampling a plate or conduct “hit picking” experiments on samples of particular interest.
The LabChip GXII system, which is a complete functional replacement of the LabChip 90, provides consistent and precise analysis of both protein and nucleic acid samples. The LabChip 90 has been widely adopted by researchers developing antibody-based therapeutics and is ideally suited for quantifying size, titer, purity, and fragmentation. This automated separations platform also enables scientists to explore the effect of multiple variables in parallel – a process which is prohibitively expensive and time-consuming using manual methods. As a direct consequence, robust methods for protein expression can be established that accelerate high throughput screening, crystallography, and analytical analyses that require large amounts of protein.

Caliper offers a broad portfolio of microfluidics chips and DNA, RNA, and protein assay kits to use with the GX and GXII systems. For additional information or to order the LabChip GX or GXII, please visit:

http://www.caliperls.com/products/labchip-systems/.

About Caliper Life Sciences
Caliper Life Sciences is a premier provider of cutting-edge technologies enabling researchers in the life sciences industry to create life-saving and enhancing medicines and diagnostic tests more quickly and efficiently. Caliper is aggressively innovating new technology to bridge the gap between in vitro assays and in vivo results and then translating those results into cures for human disease. Caliper's portfolio of offerings includes state-of-the-art microfluidics, lab automation & liquid handling, optical imaging technologies, and discovery & development outsourcing solutions.

For more information please visit http://www.caliperLS.com.

Caliper and LabChip are registered trademarks of Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.

Astech Projects Launch REACTS™ - a Rapid, Effective And Complete Technical Support service

Pharmaceutical automation experts introduce new maintenance service for all automation systems at Interphex 2008

Leading automation developer, Astech Projects, has today announced the launch of its new automation maintenance service - REACTS™: Rapid, Effective And Complete Technical Support. Combining Astech’s long-standing automation experience and extensive engineering expertise, REACTS is an extension of the high quality customer service for which Astech is well known. In addition to existing Astech automation specialists, the company has recruited four highly respected engineers with many years’ experience working with top 10 pharma companies worldwide. The new REACTS team will provide automation installation and maintenance services, and technical support for any automation system in the drug discovery and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors throughout Europe, North America and Asia.

Astech Projects’ Sales & Marketing Director, Anthony Moran, commented, “REACTS has really evolved from a service that we are already providing our customers. Now with a larger, dedicated team that is solely devoted to this service we can provide support on a truly global scale for the all existing automation, including third party systems.” He continued, “Our new team has an excellent background and brings with it in-depth industry knowledge. This is an essential requirement for our REACTS service and their expertise compliments our highly proficient team of mechanical, electrical, control and software engineers.”

With superior capabilities in the development of bespoke automation and products for high throughput pharmaceutical research and manufacturing testing, Astech Projects has built a strong reputation in the industry. Specific areas include the development and supply of advanced automation for high throughput (HT) compound management and retrieval, high throughput screening (HTS) and automated drug delivery testing. For further information on the new REACTS service in addition to the scope of automation solutions available, please visit www.astechprojects.com

Dominic Duggan of specialist instrumentation company Quantitech will be among the guest speakers at an air analysis conference and exhibition taking place at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in Middlesex.

‘Air Analysis – out of the laboratory and into the field’ is a joint event arranged by the NPL, the Royal Society of Chemistry - Automation and Analytical Management Group and the Gas Analysis and Sensing Group.

Dominic will be discussing the application of a new portable FTIR system at the event which is being held on Thursday, May 15th.

In the past, field-use instruments for the detection of toxic gases have sacrificed analytical performance for the sake of usability. As a result, many portable instruments have merely provided data that is indicative and non-specific, whereas analytical instruments have been difficult or impossible to operate in the field.
The Gasmet Dx-4030 from Quantitech is a revolutionary new analyser providing both field-usability and high levels of analytical performance.
The DX-4030 employs FTIR (Fourier Transform InfraRed Spectroscopy) analysis producing almost instantaneous readings for multiple compounds across a wide measurement range that extends to sub-ppm levels.

Dominic said: “The event is sure to be of great interest to anyone within the gas detection field. For the first time users will have a truly portable device that will enable them to measure almost any parameter real-time, without having to know in advance which gas or vapour to test for. As a consequence, we foresee a great demand for this highly advanced technology in applications such as chemical spill response, industrial hygiene, contaminated land, leak detection and the measurement of anaesthetic gases in hospitals.”

The one-day meeting will include presentations on the current state of techniques available or potentially available for automated use in the field. There will also be an opportunity to visit the laboratory facilities at NPL.

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALP) today announced the shipment of the 500th IVIS® molecular imaging system during the fourth quarter of 2007. Introduced in 2000, the IVIS molecular imaging system enables researchers to uniquely perform critical, noninvasive pre-clinical biological drug discovery and development research on small living mammals. The sale of the 500th IVIS system illustrates the growing demand for in vivo imaging to speed the drug discovery and development process without compromising accuracy and safety.

“Caliper’s IVIS systems continue to significantly impact the pharmaceutical industry’s ability to bring new drugs to market, particularly in the area of cancer therapies,” said Kevin Hrusovsky, CEO, Caliper Life Sciences. “We also see a sharp increase in the use of our IVIS imaging technology in therapeutic areas such as central nervous system (CNS), infectious and metabolic disease, and inflammation and we are continuing to expand our offerings to meet the demands of a broad market with specialized needs.”

Caliper’s IVIS offerings serve a broad array of therapeutic areas. In addition to the world’s leading line of imaging instruments, Caliper also provides software, reagents, cell lines, animal models, application services and noninvasive imaging patent licenses to ensure that academic and commercial customers worldwide are able to quickly and effectively benefit from the company’s technology.

Quantitech Limited is holding a free seminar at the Open University (Robert Hooke Seminar Room) on Wednesday 30th April 2008. The seminar will feature mercury analysis and elemental analysis by ICP using the latest technologies from Teledyne Leeman Labs.

The day has been designed to give practical help and advice on how to maximise the accuracy and efficiency of this analytical equipment and will be relevant to anyone with an interest in elemental analysis. The practical sessions will include hands-on experience with the latest instruments.

The morning session will cover a new mercury analysis method by direct thermal decomposition and UV atomic absorption and the afternoon session will include elemental analysis by ICP - participants may attend one or both sessions.

The afternoon session will show how to obtain faster, easier, more dependable performance in ICP spectroscopy. It will also cover advanced capabilities including Halogen analysis in the deep UV, mobile ICP instrumentation for on-site analysis, time resolved data for solid sampling (laser ablation) and speciation analysis (chromatographic separation).

Speakers include: Dr Gareth Pearson and Bert van der Hoeff, AEMAS, Netherlands (Teledyne Leeman Labs application specialist)

Hydrogen monitoring equipment by H2scan Corporation (California) which is distributed in the UK and Ireland by Milton Keynes-based Quantitech has received the ATEX Intrinsically Safe Certification.

The HY-ALERTA 1600 Hydrogen Area Monitor and HY-OPTIMA 1700 Hydrogen Process Monitor are now available for operation in potentially explosive atmospheres.

Founded in 2002, H2Scan Corporation was built around a Hydrogen specific sensor technology that was originally developed in the U.S. National Laboratory at Sandia. Since that time H2Scan has developed a range of advanced portable and fixed monitors for the specific measurement of hydrogen in mixtures, without interference from other gases.

Both products are designed for use in hazardous environments up to and including zone 0 applications and have built-in displays and keypads available for user configuration, calibration and readings.

Quantitech’s Sales Director Dominc Duggan says, “The new ATEX certification for these two H2scan products is a major development. It will enable the use of this unique technology in an even wider variety of applications and we are delighted to be able to introduce them to the UK and Irish markets. H2scan’s hydrogen specific solid-state sensing technology is able to detect hydrogen from 15 ppm to 100% over a wide range of temperatures against virtually any background gases without false readings or expensive support equipment.”

Accurate hydrogen measurements are critical for a large number of organisations. Applications include both health and safety, and process control within a wide variety of industries including petrochemical refineries, hydrogen production, chlorine manufacture, nuclear power/waste, fossil fuel power, chrome plating, lead acid battery monitoring, research, semiconductor and electronics manufacture, abatement exhausts, transformer oil, and automotive (fuel cell technologies).

Leading pharmaceutical automation developer, Astech Projects, will be exhibiting at Interphex 2008. Visitors to the Astech booth (#140) will be able to find out more about the Astech Automation Challenge which invites companies to present a difficult automation problem – at any stage from research to production and packaging - for Astech to solve. As a world class developer of automated drug delivery testing systems, the Astech team will also be available to discuss its recently launched range of bespoke inhaler testing products, the X-range which promise to revolutionise the speed, accuracy and safety of inhalers. There will also be an exciting competition on the booth, providing visitors the opportunity to win a fantastic iPod Touch.

STARLAB, one of the UK's leading pipette tip suppliers has launched a new, Consumables for the Laboratory Catalogue for 2008. The catalogue features STARLAB's extensive range of pipette tips, including TipOne, the recyclable pipette tip system designed to fit all popular pipettes.
Many new products have been added to the catalogue, which contains STARLAB's usual range of pipettes and tips, consumables, sample storage, equipment, and protection, as well as information on their fast-growing pipette calibration service. STARLAB is confident that you will find all their products to be of excellent quality and excellent value.

Astech significantly advance Andersen inhaler testing with its fully automated cascade impaction system, the Xelize

Runcorn, UK: Leading automated drug delivery testing system provider Astech Projects has developed a unique, fully automated solution for the Andersen Cascade Impactor inhaler test, the Xelize®. Using its extensive industry and automation expertise, Astech has developed the fastest and most robust system on the market which can greatly reduce time spent on labour-intensive processes and minimise errors associated with manual systems. The Astech Xelize is designed around the traditional Andersen Cascade Impactor system but can be tailored to the specific needs of the tester and device, and as a true high throughput system, can significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of the inhaler testing and particle size determination (PSD) process.

PSD has always been considered one of the most labour-intensive of the regulatory tests for inhaled pharmaceutical products. The new fully automated Xelize is the first system anticipated to achieve a throughput of 40 Andersen impactions per day, a potential 10 fold increase over some manual methods. Astech Projects’ Sales and Marketing Director, Anthony Moran said, “Throughput is vastly improved with this system as we have moved away from the standard recovery method, i.e. one stage and plate at a time, in series. Instead we have designed the Xelize for parallel operation and recovery of all stages and plates, significantly speeding up the testing process.”

The Xelize provides high capacity storage for up to 200 devices, minimising time spent on manual load. Sophisticated device handling controlled by advanced software, allows easy and precise device manipulation and actuation, with tight control of the dose actuation parameters, greatly improving repeatability of results. Additionally, sample preparation for HPLC analysis can be fully automated avoiding inconsistencies associated with manual methods. Company-specific coating techniques for Andersen plates, such as fine film spraying, are easily accommodated and fully automated, allowing faster repetition of coating, sample capture, retrieval and analysis cycles. Additionally, sealed recovery stations improve user safety and prevent test cross-contamination.

Astech’s Xelize system with integrated software is protected by patent applications in the UK and overseas, and has been produced for both R&D and manufacturing quality control following Good Practice and Compliance for Electronic Records and Signature, Part 2, and is fully compliant with 21 CFR 11 and Good Automated Manufacturing Practice (GAMP).

The Xelize system is just one of a range of high quality automated systems produced by Astech Projects and complements its portfolio of innovative systems engineered for drug delivery testing.

Langton Howarth have burst into the New Year with a new look website, new corporate identity, new premises and a growing team of specialists. We are expanding fast and will be joined by new members to the team over the weeks and months ahead. The move to larger offices in Harrogate - the North Yorkshire spa town and conference centre - is one part of our growth strategy all geared toward striving for the very best client service in the industry.

Langton Howarth MD, Emma Howarth, says 'We are seeing continued growth across the scientific sector and being in a position of working with some of the best known companies in the industry our specialisation puts us at the forefront in scientific recruitment and continues to add a dimension to our industry knowledge. We invest heavily in acquiring the best understanding of our clients and will continue to do so, the more we learn the better equipped we are to meet their exacting standards'.

CALIPER LIFE SCIENCES INTRODUCES ZEPHYR SPE WORKSTATION TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF SOLID PHASE EXTRACTION

Automated Benchtop Workstation Aids Mass Spectrometer Analysis

Caliper Life Sciences announced the availability of the Zephyr SPE Workstation, a benchtop solution designed to automate Solid Phase Extraction (SPE). With features including a 96-well plate format and easy-to-use, SPE-specific software interface, the Zephyr SPE Workstation is designed to increase efficiency and streamline the sample preparation process for mass spectrometer analysis. For more information go to http://www.caliperls.com or email uk@caliperls.com

Millipore Corporation, a Life Science leader providing technologies, tools and services for the bioscience research and biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry, today announced the launch of its web site for the preparation of samples and solutions used in Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC or U-HPLC), www.millipore.com/prep4UHPLC. The new web site provides technical information on Millipore’s UHPLC Compatible™ Sample Preparation products

We would like to thank everybody who has supported our growth over the past year.

We wish all our suppliers,clients and candidates a very successful 2008