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Laboratory Focus November/December 2015
New Products
Sequencing
Illumina Inc. announces the launch of the TruSight® Tumor 15, a nextgeneration sequencing (NGS) panel designed to identify sequence variants in 15 genes commonly associated with marketed therapeutics. The panels are optimized for low input DNA from tissue preserved in formalin and paraffin, as well as for damaged and degraded formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumour samples. This enables low frequency somatic variant detection from limited nucleic acid inputs. When paired with the Illumina MiSeq® system, the panel delivers high-quality sequencing with key content and features needed for tumour analysis in translational research. The panel is intended for research use only and not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Web: www.illumina.com/OncologyPanel
Spectrophotometers The Thermo Scientific NanoDrop One and NanoDrop OneC UV-Vis microvolume spectrophotometers are designed to help life science researchers gain a more complete understanding of sample quality. These new spectrophotometers introduce the Thermo Scientific Acclaro Sample Intelligence technology, which enables researchers to identify sample contaminants and obtain corrected concentration results; receive instant feedback about sample quality with on-demand technical support and guided troubleshooting; and confidently measure samples with embedded sensor and digital image analysis. Moreover, the NanoDrop One instrument with its high-resolution touchscreen interface is simple to use, while its powerful auto-range path length technology facilitates accurate measurements for concentrated samples with no need for dilutions. The patented NanoDrop sample-retention system measures 1-2 µL of sample in seconds without the need for cuvettes, making it a costand time-effective solution for busy labs. Workflows can be streamlined on the NanoDrop One instrument with the Auto-Measure functionality, while modern connectivity allows results to be shared and archived via Wi-Fi, Ethernet or USB. The NanoDrop OneC instrument contains both pedestal and cuvette measuring positions, increasing dynamic range and assay flexibility.
Web: www.thermoscientific.com/nanodrop
Mass Spectrometry Bruker has released its new rapifleX MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometer. With its redesigned, next-generation TOF/TOF ion optics, the rapifleX system now offers significantly higher speed, mass resolution and mass accuracy. The rapifleX integrates a novel, 10 kHz smartbeam™ 3D scanning laser design for breakthrough mass-spec imaging capabilities. It also offers dramatically improved spatial resolution, image contrast and quality, and a new ion source for superior robustness and throughput in pathology research. Tissue- and cell-type specific proteomics is a major advance for relevant biomarker discovery and identification, and requires MALDI tissue imaging studies which include the identifi-
cation of detected biomarker candidates for validation and the subsequent development of targeted assays. The rapifleX MALDI-TOF/ TOF extends the MALDI Tissuetyper® imaging capabilities with rapid, spatially resolved MS/MS data. It supports the patented ImageID™ workflow for biomarker discovery in MALDI imaging cohort studies by obtaining matching identifications of tryptic peptides in bottom-up imaging studies. In addition to next-generation tissue imaging performance, the rapifleX MALDI-TOF/TOF system is well suited for detailed protein characterization in life science research and biopharmaceutical laboratories. The rapifleX™ MALDI-TOF/TOF system is for research use only.
Web: www.bruker.com
Flow Meters Sierra Instruments introduces its new InnovaMass 240i and 241i vortex mass flow meters. The new iSeries has been specifically designed for precise flow energy management in steam, compressed air, natural gas and water applications. Capable of measuring five process variables with one instrument, the InnovaMass flow meters feature a Raptor II operating system which runs apps like FloPro and Dial-A-Fluid, and a robust Smart Interface Portal (SIP) software providing end-users with flow measurement precision. Forms of energy in flow include heat energy (BTU or joules) in steam or water, the potential combustive energy in natural gas, and the potential expansion energy in compressed air, to name a few.
Web: www.sierrainstruments.com
Software
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. announces the release of its KnowItAll® spectroscopy software. One of the key enhancements of the new release is optimized corrections, capable of performing a computationally complex set of corrections on all query and reference spectra in a search to find the optimal match between the query and each reference spectrum. Multiple corrections are applied automatically to compensate for differences between spectra caused by the variability of different instruments and accessories and other factors including human error. This feature is critical as the inflexible mathematical algorithms traditionally employed in spectral searching cannot compensate for errors in spectra that are flawed. Moreover, while manual corrections can be made by expert spectroscopists, those less experienced in spectroscopy are often unaware of how to perform the necessary corrections on their sample spectrum to achieve the best result. KnowItAll 2015 also features two new software applications as well as the addition of spectra to its collection of Bio-Rad spectral databases that include: KnowItAll QC Expert™, KnowItAll Deformulation Expert™ and New Spectral Data.
Web: www.bio-rad.com
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