Product news in brief - week 49

Carl Zeiss SMT has introduced a new 100kV transmission electron microscope (TEM), the Centra 100 , at the American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting.

The system has been designed as a sophisticated "imaging system" that offers a maximum resolution down to 0.2nm in a compact and robust instrument.

The ease-of-use and fast specimen exchange capability make this microscope particularly well-suited for biomedical or clinical laboratory environments.

A key technical feature of the system is the choice between either a high resolution or high contrast mode, particularly important when investigating low-contrast biological specimens.

Genetix has expanded its " CloneMedia " range of semi-solid media products for mammalian cell cloning.

The two new products, CloneMedia-HEK and CloneMedia-CHOK1 , have been designed for the semi-solid cloning of suspension-adapted, serum-free HEK293 and CHOK1 cells.

The CloneMedia system enables the cloning of transfected cells in a rapid, one-step approach that enables clonal colonies to be grown from single cells.

Ludesi has introduced a new software package, the REDFIN Image and Data Management system, which enables researchers to quickly view, analyse and manage results from the Ludesi 2D gel image system.

"Now for the first time ever it becomes possible for any proteomics laboratory to order reliable 2D gel image analysis on a per-sample basis over the internet," said Ola Forsstrom-Olsson, CEO of Ludesi.

"Traditional 2D gel image analysis requires significant investments in software and training of personnel and is widely acknowledged to be cumbersome, slow and suboptimal.

The Ludesi REDFIN software, together with Ludesi's Analysis Center, makes 2D gel image analysis fast, reliable, hassle-free, and very cost-efficient."

Millipore has validated the its Stericup with Express PLUS membrane for use with stem cells under its new "Stem Cell Tested" product initiative.

After filtering media through the Stericup, stem cells were passaged five times and tested for pluripotency with no negative effects.

Supplied sterile and ready to use the Stericup offers fast flow with high throughput and low protein binding ensures key growth factors and proteins are not absorbed.

Nikon Instruments has added a new high resolution microscopy camera to its 'Digital Sight' series, the DZ-Ri1 , designed for high-resolution colour documentation applications.

The camera features fast focussing capabilities of up to 19 fps and a resolution of up to 4076 by 3116 pixels.

In addition, with its large native pixel size and supported cooling it can tackle simple fluorescence imaging and documentation, while the pixel-stepping mechanism allows for huge, high-resolution brightfield images.

"Nikon's DS-Ri1 builds upon the DXM tradition of an ultra high quality digital camera for advanced imaging and documentation, while moving ahead in providing simple PC connectivity, functionality and performance," said Stan Schwartz, vice president of Nikon Instruments.

Olympus has added three new UIS2 objective lenses specifically for cytology applications in the clinical laboratory.

The new lenses, PLN2xCY, PLN4xCY and PLN20xCY , add to the two objectives launched last year and feature built-in neutral density (ND) filters that enable quick changes in magnification without the need to adjust light sensitivity, allowing the user to switch from low to high magnification quickly and effortlessly.

Wiley-VCH is now providing its 'Gold Standard for Clinical Mass Spectral Data' in a searchable CD-ROM database format as well as on paper.

The print version of "Mass Spectral and GC Data of Drugs, Poisons, Pesticides, Pollutants and Their Metabolites" has been on the market for over 20 years and now contains 7840 data sets.

The searchable library is available in a variety of formats that are compatible with instruments from most vendors and is an indispensable tool in Clinical and Forensic Toxicology, Clinical Chemistry, Doping Control, Criminal Investigation, Environmental Chemistry, and Spectroscopy.

"Wiley-VCH is pleased to offer now not only the printed version of this well known reference work to their customers, but in addition the searchable electronic library.

The book and the electronic library stored as searchable mass spectrometer database are essential tools in clinical mass spectrometry and many related areas," said Reinhard Neudert, Director of new Business Development at Wiley-VCH.