Catching the bug

De-ionized waterPuritehttp://www.purite.comReader Service No. 100Updated pure water range for laboratories

Purite's laboratory de-ionizer cylinder now has colour-coded head fittings allowing identification by type, more efficient transit, faster cylinder change and operation at up to 70 °C. The cylinders are designed for use in laboratories doing general analytical work and glassware washing. The water is free of most mineral impurities as a result of ion exchange. Typical quality is in the region of 10 M cm^-1 with output rates of between 10 and 1,000 litres. Purite will handle the entire regeneration process, and can usually reactivate exhausted resin and deliver to site in less than 48 hours.

SKR filter cartridgesMeissnerhttp://www.meissner.com/content/Reader Service No. 101Small-flow sterilization

Sterilizing grade SKR filter cartridges with Ultradyne PTFE membranes are designed for the sterilization of air and gases in process and product streams, and tank vents. A skirt-flange adapter prevents bypass from upstream to downstream when the cartridge is installed and the housing fully assembled. Meissner claims that these compact cartridges are ideal for new small-flow or retrofit applications to remove fine particulates, bacteria and aerosol viruses from gas lines and sterile tank vents.

Erlenmeyer flasksCorning Costarhttp://www.corning.com Reader Service No. 102Open wide

Corning now offer disposable Erlenmeyer flasks in 1- and 2-litre sizes, as well as a 3 litre Fernbach model, in addition to the existing 125, 250 and 500ml models. Made from polycarbonate for maximum optical clarity and mechanical strength, the flasks feature a wide, easy-access mouth and clear 25-ml graduations. The polypropylene plug seal caps can be left open to allow gas exchange or closed for a liquid-tight seal. Optional vented caps with a 2-m hydrophobic membrane are available. The flasks can be used as culture flasks or storage vessels and in shaker and suspension culture applications. They are also recommended for application where biohazardous or radioactive materials make cleaning difficult.

EasyplateBel-Arthttp://www.bel-art.comReader Service No. 103Stack and carry

The Scienceware Easyplate Petri dish racking system allows one-handed transport of up to 84 100-mm dishes in a single rack. Silicone edges on the vertical channels permit random entry and retrieval with no disturbance to adjacent portions of the stack. Dishes are inserted into the rack media-side up. A dish or group of dishes can then be removed and the area above remains securely in place. The chemically resistant polycarbonate racks are autoclavable and available in a choice of four colours and in both 48-dish and 84-dish sizes.

ProtoCOLSynbiosishttp://www.synbiosis.com Reader Service No. 104Multiple choice

Analysis of bacterial colonies or viral plaques on multi-well plates is no longer limited to manual grading with the ProtoCOL system of automated counting and sizing. This automated colony counter scans each well, counts the number of colonies, measures the area covered by growth/no growth, and calculates the percentage area. Colony counts and area data are delivered within seconds.

RiboPrinterQualiconhttp://www.qualicon.comReader Service No. 105Molecular typing at your fingertips

The automated RiboPrinter system generates genetic 'fingerprints' of bacteria, allowing molecular typing to be performed in any laboratory, and providing an automated, standardized system for use in existing typing laboratories. Definitive microbial information beyond the species level is available in 8 hours. A new batch of eight samples can be started every two hours. An identification database of RiboPrint patterns based on over 15,000 isolates is included, and Qualicon regularly issues libraries of RiboPrint patterns for additional organisms. Custom libraries can also be created for other genera.

AlertNeogenhttp://www.neogen.comReader Service No. 106Micro-well ELISAs for pathogens

Many micro-well tests for E. coli require 90 minutes after enrichment. Alert test kits are now available in a new format with antibodies that reduce this to 35 minutes after enrichment. Combined with Reveal 8-hour media, Alert for E. coli 0157 allows testers to go from sample to result in nine hours. Similarly, by eliminating the plating steps involved in conventional laboratory testing for Campylobacter, Neogen claim that the Alert kit can detect this pathogen 50 minutes after enrichment.

MinitronInforshttp://www.infors.chReader Service No. 107Baby incubator

This 'mini' incubator offers options for cooling, humidification, light manifolds and a gassing system. The magnetic drive and associated electronics are housed in a closed compartment out of the way of spillages of culture medium. The platform pulls out to rest on the door of the chamber for easy access. Cultures shaking in the incubation chamber are visible through an inspection window. A second, independent unit can be stacked above the first to double the shaker capacity without increasing the footprint of 80 67 cm.

Catalogue 2000New Brunswick Scientifichttp://www.nbsc.com Reader Service No. 108Pick and mix

Hundreds of biological shakers, rockers, rollers, fermenters, bioreactors, continuous flow centrifuges, sterilizers, plate pourers and accessories can be found in New Brunswick's 2000 product catalogue. Ultra-low temperature freezers are also featured. Available from New Brunswick Scientific, Edison House, 163 Dixons Hill Road, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7JE. UK

CycloporeWhatmanhttp://www.whatman.co.ukReader Service No. 109Non-spill membrane filter

The transfer of membranes used for the culture of E. coli 0157 and other bacteria from one growth media can be precarious. Hence the new Cyclopore membrane with an outer support ring. As well as improving operator safety, the support ring is designed to prevent curling. Made from track-etched polycarbonate, the uniform 0.4-m pore size of the new membrane ensures bacteria only grow on its translucent flat surface, to simplify observation under the microscope . The inert nature of polycarbonate means levels of leachables are virtually negligible and will not compromise successful culturing of microorganisms. The filter is available in packs of 25 and has an overall diameter of 82 mm.

KestrelLTE Scientifichttp://www.lte-scientific.co.uk Reader Service No. 110Vaccuum packed

A vaccum-assisted option has been added to the Kestrel range of autoclaves. Standard chamber sizes are 200 and 315 litres, and other capacities can be supplied on request. Pre- sterilization vacuum removes air pockets, ensuring effective sterilization of porous loads and rapid attainment of sterilizing temperature. Post-sterilization, the vacuum assists cooling and removes much of the steam and water from the chamber. When programmed for vacuum drying, removal of the remaining residual water from the load is achieved. Steam is kept on constant standby, further accelerating the cycle.

Status autoclavesPhilip Harris Scientifichttp://www.philipharris.co.uk Reader Service No. 111Dual voltage, greater safety

Status autoclaves have low loading heights and feature assisted lid-lift and safe-to-touch exterior lid covers. They operate from a normal 15-amp supply, a push-button selection enables the faster heating capability of a 30-amp supply to be used. A forced-air cooling module can be fitted which can reduce cooling time by up to as 30 minutes. Variable, timed free-steaming periods can be selected to displace trapped air from the load. A cooling lock ensures that bottled media is at a safe temperature before the lid is released, and can be overridden for immediate venting. An optional printer is available to produce record of sterilisation cycles. The autoclaves are available in 75-litre or 125-litre top- loading versions.

Yeast deletion mutantsATCChttp://www.atcc.orgReader Service No. 112It's a knock-out

The products of the Saccharomyces Genome Deletion Project (SGDP) and Yeast Genetic Stock Center are now available from the ATCC (American Type Culture Collection). The SGDP will enable the analysis of each yeast gene, continuing the study of functional genomics that began after the full sequencing of the yeast genome. There are more than 6,000 open reading frames in the genome. Each deletion mutant will be in a and alpha haploids and in homozygous and heterozygous diploids, resulting in 24,000 knock-out mutants. The on-line search engine can be accessed at http://www.deletion.stanford.edu or via the ATCC website.

GMS for fungi assayBioGenexhttp://www.biogenex.comReader Service No. 113All that glitters

The Grocott methenamine-silver for fungi (GMS) special stains kit for use on the OptiMax Pus consolidated staining system contains all reagents necessary for the assay. GMS stains are intended for demonstrating fungi in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded surgical pathology, archive or autopsy tissue sections. Only substances that possess large quantities of polysaccharides, such as fungal cell walls, glycogen, and mucins will remain reactive with the silver, reducing it to visible metallic silver. Gold chloride is a toning solution and sodium thiosulphate removes any unreduced silver.

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