Forensic analysis 

Applied Biosystems of Warrington, UK, have developed Quantifiler Duo DNA Quantification Kit for DNA analysis in sexual assault and other complicated forensic DNA analyses. 

The kit amplifies, detects and quantifies the DNA in the sample on a real-time PCR system, simultaneously providing a quantitative and qualitative assessment of total human and human male DNA, and more accurately estimating the quantity of DNA in degraded samples. This information guides selection of the optimal DNA profiling method to be employed. 
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Miniature spectrometers 

Ocean Optics of Dunedin, US, has introduced the Maya2000 and Maya2000 Pro high-sensitivity back-thinned 2D FFT-CCD spectrometers for applications requiring high sensitivity, good UV response and wide dynamic range. 

These spectrometers are particularly well suited to low light-level, UV-sensitive applications, such as fluorescence, DNA sequencing and Raman analysis. 

Both spectrometers feature a USB 2.0 interface, low-noise electronics, 14 grating options, and a detector collection lens option for enhanced signal collection. Fully programmable strobe signals allow for the selection of single or continuous strobes to suit application needs. The spectrometers are controlled with Ocean Optics' completely modular, Java-based SpectraSuite software. 

The Maya2000 has a slightly faster readout time while the Maya2000 Pro provides a better dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio. 
pamela.hennessy@oceanoptics.com 

Atomic absorption 

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. of Wilmington, US, launched its iCE 3000 series of compact atomic absorption (AA) spectrometers at Analytica 2008 held in Munich, Germany, from 
1-4 April 2008. 

This series, comprising the iCE 3300, iCE 3400 and iCE 3500, has a small footprint and has been developed to accommodate both flame and furnace analyses. 

Designed as a dual flame and furnace AA system, with standard or Zeeman furnace option and D2 background correction, the iCE 3500 is ideal for high-throughput environments requiring fast and regular flame and furnace analyses. Changeover from flame to furnace analysis is entirely software-controlled allowing for unattended operation. 

The iCE 3400, which also features Zeeman and D2 background correction, is a single furnace atomiser AA system. 

The iCE 3300 is for laboratories that primarily perform flame analyses, but occasionally process furnace samples.  

The iCE 3000 Series, which operates on the intuitive Thermo Scientific iCE SOLAAR software platform, is designed for analysis in food safety as well as in the environmental, clinical, pharmaceutical, metals and materials industries. 
analyze@thermofisher.com 

New office 

Ascent Scientific of Weston-super-Mare, UK, which supplies receptor ligands and signalling tools for research using glutamate, GABA, ion channel, cannabinoid, opioid and 5-HT receptors, has opened a new sales and distribution office in New Jersey, US. 
info@ascentscientific.com   

Pharmaceutical protection 

Bosch Packaging Technology of Waiblingen, Germany, has introduced the GKF HiProTect, an integrated containment capsule-filling system for processing potent substances. This system provides complete protection for  pharmaceutical researchers and manufacturers from active substances during operation, maintenance and cleaning. The GFK HiProTect offers fully integrated 100 per cent check weighing system and features integrated wash-in-place and clean-in-place options. 
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No cuvettes, no dilutions 

Following its acquisition of NanoDrop Technologies Inc. in October 2007, Thermo Fisher Scientific of Wilmington, US, has launched its NanoDrop line of micro-volume spectroscopy systems for easy measurement of UV-Vis and fluorescence without the use of cuvettes and associated dilutions. 

An undiluted one-microlitre sample is pipetted directly onto the measurement surface. After a quick spectral reading, the sample is simply wiped away in preparation for the next sample.  

The instruments are used to measure the quantity and purity of nucleic acids and proteins, as well as associated fluorescent labels in many applications, including microarray probe preparations, PCR template normalisation, small molecule crystallisation, sequencing, antibodies, microgenomics, proteomics, genotyping and FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer). 

The Thermo Scientific NanoDrop line of products includes: the NanoDrop 1000 which takes UV-Vis absorbance spectra of one-microlitre sample; the NanoDrop 8000 which takes UV-Vis absorbance spectra of eight samples simultaneously; and the NanoDrop 3300 which performs broad spectrum fluorescent analysis.  
info@nanodrop.com 

Fast micro GC 

C2V of Enschede, the Netherlands, has launched the C2V-200 microGC for fast gas chromatography analysis. With temperature ramping up to 4°C per second the instrument can separate C3-C10 compounds within 40 seconds. The column can be heated up to 180°C and a ppm level detection limit is achieved. 
microGC@c2v.nl 

Detecting counterfeits  

At Analytica 2008, Omicron Research from Marlborough, UK, launched the Xstream XT250 material ID system to provide a rapid non-destructive validation of suspect pharmaceutical products. Using energy dispersive x-ray diffraction (EDXRD), the XT250 systems matches the diffraction pattern obtained from the sample against a library of patterns. The system can also be used to identify food products, dry chemicals and explosives. Good sample penetration allows the scanning of contents inside opaque plastic, glass, cardboard and even metal packaging. 
salesinfo@jeol.com  

Parallel synthesis 

At Analytica 2008 Radleys launched the Carousel Mk3 parallel synthesis reaction station to provide busy laboratories with an easy-to-use tool that simultaneously heats and stirs up to six 5ml, 10ml, 25ml, 50ml, 170ml, or 250ml round bottomed flasks under inert gas and reflux. The Carousel Mk3 includes innovations that make it easier to use, easier to clean and more resistant to chemical corrosion, as well as providing improved energy efficiency and enhanced reaction tube visibility. 
sales@radleys.co.uk 

50 years on 

To celebrate the golden anniversary of automated amino acid analysis, Biochrom, of Cambridge, UK, has introduced a special edition Gold Standard Biochrom 30 Amino Acid Analyser.  

In 1946 amino acid analysis took months to provide results. By 1950 analysis times dropped to weeks. Then in 1958 Stanford Moore and William Stein - awarded a Nobel prize in 1972 for their contribution to biochemical analysis - automated the amino acid analysis technique for the first time, enabling the analysis to be completed in a single day. Fifty years on, using the same technique based on ion exchange liquid chromatography with ninhydrin detection, analysis times for full profiles take less than two hours to perform, and certain families of amino acids can be analysed in as little as 
10 minutes. 
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