Molecular Biology & Microbiology

GENEXPERT

Fully integrated and automated on-demand molecular diagnostic system.GENEXPERT (CEPHEID)Improving patient outcomes is the primary goal of any diagnostic system. But our GeneXpert® families of systems have set a new standard in workflow flexibility, 24/7 testing accuracy, and user-friendly design — delivered in an astonishingly beautiful and compact package. But we’ve done more than just repackage a good thing — we’ve improved on the fit, form, and function of the most popular molecular diagnostic platform on the market. GeneXpert System technology is the cornerstone of our unique approach to a molecular diagnostics product suite, which allows us to offer a complete menu of tests on a single, fully scalable, consolidated workstation. The GeneXpert System is available in a one, two, four, or 16-module configuration. All have our proven GeneXpert module at their analytic heart, and use the same patented cartridge technology for every Xpert® test.

GeneXpert Technology

Integrated micro-fluidic based system comprised of

  • Instrument platform
  • Cartridges
  • Protocols and Controls
  • Employ random access fluidic systems that bridge microfluidics with macro fluidics
  • Uses multiplex, rapid real-time PCR technique (6-colors)
  • Precision of microfluidics-based reconstitution, and simplification of automated filling
  • Exploits proven SmartCycler® technology (Incorporate same “solid-state” thermal cycler/fluorometer module)
  • Utilize families of cartridges
  • No wet interface between instrument and cartridge to eliminate carry-over
  • Integrated ultrasonic horn for rapid lysis of spores
  • Total internal control of reagent system –
  • No separate external positive or negative controls required
  • Smart fluidics
  • Encoded software driven motors for valve movement and integral hydraulic drives
  • Advanced micro fluidics technologies to enable complex sample prep processing protocols (Many milliliters down to 10 micro liters)
  • Automated data reduction and results interpretation.
Read more...

BacT/ALERT 3D

The BacT/ALERT® 3D instrument is a state-of-the-art, automated microbial detection system. The BacT/ALERT® system offers advantages in every dimension of microbial detection testing.

From its space-saving modular design to its easy touch-screen operation and flexible data management options, every size laboratory can perform microbial detection with the BacT/ALERT® 3D.

USES

BacT/ALERT® 3D is used for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms in:

  • Blood
  • Sterile body fluids

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Because it’s so easy to use, BacT/ALERT® 3D saves time, facilitates cross-training and helps prevent errors. This system offers immediate bottle recognition, putting you in control of bottle loading and unloading and virtually eliminating bottle handling errors during microbial detection testing. The system’s automatic, built-in quality control, along with a low false positive rate and a rapid response time of this system, means you do more in less time with greater accuracy.

The latest generation of BacT/ALERT® Culture Media brings the most advanced, innovative microbial growth and detection technology to your laboratory. BacT/ALERT® media provide unsurpassed performance, in the detection of a wide variety of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and yeasts.

With flexible data management options of an automated microbial detection system, and available with many different system options, BacT/ALERT® 3D allows you to choose the best configuration for your laboratory.

Plastic Bottles Mean Safety

Safety is an important consideration for any microbial testing. bioMérieux is committed to providing the safest products possible to the microbiology laboratory. BacT/ALERT® bottles are made of unbreakable plastic to protect them from breakage. They are also lightweight to reduce the cost of disposal and shipping.

Read more...

BACTEC BLOOD CULTURE SYSTEM

BD BACTEC™ 9000 Series Instrumented Blood Culture Systems

Continuous Monitoring Technology

BACTEC 9000 Systems feature the unique BACTEC 9000 fluorescent sensor technology that allows for fully-automated, walk-away testing using a continuous-monitoring instrument that agitates and incubates BACTEC/F blood culture bottles, resulting in earlier detection of positives.

The BACTEC instrument also provides advanced algorithms for individual bottle types, for special circumstances such as low blood volume, pediatric specimens, or to detect slow growing organisms such as Haemophilus and Neisseria. These algorithms provide rapid detection of pathogens in blood culture.

Data management systems with barcode scanning capabilities provide rapid entry of bottles into the BACTEC 9000 series instrument and linkage to patient information.

Bidirectional LIS interface eliminates 80% of key strokes for the computer operator and allows personnel on all shifts and with differing levels of experience to quickly master data/ bottle entry, thus reducing labor and improving time-to-results.

Automated BIT testing provides QC for every well in the system every 10 minutes, eliminating the need for several QC procedures. This QC conforms to CLIA ’88 regulations.

Simple Operation

In the BACTEC 9000 instrument, step-by-step directions for bottle processing and test initiation are provided by scanning the barcode test menu.

Patient demographics can be entered into the system using the BACTEC Barcode

Scanner or directly downloaded from the LIS system. They can also be entered via keyboard, if desired.

Bottles are tested every 10 minutes. Positive results are flagged for quick processing. Negative bottles can be batch-scanned out of the system and unloaded at the end of protocol.

The BACTEC™ 9000 Fluorescent Series is available in connectable modules to accommodate any laboratory’s blood culture test volume:

  • The BACTEC 9240 System, which accommodates 240 test bottles.
  • The BACTEC 9120 System, which accommodates 120 test bottles.
  • (Up to 5 BACTEC 9240/9120 System instruments can be networked together through a single PC module, for ease-of-use in large laboratories.)
  • The BACTEC 9050 System, which accommodates 50 test vials, features an extremely small footprint (Only 4 1/4 square feet of tabletop needed – and no external computer required!). It is suitable for the smaller laboratory: one performing less than 150 blood cultures per month.

This unit offers the same technological advantages of non-invasive, continuous monitoring blood culture testing as the larger BACTEC 9000 systems and is supported by the same full line of BACTEC media. BACTEC 9050 operation is based on an easy-to-use icon interface and barcode scanner.

Read more...

QIAGEN ROTOR-GENE PCR

For outstanding performance in real-time PCR

  • Outstanding thermal and optical performance due to rotary format
  • An unmatched optical range spanning UV to infrared wavelengths
  • State-of-the art analyses supported by user-friendly software
  • Low maintenance and maximum convenience due to robust design
  • High performance in multiple applications with QIAGEN assays

QIAGEN’s real-time PCR cycler, the Rotor-Gene Q, combines multiple optimized design features to provide the outstanding performance and reliable results that your research demands. Together with optimized QIAGEN kits for real-time PCR, the Rotor-Gene Q enables streamlined analysis for a wide range of applications.

Read more...

VITEK 2 COMPACT

Today’s global healthcare challenges like Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDRO) mean that microbiology labs need to be flexible and responsive to provide the right information at the right time. The efficiency of the VITEK® 2 Compact instrument and VITEK® 2 PC software offers you the capacity to help improve therapeutic success and patient outcomes1 through reliable microbial identification (ID) and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). The instrument also lets you enhance laboratory efficiencies with reduced hands-on time and rapid reporting capabilities2. All this, in a cost-effective, space-saving design.

  1. Barenfanger et al, JCM, May 1999, Vol 37, No 5
  2. Sanders et al, JCM, July 2001, Vol 39 , No 7

Convenient & automated

Designed to provide ID/AST results in as little as 5 to 8 hours3, VITEK 2® Compact works with economical, ready-to-use VITEK® 2 ID/AST cards.

Safety is optimized with minimal reagent preparation and reduced handling in a closed, disposable system. The VITEK® 2 Compact is simple to use:

  • After primary organism isolation, there is minimal handling with a simple standardized inoculum
  • Place the inoculum into the VITEK® 2 Cassette at the Smart Carrier Station™
  • The VITEK® 2 Card and sample are linked via barcode
  • Once the Cassette is loaded, the instrument handles all subsequent steps for incubation and reading
  • Results at a glance:
  • Intuitive interface
  • Easy-to-access results with multiple filters
  • Bidirectional connection with your LIS
  • Automatic validation & transfer of preliminary results

“High throughput, low hands-on time and rapid results”

Source: Sanders et al, JCM, July 2001, Vol 39 , No 7 Rommler et al, Poster C-123, ASM Orlando, May 2006

Flexibility for your lab

“For all laboratories, regardless of size and type of staffing, the availability of VITEK 2® system and Advanced Expert System™ could have a very positive impact on both the workflow and the quality of information leaving the laboratory”

Blecker-Shelly et al, Continuing Education Topics & Issues, Aug 2008

They say good things come in small packages. The VITEK® 2 Compact System fits different lab arrangements and different needs – but always delivers results to help you ensure your laboratory can provide the right analysis for timely, relevant treatment options.

  • Models are available to accommodate 15, 30 or 60 cards
  • Increase testing capacity as your lab grows
  • Consolidate space and results: connect up to four instruments to one VITEK 2® PC
  • Save time and steps by reporting isolates virtually with VITEK 2® PC Remote Access

More flexibility: Advanced Expert System™ & bioART™

The Advanced Expert System™ , can boost your confidence further by automatically providing validation of every susceptibility test result, to help clinicians select the most appropriate antibiotic treatment. The Advanced Expert System™ signals when results are ready, saving time, and gives you an accurate phenotype profile of the bacterial resistance mechanism(s) for each isolate tested, using color-coded indicators.bioMérieux’s Advanced Reporting Tool (bioART™) also enhances your reporting with customization and maximum efficiency, by automatically transferring results, offering alerts for critical results and improving standardization.

Read more...