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Got Gas? - Lab Manager

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1. Ellison says The fewer variables the lower the likelihood of something going wrong Setup care use Physical location 1s key to ensuring high performance in CO incubators Lynn Philip product manager at Eppen dorf Enfield CT suggests keeping the incubator away from ventilation ports and direct sunlight both of which create atmospheric variability that stresses incubators and diminishes their lifetime Ventilation drafts also carry bacterial and fungal contaminants Philip warns Whether using a central gas system or individual m gas tanks users should a install an in line pres sure regulator at the CO inlet to ensure that gas is supplied at recommended minimum pressure Subop ds timal pressure could lead A CO Incubator CellJQTM to reduced performance Panasonic Healthcare and slow recovery while us panasonic healthcare com www labmanager com Thermo SCIENTIFIC A Thermo Fisher Scientific Brand achieve Designed tc The new Thermo Scientific Heracell VIOS CO incubator series represents a new era in incubator design delivering performance ease of operation and value required to support a range of culturing needs from basic research to demanding leading edge applications By combining our latest technology advancements in contamination control and uniform growth conditions with existing proven and reliable features you are now able to achieve your goals faster more reli
2. LW SN M hn BioSpec int inbjoduces the a ini BeadBeater 24 The Mini Beadbe microorganisms a percent efficiency N proteins are isolated possible yields Cell S Uses proven r more e NS 1 near horizontal vial s shaking ono Si e 24 2 0ml AaS capacity with removable vial holding cassette Variable shaking speed 2000 3450 strokes min Digital 5 minute timer with auto reset No imposed motor cool down time between each sample run Best price BISP BIOSPEC PRODUCTS P O Box 788 Bartlesville OK 74005 800 617 3363 www biospec com 40 PRODUCT FOCUS LABORATORY MILLS LABORATORY MILLS Lab Manager ROUTINE UPKEEP KEEPS THEM GRINDING by Angelo DePalma PhD oogling the term bead mill retrieves dozens G of links to large process scale devices Add the word laboratory to the search string and most products are still industrial strength That is changing says Eric Clouser a sales specialist at Omni International Kennesaw GA Laboratory bead milling especially for small sample volumes is a relatively new idea A number of companies produce ball mills but until recently the devices have been too large for laboratory use Like their much larger cousins bench scale mills employ beads of stainless steel ceramic or glass to reduce the volumes of sample particles It s an ageressive form of homogenization suitable for almost any sa
3. E LOW MAINTENANCE OPERATING COSTS 93 A PRICE 91 O SAFETY FEATURES 86 aS VVARRANTY 81 INN ACCURACY 80 NN SERVICE AND SUPPORT 74 A TYPE OF CENTRIFUGE ROTOR 68 EASE OF INSTALLATION 66 eoonoocrnrrreoocrrnnrn cc eoncncrcnnenoocsss 5 For more information on centrifuges including useful articles and a list of manufacturers visit www labmanager com centrifuges 56 Lab Manager November 2014 www labmanager com performance ik i8 Multiple users A variety of processing requirements A range of user experience To overcome these everyday challenges of a shared laboratory setting cnoose the NEW Thermo Scientific Sorvall LYNX superspeed centrifuge With 100 000 x g performance and maximized capacity up to 6 liters Plus breakthrough rotor Innovations including Auto Lock rotor exchange Auto ID instant rotor identification and lightweight and durable Fiberite rotors that shorten run set up time and increase rotor security The result Productivity safety and reliability simplified at ever rn implifynon Thermo 2012 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc All rights reserved SCIENTIFIC F a a a Sorvall LYNX Superspeed Centrifuges Powerful technologies with breakthrough simplicity Auto Lock Rotor Exchange Push button security and application flexibility Auto ID Instant Rotor Identification Immediate rotor detection and programming Fiberlite Carbon Fib
4. PI PIT TCONIUM Mm PITTCON Make the smart choice CONFERENCE amp EXPO N Register now to attend Pittcon 2015 the world s largest annual conference and exposition for laboratory science See product innovations from leading companies March 8 12 2015 New Orleans LA Discover the latest scientific research in a wide Morial Convention Center range of disciplines e Network with colleagues from around the world Learn why thousands of your colleagues say Pittcon is a must attend event Follow us for special announcements f Visit www pittcon org 76 PRODUCTS IN ACTION DISCARD CYLINDERS BY GENERATING YOUR OWN GAS By Ed Connor GC Product Specialist Peak Scientitic Instruments Ltd The majority of laboratories worldwide use gas cylinders to supply their analytical instru ments sample prep systems and other lab applications The cylinder suppliers often have longterm agreements with their customers offering a solution that is relatively cheap and can easily be built into lab overheads Many lab managers don t think past this point Gases are required for analyses and an established solution is in place which is paid along with the electricity and heating bills so the cycle of cylinder orders deliveries collec tions and invoice payments continues Gas generators have been on the market for over 20 years and offer a safe convenient and costettective alternative to cylinders An LC MS usi
5. VERDER sclentific 866 473 8724 info verder scientific us Lab Manager November 2014 sample size and grinding energy are ideal for such applications In addition to high energy planetary ball mills and mixer mills the Retsch Cryomill is specially designed for cryogenic grinding with an integrated liquid nitrogen cooling system It is an ideal solution for custom ers that need to keep material at 1 96 C to avert degradation of sample and or to bring material to its glass transition state for efficient grinding The EMAX is a newly designed and released high energy ball mill that brings a new tech nology technique to the sample preparation laboratory The EMAX is designed specifi cally for high energy ball milling as it fea tures a variable speed drive up to 2000rpm and considering the high rpm levels also features an internal water cooling system that can also be adapted to an external chiller thus eliminating down time trom overheating With these functional performance features the EMAX also has a special grinding jar and motion that optimizes the grinding energy and force in order to attain ultrafine and nano sized materials As an industry leader in sample prepara tion Retsch prides itself on maintaining and continually developing its product portfolio to meet the requirements and demands of our customers With a full team of trained ap plication specialists Retsch is always looking for
6. ing about the weather or the game last night and wait for them to say something showing that they are ready to talk business He or she may say something like Why are you here or Did you want to discuss something with me By waiting for them to start the conversation you have given them the feeling that you are a coopera tive controllable and nonthreatening person By waiting to obtain their permission to advance you have given them a subliminal warm and fuzzy feeling of security Lab Manager November 2014 2 Get the buyer to admit they have a need Now you will be tempted to water the garden with a fire hose and you must resist this temptation Your goal in this part of the discussion is to get them talking about their goals and concerns and the consequences if these goals are not met Start by talking about the common goals that you share with this person and listen carefully to how they feel they are doing at meeting these goals They obviously have pain if their goals are not being met Ask questions to keep them talking and giving you more details DO NOT OFFER SOLUTIONS Not yet This 1s the tricky part Your mission here 1s to get them to feel that you really understand their problem s If you are really good at this you will get them to cry Our department has been struggling with this for months and if we don t fix 11 we will not meet our target There goes our bonus 3 Deliver you
7. top 50 science stars based on their scores THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE SELFIE Besides dealing with overblown social media reputations Hall s paper tacitly underscored the discrimination women face in the scientific community Interestingly in my analysis very few women only one in fact had a highly inflated Twitter following while most had fewer follow ers than would be expected Hence most Kardashians are men But Vernon says women are capitalizing on their ability to come together via social media to bring down barriers citing the example of Hope Jahren who runs a geobiology lab at the University of Hawaii at Manoa The fully tenured Jahren was stunned when a longtime male colleague inadvertently emailed her a letter he wrote to the department chair that described her work as pathetic and asked Do she otherwise contribute to the Dept sic That email said Jahren was a love letter compared to some of the stuff I heard as a student Her subsequent postings protesting her treatment continued to stir the controversy and spark debate Fresh research that sheds light on scientists use of social media is emerging fortunately A 2013 study of Pipette A amp D WEIGHING Laboratory Management Download the new guide 12 Tips to Make Stable Microbalance Measurements www andweighing com ion nanotech researchers Opinion Tweeting to the Top Yeo Brossard Scheu
8. Allows easy access to the rear of the instruments Noise reduction cabinet integrates an audible amp visual red LED overheating temperature alarm on battery backup for an increased vacuum pump lifetime IONBENCH www ionbench com Analog Hotplate Stirrer AccuPlate Full range of products offers heat stir and a heat stir combination model making them suited for the science and education or research markets The 7x7 ceramic coated hot plate has a maximum temperature surtace rating of 380 C with stirring speeds that can be precisely controlled between 100 1500rpm with a maximum capacity of 5 liters Features a large control panel Labnet International www labnetinternational com November 2014 Lab Manager 63 64 TECHNOLOGY NEWS Gas Sorption Analyzers Autosorb iQ3 Gives users the choice to use up to 3 physisorption analysis stations Provides up to 200 higher capacity and throughput for larger busy material characterization labs Features up to four on board degassing ports providing cold trap PC controlled ramp hold and test protocols Three samples can be analyzed simultaneously while the degas ports are used for sample preparation Quantachrome N2 Gas Bubblers e Enable chemists to visibly confirm that their reaction system is being flushed with an inert gas such as nitrogen e Provide a one way valve through which nitrogen evolved gases or solvent vapors from the inlet will bubble through the fluid
9. Compared with a French press or a mortar and pestle bead milling processes much smaller volumes down to 0 1 mL which conserves samples and reagents You lose too much of your sample if you try to homogenize volumes in the microliter range in conventional homogenizers Hopkins adds Care Although milling is not terribly complex conceptually adhering to good operating procedures is essential We too frequently learn that customers have bought a used mill but not the operator s manual and they end up damaging the unit or cannot achieve their size reduction goals because they don t understand the unit says Greg Boyer marketing manager at Hosokawa Micron Powder Systems Summit NJ Users should also inspect mills grinders periodically for wear or damage How frequently There s no blanket answer to that question Boyer acknowledges A pharmaceutical grinder might require cleaning several times per day to ensure sanitation or 1t might need to be shut down in order to inspect for sample quality By contrast a unit grinding rock samples might be cleaned less frequently but checked for damage more often Usage patterns also dictate more or less frequent inspection and cleaning practices Boyer adds Purchase decisions Economics and performance are the two main factors when purchasing milling grinding equipment according to Boyer Customers know their samples and usually have a good idea of the extent of siz
10. Teltow Germany says A very important sector 1s sonochemistry where the influence of ultrasonic energy and the resulting shear forces can create unique results Ongoing advances in research and development across a wide range of fields will surely propel even more applications of homogenizers To keep up with other technologies homogenizers keep getting smarter Hielscher explains The standards of lab homogenizers adapt more and more to the intelligence of industrial machinery This means adding smart features such as browser control of the device automatic data recording automatic shutoff after a determined time or energy input or the option of interval processing with defined pauses during the homogenization process That kind of control allows far more sophisticated homogenization cycles One lab might also use the same homogenizer for multiple tasks To do that the device needs some flexibility For small scale sample preparation in the analytical lab customers ask frequently for multifunctional devices to fulfill demanding applications Hielscher says That makes flexibility a feature worth seeking when shopping for a new homogenizer especially in labs that lack the budget or even the space for multiple devices In some instances though different applications will require specific forms of homogenizing For instance Jeffrey D Whyte product manager molecular biology and radiochemicals at MP Biomed
11. They help to eliminate both ion suppression and the need for long gradient run times to elute on column phospholipid build up For additional information or to try a free sample please visit sigmaraldrich com hybridspe SIGMA ALDRICH www sigmaaldrich com November 2014 Lab Manager 85 PRODUCTS IN ACTION HIGH ENERGY BALL MILLING EQUIPMENT The aim to achieve ultrafine and nano sized materials is becoming of great importance as effort in nanotechnology is a key driver in the develop ment of innovative products To attain particles in this region many techniques can be used such as synthesizing such materials as well as high energy milling Retsch offers a full complement of high energy ball milling equipment The planetary ball mill offering from Retsch continues to be a key research tool in many labs that are in need of achieving finely ground sample particles in addition to submi cron materials and mechanical alloying The planetary ball mill has been the historical go to instrument for fine grinding applications For customers with small samples that require finely ground material the Retsch mixer mills are an optimal choice With the ability to process small sample quantities to a fine powder in a relatively short time these units are used in many research facili ties for these homogenizing requirements Also the Retsch mixer mills are often used in the area of mechanochemistry research as
12. so that virtually any protocol can be set up and stored for future use Protected Access Password protection for up to 50 unique user protiles enables multi user laboratory environ ments to control access It s simple to allow users the appropriate security levels Adminis trator Super User or Operator This way the lab manager can control the level of access each user has to the centrituge according to the permissions that follow And with remote access the user management can be done by the lab manager without leaving the office Detailed Run History and Rotor Tracking by Serial Number Powertul tracking capability eliminates the need for paper logbooks that require manual entries lt also ensures that details of each and every run are recorded and linked to a spe citic user which adds a level of accountability into the laboratory Detailed run tracking builds an archive of each run that includes the user operating the centrifuge date time run parameters and any diagnostics or errors that were issued during the run Users can also track the number of cycles ac cumulated on specific rotors used with Optima XPN and Avanti JXN Series centrituges Freedom In multi user environments users may tind themselves having to walk down the halll to another floor or even into another building to get to centrituges in a common equipment room With remote monitoring and control of the Optima XPN and Avanti JXN Serie
13. LEADERSHIP amp STAFFING 4 Wait for the buyer s decision to agree with you around and risk becoming tangled in tangential discus You have danced the dance You broke the ice and con sions You have accomplished your mission vinced the buyer to describe their problem to the point Can you see that the logic of your solution is only a of feeling understood You then delivered your prescrip Small part of the overall exchange Wor king together tion providing a remedy to each as a team requires good com of the concerns they described ji munication skills in all parties and now you must be quiet Once they dgree with your Without successful communi and wait It is hard to stay quiet cation the perfect solution may here but it is essential Give the recom mendation say thank never be implemented Effec buyer time to think As you are d t h Y tive communication is one of silently waiting start looking for y OU dil en FUN the fundamental problems we signs of agreement face in business They may ask additional questions and of course you have anticipated these questions and you have a clear Donald Truss is a recruiter of STEM professionals and is the succinct answer for each Sometimes you can see the executive director of Students 2 Science which provides middle wheels turning in their mind The important thing is and high school students with a hands on chemistry laboratory that you wait for them to move forward in
14. THE THE AND THE SELFIE SOCIAL MEDIA S ROLE IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY BY F KEY KIDDER the wall Their digital firepower was unstoppable Without further ado they stormed the ramparts overrunning scientific strongholds There is no turn T he barbarians were at the gates the handwriting on ing back now Social media is a juggernaut its impact profound and already making itself felt in ways that few could have envisioned Revolutions rearrange the established order On one side are the disrupters agents of change who champion social media The diehards have a different drift many of the old lions and scientists in positions of power are defenders of the status quo Betwixt and between are the majority of scientists who are of different minds about social media Digital tumult rattles science in its entirety Researchers certainly hear the roar Social media has insinuated its way into every corner of the scien tific enterprise employment and hiring career trajectory research practices collabora tion marketing publications internal communication and outreach and commerce Is nothing sacred Old ways of doing business are under attack Most everything scientists were taught about how to ascend soldier on keep your head low and await your turn is being turned on its head by fast risers Engagement with society at large was once the oc casional necessary evil Now it s encouraged the better to make
15. a dialogue with all my students and techs he says I like to get them to think PERSPECTIVE ON A CELL CULTURE LAB get them to ask questions If they have an idea I want them to tell me what it is and I want them to tell me why they think it s a valid idea Apart from the management challenges Fasano s lab faces many of the same issues other labs are facing running a lab on reduced funding and disappearing grants He says passion and persistence are the keys to overcoming such negatives If you re going to be a manager in this lab world whether you re going into industry or academia you have to have a tough skin and a tough stomach he says Your passion for it has to be so strong that in the face of many critics you re going to keep going A lot of people say that science is just not viable as a long term career anymore I disagree with that I think it just takes the right person You have to keep going and keep trucking through and eventually your ideas will pan out For Fasano the positives of the job are also similar to those of many other managers having the opportunity to learn and do something new each day doing challenging work and working with young scientists My role in this as a manager and as an investigator is not just to teach them science but also to be a mentor to them in their career and their life at this stage he says I need to establish relationships with them and
16. a multi cylinder configuration is often the best choice In such systems multiple cylinders are racked together and connected to manifolds with a switchover system Gas supply is initiated from one end of the switchover system and is automatically switched as the primary source 1s depleted This setup avoids many of the problems and much of the downtime associated with cylinder change out be cause the primary cylinder can be replaced while gas de livery continues from the secondary cylinder Although multi cylinder configurations with switchovers are less disruptive to laboratory operations consider that they are more expensive to set up and may require a trained technician to handle switchovers and cylinder changes Another critical choice when setting up your gas delivery system 1s the selection of a suitable pressure regulator Gas pressure regulators are used to reduce the pressure of gas supplied from a high pressure canister to a level that can be safely used for instrument and equip ment operation There are two types of regulators to choose from single stage and two stage As their names suggest single stage regulators reduce cylinder pressure to the outlet pressure in one step while two stage regu lators perform the same function in a two step process Selecting a regulator will depend largely on the type of application for which it is required Lab Manager November 2014 If your system involves the supply of several ins
17. agreeing with experience He may be contacted at Donald Truss Solidus Ser you You cannot rush this Once they agree with your vicesGroup com or Donald Truss Students2 Science org recommendation say thank you and then run Don t hang or gt EA UNDER WRAPS S y O LAN Cell Culture Overhaul After 20 years it was time for an update We ve painstakingly e redesigned e expanded e optimized SARSTEDT 800 257 5101 customerservice sarstedt us e www sarstedt com Lab Manager Acade my 24 The wliterates of the future will not be those who cannot read or write They will be those who cannot learn and relearn Alvin Toffler ts always more efficient for a group to master new ideas ap proaches and technologies Here are three quick ways to enjoy your colleagues limber up your thinking anticipate change and make re learning enjoyable 1 Create an iLc or Intentional Learning Community An 1LC is like a flash mob of col leagues who come together to com plete a fast fun coordinated activity and then disperse They are linked by a common interest or expertise The difference is that an 1LC can meet in person or online and its focus is a specific work or professional problem An 1LC can also be a group where everyone has a different expertise to share at the appropriate time My friend Lee works for a large charity organization The youngest of ten siblings she
18. are greatest Environments For Science To see whats new at Baker visit bakerco com BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AD 16 o matter what field you serve your role as a modern laboratory manager requires an inti mate understanding of how safety productiv ity and sustainability work together to determine the success of your entire operation in achieving accurate results and containing costs It s no surprise that one of the biggest challenges of running a successful lab opera tion is meeting all these expectations without sacrificing any one of them One effective way to find that balance is to start with your chemicals and focus on using smart chemical purchas ing methods By knowing precisely what chemicals you need and also taking into consideration other chemical purchasing factors such as product size packaging container criteria and supplier support you can make informed decisions that will help you meet all your laboratory s goals More than a catalog list The first best practice in chemi cal purchasing is perhaps the most important choosing the right supplier Improving labora tory safety and productivity while producing dependable results all in a sustainable work environment begins by identifying your labora tory s chemical needs a step that should be done in partnership with an expert supplier Experienced lab managers know there is more to purchasing chemicals than look ing at processes an
19. benches use less energy to operate so there is less heat emitted into the lab Based on data from internal testing and The University of Michigan field study published in American Biotechnology Laboratory 54 PRODUCTS IN ACTION PURIFIERO AXIOM MAKES CLASS II BIOSAFETY CABINET SELECTION EASY By Brian Garrett Product Manager Labconco Corporation Ask any lite science laboratory employee working in microbiology and they will tell you how contusing and frustrating it is to select a new biosatety cabinet BSC for the lab Do need a Class or a Class Il What is the difference between Class Il Type A2 and Type B2 BSCs ls a canopy needed on this Type A2 cabinet Are the chemicals am using hazardous enough to warrant a Type B2 Can convert my A2 to a B2 or vice versa The questions go on and on Nothing before has answered so many ques tions addressed so many shortcomings or sim plified Class II BSCs before like the Puritier Protecting your laboratory environment ABCONCO Jenny Sprung Product Manager Labconco Corporation 816 822 3 236 88114 Prospect Avenue Kansas City MO 64132 Toll free 800 732 0031 www labconco com y Lab Manager November 2014 Axiom by Labconco Through innovative airflow channeling intelligent programming and safety driven safety design this revolu tionary Class Il cabinet boasts the cumulative safety of a Type B BSC while utilizing the tlexibility of a
20. is lower than normal a digital system may still detect it while a bulk PCR reaction may not Hence sample prep with inhibitors is more robust on a digital PCR system But sample prep remains important along with experience in running and calibrating the assay and having primers that are appropriate for the target you are trying to amplify Q Is the cost per sample signiticantly higher for digital PCR A The cost per sample will certainly be higher with digital PCR because what was run in plastic disposable tubes is now partitioned into tens of thousands or millions of reactors as droplets or in an array based architec ture So you have additional substrates and reagents you have to create emul sions using microfluidics and you have to be able to read the optical signal after amplification in all those indi vidual reactors Hence cost per sample is going to be higher which 1s why people should invest in digital PCR only if they need the quantitation accuracy or need to detect a low copy target in a complex background If you don t need those capabilities you prob ably don t need to make the investment unless the costs fall to qPCR levels Q How should people evaluate the different systems that are currently available A There are different types of digital systems out there and they should be evaluated based on your application If you are looking for top line per formance with the highest statistics p
21. microplate reader e Fully regulates and independently controls both 0 and CO within the microplate reader chamber re e Provides the optimal environment for any live cell assay e Makes it unnecessary to change gas cylinders or piped gas supplies to reproduce the specific physiological conditions needed for cell based assays VANQUISHING VARIABILITY NEW SYSTEM STANDARDIZES WESTERN BLOTTING FOR MORE B CONSISTENT ANALYSIS E Bl BOOTH 525 Last month GE Healthcare Life Sciences launched its new Amersham WB system a fully integrated system for quantitative SDS PAGE and Western blotting of proteins using fluorescence detection The system aims to reduce the variability seen with conventional Western blotting by standardizing and monitoring each stage of the Western blotting process including electrophoresis transfer probing and scanning That means more consistent quantitative protein analysis The value of the insights provided by Western blotting has kept it relevant for more than 30 years but its shortcomings are well recognized said Eric Roman general manager of research and applied markets at GE Healthcare Life Sciences Building on GE s heritage and expertise in protein analysis what we have developed is a system that is set to shift how scientists see and use Western blotting from now on with a clear focus on reliability and quantification of results regardless of user Western blotting require
22. on a case by case ba sis In extreme cases where Machia vellian politics may indeed have the potential to tangibly threaten a proj ect it is crucial to take action quickly and to perhaps seek expert help from another manager HR or other trust ed source to play an advisory role The worst case scenario for any lab team is one in which bad behavior forces good employees to leave In the science marketplace today where find ing and retaining good talent is always increasingly challenging no manager wants to see that happen in the ranks Always take heed when a Machiavel lian personality reveals itself in the workplace for the sake of the health and well being of everyone on the job Mark Lanfear is a global practice leader for the life science vertical at Kelly Ser vices a leader in providing workforce solutions He has operated clinical trials around the world for almost two decades In addition Mark is a featured speaker at many life science industry conferences and a writer for life science pertodicals He can be reached at MARL773 kellyservices com or 248 244 4361 www labmanager com BECKMAN COULTER Life S Sciences Avanti JXN Running ae 14 000 Set Spi sed 14 000 RPM 0 09 Set Tia 1 0 15 himm Sat Temp p he THE NEW AVANTI JXN IHE FREEDOM OF ANYWHERE Already the leader in high performance centrifuges Avanti is yet again advancing your research and simplifying your workfl
23. on decision making Donald Truss TECHNOLOGY 28 Got Gas When considering laboratory gas sources there is growing pressure among lab managers to stay abreast of the requirements for the latest analytical equipment while also attempting to find solutions that optimize efficiency gains and minimize costs When making a decision on gas supply your analytical workflow may depend on making the right one Trevor Henderson HEALTH amp SAFETY 34 Lab Manager A Preventive Approach Prevention programs are effective and do reduce workplace illnesses injuries and fatalities Want a successtul health and safety program Follow some specific guidelines for developing a solid proactive approach to protecting your employees from potential hazards in the workplace Vince McLeod FAKE AD More info on page 88 November 2014 ger ONLINE EXCLUSIVES We always love connecting with our readers via our Facebook and Twitter pages Recently we turned some great feedback from you on the topic of music in the lab into an online exclusive article on Labmanager com You can find that article at this link www labmanager com labmusic We are hoping to have more online only articles in the future and we ll need your help for many of them getting your opinions through Twitter and Facebook about a variety of fun topics in the lab such as artwork in the lab weird lab rituals and a variety of others Be sure to keep an e
24. optimized jar design Thanks to the revolutionary cooling system with water the high energy input is ef fectively used for the grinding process without overheating the sample Due to the special grinding jar geometry the sample is thoroughly mixed which results in a narrow particle size distribution The VERDER SCIENTIFIC Division of ion i n the VERDER Group is setting stan i dards in high tech scientific equipment for quality control research and development The fields of activity cover sample preparation of solids and analyzing technology The VERDER SCIENTIFIC Division unites the leading manu facturing companies CARBOLITE ELTRA GERO RETSCH and RETSCH TECHNOLOGY 48 PERSPECTIVE ON A CELL CULTURE LAB everybody gets a fairly thorough cell training course and basic molecular analysis skills like running a DNA gel and doing a PCR Those skills help staff deal with three to four main projects at any one time along with a number of side projects All are part of a common goal Fasano explains There might be four projects that are different but they re all centered upon trying to understand something in the realm of human brain development Balancing his staff s individual needs while also promoting teamwork 1s another management challenge Fasano faces in his lab It s like I have a bunch of kids he says You want to empower them with a sense of individuality you want to give t
25. pipetting of the samples into the plates during PCR setup can lead to small droplets of solution on the side walls of the plate wells www labmanager com HOW IT WORKS A SINGLE STEP SPILL AGENT Problem An emergency spill response plan is part of every laboratory safety protocol However despite all the best precautions accidents can happen Laboratories often house chemicals such as acids bases solvents and flammables all of which can be toxic to human health and the environment if used incorrectly or spilled Traditionally spills have been addressed by the use of absorbents or a variety of spill specific neutralizers that is one agent specific for acids one agent specific for bases etc However there are several issues with these types of Pha Ca Prt fo pi individualized approaches AMPHOMAG e Absorbents Absorbents will do just that absorb a spill But that UNIVERSAL ep LSCRRENT alone does not change the chemical properties of the spill A ss toxic spill will potentially remain toxic after being absorbed only CREMIER e Individualized neutralizers In the case of emergency spill an response time is of the essence The use of individualized staan i neutralizers specific to certain spills necessitates that you l tering know what your spill is acid or base for example before employing treatment This identification phase requires time and the longer it takes to address the spill the more dangerous the situ
26. safety professionals who par ticipated in research conducted by the National Safety Council NSC This compilation represents a frame work for building an effective health and safety program It also serves as a basis for performing a gap analysis on your existing approach These elements are compatible with the Injury and Illness Prevention Plan IIPP pro moted by OSHA and are required in some states Lab Manager November 2014 Instead of trying to reinvent an already good approach we present the same program elements and same order as the NSC with added commentary and explanation In practice these are all interrelated and a single issue will generally overlap into many of the elements listed below Hazard recognition evaluation and control This is where it all starts Hazard recognition evalu ation and control is the heart of industrial hygiene practices and key to any health and safety program This step involves proactive hazard recognition in terms of environment the surroundings of the work ers the people actually doing the work equipment materials used in the work process and processes prac tices themselves A formal job hazard analysis assists with the process and 1s integral to many of the other elements listed below In the lab as part of the chemi cal hygiene plan standard operating procedures SOPs are a product of this element Once hazards have been identified and priori
27. using technology ga E Scientists engineers researchers business leaders and technology providers from industry academia E and government backgrounds will benefit from 132 peer selected podium presentations comprising 33 aie unique scientific sessions hundreds of posters plentiful networking opportunities and access to the latest Ii technologies from 300 exhibitors from around the world Participating at SLAS2015 is an invaluable aa E investment that pays significant dividends toward your personal and organizational goals as well as your aes professional success Se 2 REGISTER NOW AT SLAS2015 0RG EE E l s E SLAS2015 Scientific Program Crosses a Diversity of Industries and Interests e Drug Discovery and Development e Technology Transfer e Synthetic Chemistry e Informatics e Laboratory Instrumentation e Healthcare e Clinical Diagnostics SLAS2015 Educational Tracks e Assay Development amp Screening e Biomarker Discovery Applications Informatics e Automation amp High e Drug Target Strategies e Micro Nano Throughput Technologies Technologies e Bioanalytical Techniques KEYNOTE PRESENTERS Francis Collins Donald E Ingber Laurie Garrett Director U S Harvard University Renowned Author National Institutes A hh and Authority of Health NIH wom it on Global w BH Health Issues ORO Scan the code with your mobile device LABORATORY AUTOMATION to go directly to AND SCREENING tuba Be in your element
28. washer features come into Nolan explains For example we have a rack that play and these change with advances in technology provides direct inject washing and drying for up to 150 Today more of the labware being used is difficult to test tubes Some new racks and accessories might not wash says Odette Nolan product manager at work with older lab washers Labconco Kansas City MO Many scientists are also moving toward reusable supplies which are greener and cost less Doing that though might require more throughput in a lab washer other situations washing and using a drip rack Likewise the labware s composition might make sense The volume also impacts changes For instance Paul Miller turnaround Some situations call for a large national sales manager for Miele central washing facility with very high Professional Princeton NJ says throughput but many scientists prefer With the increasing use of plastics washing their own labware and that we adjusted our wash cycle to calls for a point of use washer accommodate that You can t use as high a heat to clean it so you add a better detergent The turnaround time should also be considered Maybe a task requires washing and drying In Getting labware clean depends on the washer and the detergent As Miller says We have nine different detergents that are matched to what they are trying to clean The detergent is also matched with a neutralize
29. workhorse applico tions of the lab where purity must be effectively balanced against speed to provide the most ef fective water supply for general use Flexibility extending to dispensing and storage The PURELAB Chorus systems work seamlessly with ELGAs Halo dispensing solutions all of which can be positioned independently trom the water purification system for maximal flex ibility and ensure that valuable laboratory space is used effectively The flow is adjustable from drop by drop up to two liters per minute allow ing users to fill their containers as slowly or as fast as is needed ELGAS unique portfolio of storage reservoirs completes the range offering 15 30 and 60 liters of compact storage all designed to reduce the risk of downtime during periods of heavy use without impacting on water quality www labmanager com Automate your multichannel pipettes Multichannel pipettes are invaluable when working with multiwell plates However prolonged and repetitive pipetting sessions bear the risk of strain and fatigue often resulting in repetitive strain injuries RSI and less reproducible results VIAFLO ASSIST together with INTEGRA s VIAFLO ll elec tronic pipettes form the pertect symbiosis to prevent users trom RSI and to significantly increase the reproducibility of prolonged pipetting protocols such as serial dilutions plate filling and reagent addition By mounting a VIAFLO ll electronic pipette on the VIAFLO ASSI
30. AND SUPPORT 82 LOW OPERATING COSTS 81 A ES WARRANTIES 80 5 For more information on biological safety cabinets including useful articles and a list of manufacturers visit www labmanager com biosafety cabinets 52 Lab Manager November 2014 www labmanager com ion With Thermo Scientific biological safety cabinets the certified performance and protection you get on Day 1 stays with you every day Not true with ordinary cabinets The difference is our design SmartFlow technology features dual DC motors to automatically balance the cabinet inflow and downflow air velocities in real time even as the filters load That means exceptional user and sample protection you never have to think about Plus our Digital Airflow Verification DAVe alarm signals any out of spec conditions for added assurance With our proven reliability ergonomics and energy efficiency the ideal choice is the one you can trust completely And not just on Day 1 hat never tak ff E e drive discovery at www thermoscientifi Herasafe KS Biological Safety Cabinet Ultimate protection comfort and performance 1300 Series Biological Safety Cabinet Exceptional efficiency safety and value Heraguard ECO Clean Bench High performance with optimized efficiency sterility and functionality 2014 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc All rights reserved Ideal when sample protection is required Due to DC motors Heraguard ECO clean
31. DePalma is a freelance writer living in Newton NF You can reach him at angelo adepalma com FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON LABORATORY MILLS INCLUDING USEFUL ARTICLES AND A LIST OF MANUFACTURERS VISIT WWW LABMANAGER COM MILLS AND GRINDERS November 2014 Lab Manager 41 THE ULTIMATE CRYOGENIC GRINDER si Y q 3 E et T k 4 me 1 i L 7 a ey L 1 y 1 a Freezer Mill The 6870D Freezer Mill IS a powerful cryogenic grinder with dual grinding and cooling chambers that pre cool and grind samples simultaneously Grinds tough plant and animal tissue plastic pharmaceuticals and bone to a fine powder In minutes gt Grinding and Cooling chambers hold up to 200 grams 100 grams per vial Touch screen control panel stores up to 10 grinding protocols SPEX SamplePrep P WWW SPEXSAMPLEPREP COM 1 855 GET SPEX SPEX SamplePrep 2014 PRODUCT FOCUS HOMOGENIZERS HOMOGENIZERS Lab Manager ADVANCED FEATURES MODERNIZE THIS ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY by Mike May PhD cientists use homogenizers in a long list of S ways including dispersing emulsifying cell lysis and extraction milling and more These tools can homogenize a liquid and a solid two different liquids and other combinations of materials Beyond the conventional uses of this technology homogenizers keep getting used in new ways For example Kathrin Hielscher marketing manager at Hielscher Ultrasonics in
32. I for about four years and is also director of research and development at the institute Some students might for their project have a specific application that they have to learn but www labmanager com The CryoMill is tailored for ca E N M S e Fl a d e FS amp cryogenic grinding The grinding jar is continually A r ll cooled with liquid nitrogen p AA S AVS S a a ke rs from the integrated cooling system before and during the grinding process Thus the sample is embrittled and volatile components are preserved The liquid nitrogen circulates through the system and is continu ally replenished from an Autofill system in the exact amount which is required to keep the temperature at 196 C The mixer mill MM 400 is a compact versatile bench top unit which has been developed specially for dry wet and cryogenic grinding of small amounts of sample It can mix and homogenize powders and suspensions in only a few sec onds It is also perfectly suitable for the disruption of biological cells as well as for DNA RNA extrac tion With its high performance and great flexibility the MM 400 is a unique product in the market The Emax is an entirely new type of ball mill for high energy milling The unique combination of high friction and impact results in extremely fine particles within the shortest amount of time The high energy input is a result of an unrivaled speed of 2000 min and the
33. ION OPTIMA XPN AND AVANTI JXN SERIES CENTRIFUGES DESIGNED TO HANDLE THE MULTI USER LAB WITH EASE Save Time and Improve Safety Shared facilities or common equipment rooms shared by several individual laboratories otten result in a laboratory having a number of unique users with varying levels of experi ence using floorstanding ultracentrituges and high performance centrituges This presents unique challenges to lab managers and facilities managers responsible for ensuring safe operation maximizing uptime and minimizing maintenance costs associated with these centrifuges These tasks are easier to ac complish using features built into Optima XPN ultracentrifugues and Avanti JXN Series high performance centrifuges by Beckman Coulter Life Sciences This allows laboratories to focus on quality sample preparation and research results instead of extensive training Easy to Use Users will fina it easy to learn read and navigate the large LCD touch screen on these instruments even from across the lab The Windows based user interface makes train ing and usage easier while reducing setup time and the possibility for errors Users can focus on getting results rather than learning the instruments An on screen contextsensitive help feature puts answers at the user s finger tips saving time and effort Up to 1 000 user detined programs consisting of up to 30 steps each are available on the Optima XPN and Avanti JXN Series
34. M CLEAN TO CONTAMINATED Active work should flow from clean to con taminated area across work surface Materials and supplies should be placed in such a way as to limit the movement of dirty items over clean ones TIP 8 WORKING WITH TUBES Open tubes or bottles should not be held in a vertical position Bottle or tube caps should not be placed on the toweling ltems should be recapped or covered as soon as possible TIP 9 WORKING WITH PETRI DISHES Investigators working with Petri dishes and tissue culture plates should hold the lid above the open sterile surface to minimize direct impaction of downward air TIP 10 WORKING WITH ASPIRATOR BOTTLES OR SUCTION FLASKS Aspirator bottles or suction flasks should be connected fo an overtlow collection flask con taining appropriate disinfectant and to an in line HEPA or equivalent filter This combination will provide protection to the central building vacuum system or vacuum pump as well as to the personnel who service this equipment www labmanager com PRODUCTS IN ACTION Selectively Remove Phospholipids from Biological Matrices Excessive background from endogenous sam ple matrix components has always been of great concern in bioanalysis and has become paramount today with the need for decreasing analytical run times In bioanalytical mass spec trometry the issue of excessive background con tributes to the problem of ion suppression lon suppr
35. Monitoring q because knowledge Jower SmartCapture Business Intelligence for Smarter Decisions SmartCapture technology empowers you to make smart laboratory decisions based on real instrument and equipment usage information Finally a solution that provides data across all makes and models The Power to Do More Unity Lab Services proven expertise combined with SmartCapture automatic data collection provides knowledge to Balance instrument workload Identify redeployment opportunities Optimize instrument and equipment service levels Enabling you to reduce downtime risk cut capital expenditures and decrease equipment maintenance costs Ask how SmartCapture can drive cost savings improve lab productivity and power smart lab decisions Contact us today Unity Lab Services www unitylabservices com smartcapture A Thermo Fisher Scientific Brand 26 very workplace has at least one of them the person who is smarter the person who knows how to fix a problem better than you can the per son who is surely going to leave you in the dust on his or her way up Employees with this kind of self regard and ambition may not always be a bad thing in the workplace But in their most virulent and destruc tive form these coworkers will often do what they need to do to succeed at the expense of others clawing and scratching their way through the day and leaving their Machiavellian im print on everything
36. PERATING COSTS 77 ri aiii VALUE FOR PRICE PAID 77 prin O E SERVICE AND SUPPORT 62 EP RA SOFTWARE 62 A E T TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP 60 TEA ne E 00 OCC CeO EEE C LEE EDEL EELE DED OLEEEE OEE LEOEEEDELEOEEEDELELEOLEEELOOOEEDELS For more information on microplate handlers including useful articles and a list of manufacturers visit www labmanager com microplate tech SURVEY SAYS ARE YOU IN THE MARKET FOR A BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINET Types of biological safety cabinet used by survey 2 respondents Biological safety cabinets BSCs are enclosures that protect users and the environment from Class Biological Safety Cabinet 16 biohazards by removing particulates and aerosolized pathogens from the work area through HEPA Class Il Biological Safety Cabinet 78 filtration then recirculate or exhaust the purified air hence cleansing the workspace air Class Ill Biological Safety Cabinet 4 TOP 5 QUESTIONS Applications performed by survey respondents within You Should Ask When Buying a Biological Safety Cabinet their BSCs 1 Do the samples specimens cultures need to be protected from environmental particulates Answering this question Cell tissue culture 28 determines what type of BSC you require Microbiology plating specimens 21 Pathogen handling 13 2 Are chemicals involved in your application Hazardous toxic or volatile vapors are not filtered by the HEPA ULPA PCR aPCR 10 filt
37. RATORY WORKFLOW BrandTech Scientific www brandtech com A i eee fs For more information about how A ie ae 5 Dr Peace con help your organization call aiid 1 55 DR PEACE MAINTENANCE MATTERS 68 LABORATORY BALANCES CALIBRATION AND CLEANING ARE ESSENTIAL Calibration is one of the most important parts of keeping your balance in top shape eeping your laboratory balances up to snuff is pretty simple but there are a few things to remember to ensure the process goes smoothly The most important thing to remember in lab balance main tenance is to keep the balance clean and calibrated says Tom Storey director of marketing at Adam Equipment You should follow any specific manufacturer s recommendations that come with the balance He adds that the user s manual is a great place to start when maintain ing your balance as it outlines all of the proper maintenance tasks for that specific balance As for how frequent maintenance should be Andrew Hurdle labora tory market manager for OHAUS Corporation recommends that in general most facilities should service and calibrate their balances on an annual basis This is also dependent upon how often you use your balance the working environment and any other regulatory mandates for your industry he says Some facilities may need to have routine calibration conducted more frequently such as monthly or even daily Hurdle stresses
38. SC Types while exhibiting unmatched flexibility When com bined these advantages offer greater energy and budgetary savings over the life of the cabi net Since this one BSC the Purifier Axiom can do everything a Type A or a Type B is capable of saves money is safer is greener is more flexible the choice of which Class Il Cabinet that is right for you is a no brainer www labmanager com Only Labconco serves up the best of both worlds ABOG sitsa no brainer Introducing the World s First Type C1 Biosafety Cabinet Confused about what type of BSC you need Should it be ducted or can it recirculate What if your needs change later Stop worrying about making the wrong BSC choice With Axiom you CAN have it all e Flexible Exhaust re circulates back into the room or vents outside Protecting your e Convertible Sash programmable for 8 or 10 sash opening laboratory environment We laboratory environment Total Safety protects you your samples and the lab Ig LABCONCO Find out more Visit www BSCno brainer com Kansas City MO 800 821 5525 Pending www labconco com Axiom ES gt o M 5 gt gt D c a gt SURVEY SAYS ARE YOU IN THE MARKET FOR A Environmental 2279 When it comes to common technology in a laboratory centrifuges rise toward the top ci te of the list Centrifuges separate particles and structures suspended in liquid by applying tho
39. ST the pipette s protocols can be carried out fully automatically TYPICAL APPLICATIONS senal Diyos Se al dilubons can be tedious due to the many maing steps thal ace requaed WAFLO ASSIST cartes oul pour serial dilubon probocobs automaticaly Simply deine the number of mung Cycles speed and mir volume Sana dilubona ate offen cared ool woth Ihe plate a portan onentabon This Hirss more sampled lo be diluted VAFLO ASSIST allows Wornang in landscape an porrat formal The concentrated sample can be drawn from a reagent tener a POR tube sip and the plata Araf eg Fira column in addition the sample can miso be ac pirated with the pipette bom an edema source belore placing il on ine VIAFLO ASSIST and staring ihe protocol Pinte Filing Filling multiple plates might nol be a dr bcult tase Gut is Sirens nonetietess in order do improve papetina erponamics mani Ppeti should be mimimired WAFLO ASSIST helps you lo M recroptales weibou i m5 king repetir strain inpury Roagent Addition Draw reagent fom the reagent tiari a POR tube siig he late Ase or an demali somos do 300 A fo the eget plate An opb nal minng sep helps to actors a homogenous dsinbutica of ihe sample For a precis liquid banales and lo make sure Mal no temaming liquid Cangas lo Me bp amd perorminy asc of ia comeman prachce MAFLO ASSIST allows bih a touch of on Me side wall he wel of inside the hquid Watch a video hitp www integra bi
40. San AA Fy bra ld ee Ferari Tn j aman dl Pear alami y a Tur a E oa Gh Jae ee ges ey eres bee i keym i pai al Par ee Ar Te ilen ge apie Peer eet Hgh ee a er ea Li MA Tea Bi era apa ed an eee i a Geet af vie ee ge ee al urea cgis Der a Fra on Pr Pay ne re Gees awe E pra 7 a Uria herre ler ae al li arar Fa Hg T5 1 PR A a dl A ed lb 4 612 er J f EO aa r ocho are ee Mia H ge 9 P 24 204 Poa am of tere 35 064 HE eT F mE ee lema HI PA 2s was q gt AA AAA a lt lt lt ar e Pie el eee Er s Herer Pie mari ari el e ee r E Miemb 2014 dwr of ies A E er taram a ajy Taty a Pul dl ere rr A pm Pii e n Fon oe eee peed e eee ee Le e e a dor Er HR Ml ee AAA ay LA Ee y ee A A A E A A A Er poa i Pe BR a 0 a TE a Pa Get your head out of the cloud and get back into the SONN SONNTEK Research Lamps Focus on what RE ALLY matters signal to Noise Reliability Call 201 236 0200 we still answer phones AAA www labmanager com ADVERTISER INDEX Company A amp D Weighing Adam Equipment Inc AMETEK Materials Analysis Division Anova BAKER Beckman Coulter Inc BINDER BioSpec Products Inc BioTek Instruments Inc CONCOA Conquer Scientific Dri Dek ELGA EMD Millipore Eppendorf North America EquipNet Inc Federal Equipment Company Hettich Instruments LP International Accreditation Service Inc Labconco Miele Inc MP Biome
41. Source The heartbeat of the FastPrep 24 5G is the touch screen display with microprocessor con trol fig 2 The display is a large 7 diagonal high definition monitor that is activated by a touch of the finger The microprocessor controls the Graphical User Interface allowing the end user to easily navigate through a choice of gt 70 MP Bio Recommended Programs User defined Saved Programs or User defined Custom Programs Fig 2 Touch screen displaying Recommended Programs by sample type Fig 3 USB Port on rear panel Recommended Programs are the heart of the 5G s functionality These validated programs include all variable assay parameters This is a valuable optimization tool for new users and is of special interest to those who are working with pathogenic or dangerous samples as well as low abundance samples The highest available power and the unique optimized motion lyses samples by the multidi rectional simultaneous impaction of specialized lysing matrix particles The FastPrep 24 5G provides quick efficient and highly reproduc ible homogenization getting your DNA RNA and proteins into the protective butter faster resulting in higher quality and yields The USB port allows users to upgrade software as they become available easily by simply connecting to a laptop or PC fig 3 A custom FastPrep App uploads new software versions quickly to the instrument The App also allows the option to down
42. THE EMERGENCE OF DIGITAL PCR A CELL CULTURE LAB WWW LABMANAGER COM Lab Manager Run Your Lab Like a Business November 2014 Volume 9 e Number 10 THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA S ROLE IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY i IAY HE BEST SOURCES SYSTEMS ire com ry ire com 04820 nua LEARN WHY POLYPROPYLENE IS RIGHT FOR YOU www2 5 N 6 a O a9 E ca dez O cab q a9 O oO gt T Y Y 6 N q O O 6 2 O Ss Y O O a9 aE polypropylene built to stand the rigors of the corrosive environment gt z z z gt oe A en LN oh ap Ko lt ah lt T wT LN Ta Z ml z E O cB lt O O Eh re e O N O NuAire Panasonic Life Science celliQ INTELLIGENT CQ INCUBATOR Smart TOUCH SCREEN INTERFAC 2 min CO2 RECOVERY E 8x Faster Z Rethink cell growth Empower your cell culture through the most advanced user interface and technology Optimize your environment D sc ve ry powered by with a new intelligent touch screen for precise CO recovery recision TM uniform temperature control and rapid decontamination p us panasonic healthcare com celliqseries 4 www labmanager com November 2014 Run Lab Mana Your Lab L
43. The FastPrep 24 5G is a software controlled standalone instrument designed with a firskof itskind usertriendly touch screen interface as well as many unique and innovative features The high speed benchtop reciprocating instrument is intended for the optimal lysis of challenging and routine sample types It is intended for use in applications that require grinding lysing or homogenization of various solid sample materials Sample types include but are not limited to the following all types of human animal and plant tissues including cul tured cells bacterial yeast and fungal cells including spores and oocytes and environ mental and metagenomic samples including soil and fecal samples Fig 1 The FastPrep 24 5G Homogenizer System INNOVATIVE FEATURES MP Bio the leader in Sample Preparation proudly introduces the newest member of the FastPrep Family of Sample Preparation Sys tems The FastPrep 24 5G The state of the art 5G system provides micro processor control with a touch screen user interface that gives you knowledge and power at your fingertips Some of the new features include e Powerful Highest speed available improves quality of analytes e Intuitive Over 70 Recommended Pro grams Just Pick and Start e Flexible Optional sample holders allow processing up to 50 ml size under ambient or cryogenic conditional e Complete lysing Matrix Tubes and Purifica tion Kits from One
44. Type A BSC Furthermore it can alternate between Type B and Type A mode in three simple steps SAFETY OF A TYPE B All Class Il BSCs provide the same level of protection from hazardous aerosols droplets or particles Tyoe B BSCs surpass the safety of Type A cabinets when it comes to handling chemical vapors due to their single pass airflow design They are also recom mended over Type A cabinets when handling hazardous powders or radionuclides because they can be fitted with Bag In Bag Out HEPA filters The Axiom also utilizes a single pass airflow design in an area of the cabinet called the Chem Zone where ac tive work is to be performed SAFER THAN A B When operating connected to its remote exhaust system the Axiom in Type B mode and a Type B cabinet have few differences but there is one that is significant When an exhaust system fails a Tyoe B must engage its interlock and shut the cabinet down becom ing a dead air enclosure The Axiom uses in telligent programming and sensor technology to recognize the same exhaust system failure and utilizing its internal exhaust blower main tains sate airtlow through the cabinet for up to five 5 minutes This programmable Active Protection Protocol alerts BSC operators to an exhaust failure and provides a countdown timer for BSC shut down all the while keep ing them safe This allows the operator time to sately and controllably secure assets and ready t
45. WORK FOR YOU Dr Patt Schwab CSP SCIENCE MATTERS 26 THE POLITICS OF PERSONALITIES Mark Lanfear ASK THE EXPERT 32 THE EMERGENCE OF DIGITAL PCR Reginald Beer PhD medical diagnostics initiative leader at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory discusses the trends and innovations in digital PCR While touting the advantages of digital PCR he explains why not every lab needs to invest in this technology Tanuja Koppal PRODUCT FOCUS LABORATORY MILLS 40 HOMOGENIZERS 42 GC COLUMNS 44 LABORATORY WASHERS 45 SURVEY SAYS ARE YOU IN THE MARKET FOR MICROPLATE HANDLERS 51 BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINETS 52 CENTRIFUGES 56 INSIGHTS 58 A BUYER S REPORT ON CO INCUBATORS Angelo DePalma TECHNOLOGY NEWS 62 The latest equipment instrument and system introductions to the laboratory market MAINTENANCE MATTERS 68 LABORATORY BALANCES HOW IT WORKS AN EASY TO USE CELL SORTER 70 A MINI PLATE SPINNER 72 A SINGLE STEP SPILL AGENT 73 PRE OWNED EQUIPMENT MARKETPLACE 89 ADVERTISERS INDEX 89 PARTING POINTS 90 Lab Manager ISSN 1931 3810 is published 11 times per year monthly with combined issues in January February by LabX P O Box 216 478 Bay Street Midland ON Canada L4R 1K9 USPS 024 188 Periodical Postage Paid at Fulton MO 65251 and at an additional mailing office A requester publication Lab Manager is distributed to qualified subscribers Non qualified subscription rates in the U S and Canada 120 per year All other countri
46. a case for socially relevant research that funders increasingly expect The entire book on communications Lab Manager November 2014 Social media has insinuated its way into every corner of the scientific enterprise Y To 1s being rewritten don t expect the new one to be com pleted anytime soon because the change is ongoing and near stupefying in scope Research resources have never been as rich abundant or accessible And journal peer review long the final word on scientific progress finds itself besieged by digital discourse that seeks to reaffirm and restore the indispensable scientific element of trust Some of the changes social media wrought in 2014 were less weighty but nevertheless added buzz to the narrative Who said science wasn t sexy enough to attract young talent Full figured Kim Kardashian was some how inserted into the controversy And for all those who bemoaned the fact that most Americans cannot name a single scientist recent headlines trumpeted the roll out of the first celebrity lists of scientists 20 Chemists Worth Following on Twitter or These 40 Science Experts Will Completely Revamp Your Social Media Feed Are the names on these lists great scientific minds or skilled social media users No sooner had social media managed to get one foot inside the gates of the research community then legions of doomsayers warned of the cheapening effects this paragon of popular cult
47. able gases such as hydrogen which can easily reach explosive levels from a small leak in a multi cylinder line or inert gases such as nitrogen which can quickly displace breathable atmosphere resulting in asphyxiation Canisters may also present physical hazards when they are being moved or if they are inadvertently dropped Given these risks it is important to note that laboratories have one of the best safety records regarding compressed gas usage and through proper use of engineered equipment and safety protocols much of the risk can be mitigated Dollars and sense If there is a major limitation to on site gas generation it is that it requires a relatively high initial capital investment S LAB TECHNOLOGY This is a consideration for many laboratories and obtain ing management buy in is often key in making a switch from canister to on site generation However most manu facturers estimate return on investment of less than one year depending on your usage level If your usage is high accrued savings from canister purchase delivery and han dling may outweigh the initial investment in a matter of months While cylinder gas is still an attractive alternative for many if not most labs considering all the available options and alternatives as well as fully understanding the demands of your particular application will undoubt edly be critical for developing a gas delivery program that makes sense for your lab For more info
48. ably and with less effort r next breakthr h e Learn more at thermoscientific com heracellvios 14 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc All rights reserved All trademarks are roperty of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc and its subsidiaries 60 INSIGHTS ON CO2 INCUBATORS too high pressure may damage the gas system accord ing to Philip Also try to minimize the frequency and length of door openings to conserve optimal cell culture atmosphere she says Split inner doors can reduce the loss of culture atmosphere during door openings Almost all incubators available today are equipped with self cleaning technology The most common uses high heat disinfection which is labor free For routine upkeep Philips advises cleaning with 70 percent 1sopro panol or a manufacturer recommended disinfectant Keep it clean To say that contamination and or cross contamina tion are issues of when not if has become clich All the more reason for labs to prepare for that eventuality Ellison recommends systems that feature strong ster ilization not just decontamination BMT s sterilization technique of choice is the application of dry high heat but other methods may be as effective Whatever meth od is chosen it should be as automated and therefore error proof as possible High heat takes longer than lower temper ature chemical or hydro gen peroxide sterilization but requires practically no user interventio
49. ack C 150 115 V ULL hinge 5 4 cu ft 9040 0086 gt BINDER Best conditions for your success www BINDER World us Phone 631 224 4340 Fax 631 224 4354 Toll Free 1 866 885 9794 LEADERSHIP amp STAFFING 20 NECO TIATING AGREEMENT HOW TO MAKE YOUR IDEAS MORE RECEPTIVE TO OTHERS by Donald Truss I believe that if an appropriate experiment could be devised I could prove that no buying decision has ever been made based solely on the facts Michael Gerber The E Myth 1986 T believe that everyone lives by selling something Robert Louis Stevenson 1894 ave you ever presented a great idea only to see H it ignored while other less important things were discussed This happens to everyone but 1t 1s especially painful for those of us in the workplace As fellow STEM professionals STEM Science Technology Engineering Math we tend to think and believe in facts numbers and logic We are less likely to pay much attention to and often do not recognize the importance of other people s feelings in our day to day discussions However feelings have a strong effect on our perceptions and decision making You must take the time required to get the buyer to trust you and to feel understood If the word feelings makes you uneasy you are not alone That s why we studied STEM topics in the first place we like facts and tangible reality even when it is the form of things we c
50. afety and health program effective human resource management is vital It in cludes the development of accurate job descriptions to take into consideration job duties such as respirator use or hearing protection use manual material handling exposure to chemicals etc that may trigger the need for preemployment evaluations and medical surveillance In tune with your pure water needs Introducing the pioneering PURELAB Chorus range innovation meets choice a fresh new approach to the way you work Want to see more Visit www elgalabwater com purelab chorus Now available through ELGA Our innovation Your choice Part of the world s leading water services company Veolia VWRES O vwr com We Enable Science HEALTH amp SAFETY Limiting exposures through administrative controls or other safety considerations e g tasks requiring two people and the development of safety rules would both be considered under this area Assessments audits and evaluations This final set of tools provides a measure for how an organization is doing in terms of health and safety These are used to monitor com pliance behaviors and to provide a yardstick for measuring progress A variety of tools are required to address these needs These can be performed by in house staff by committees as part of a job task or with outside consultants The assessment results serve as a springboard for improvement We have just s
51. ailable in a choice of 15 different models with a full breadth of read abilities ranging from O Img to 0 1g Nimbus analytical balances with O lmg readability are equipped with a glass enclosed weighing chamber which disassembles quickly for easy cleaning Nimbus precision balances with 0 001g readability come with a round glass shield to help minimize the effects of air move ment Toploading balances with readabilities of 0 01 g and O 1g are available in a selection of platform sizes Text prompts that conveniently remind users of the current function weighing mode are readily visible on the backlit display For precision weighing Nimbus is the right bal ance for everyday lab work L Cloud Network se Ao Mim Bali can be compiled and graphed with Adam DU software For more than 40 years Adam Equipment has designed and manufactured precision balances and scales for professionals worldwide in the laboratory medical education industrial food animal veterinary and jewelry markets Adam is committed to offering an extensive selection of weighing equipment with bestin class value Headquartered in the United Kingdom the company has strategically established offices in the United States South Africa Australia and China to pro vide product support and speedy delivery to distributors For more information about the company and ts products go to www adamequipment com www labmanager com PRODUCTS IN ACT
52. annot see such as atoms and electromagnetic radiation We are analytical and we like Lab Manager November 2014 dealing with things that can be measured not fuzzy transient and unprovable such as a person s feelings But we are members of a team and we often need to con vince others in our group to buy into our ideas If you want someone to do something for you and if you want to be more convincing then follow these steps The best idea does not always win the argument Feel ings more than logic will determine a person s deci sions and actions For example think about the last time you bought toothpaste Did you pick up each tube and rationally consider all the ingredients Did you suspect or have a feeling that the label may be misleading Did you believe all of the proofs stated on the label Did you consider the psychological effects of the colors on the box or the font used in the title Probably not After all we are STEM professionals My master s degree in synthetic chemistry has helped me to become immune to these feeble attempts to sway my decision regarding which toothpaste to buy I promise that the more you understand how the other person is feeling during a discussion the more likely you will be able to convince them to agree with you When I was young and a member of The Boy Scouts of America we engaged in a very enlightening exer cise We spent an entire day working together as a team witho
53. astPrep Family Delivering Extraordinary Results Request a Demo MP Biomedicals 800 854 0530 www mpbio com sampleprep EDITOR S NOTE The Kardashian Effect This morning Queen Elizabeth made her first foray into the world of social media when she sent the first royal tweet under her own name to declare the opening of a new Science Museum gallery The Queen s message read It is a pleasure to open the Information Age exhibition today at the ScienceMuseum and hope people will enjoy visiting Elizabeth R and will likely be re tweeted thousands of times by many of the BritishMonarchy twitter account s 722 000 followers Surely a late adopter the Queen has nevertheless recognized the pervasiveness and usefulness of this new form of communication New to her at least Which brings us to this month s cover story The Good the Bad and the Selfie in which author Key Kidder looks at the role social media currently plays within the scientific community It is no longer a question of whether to participate but rather how to participate Some believe making use of social media is crucial to securing ever more limited scientific funding As more scientists are compelled to compete for their share of shrinking research resources and funding opportunities the right touch of social media can provide the soft sell that sustains them in today s harsh economic climate says Kidder However others worry that self promot
54. ates this effect Precise oxygen control has become another must have for modern incubator work particularly with hypoxic low oxygen cultures Oxygen levels inside organisms are much lower than the 21 percent level in the atmo sphere Moreover all cells have unique oxygen require ments Liver kidney and cardiac cells function optimally within organisms at unique oxygen levels which may change even within organs For example liver cells require between four percent and 12 percent depend ing on their proximity to oxygen containing capillaries Nerve breast cancer and immune cells will migrate away from an oxygen gradient but Chinese hamster ovary cells used in biomanufacturing won t As research ers increasingly work with cells that require almost no oxygen to survive the need for fine tuning oxygen lev els has never been greater Hypoxic cultures re quire oxygen uniformity throughout to ensure that cells on the bottom shelf receive the same concen tration as cells on middle or top shelves Bates says You want to duplicate physiologic conditions as closely as possible AiPSC Derived Neural Cells AMSBIO www amshio com A CO incubator will do its job to protect an experiment or process but only if operators follow best practices In addition to temperature uniformity and recovery of critical culture conditions Bates advises purchasers to con sider automated disinfection to save time and
55. ation becomes The faster the spill response the safer the situation Finding the quickest and most efficient way to deal with spills is essential for the safety of you and those around you A Amphomag universal spill sorbent with DH indicator Solutions A laboratory safety protocol involving the use of a single step spill agent ensures that spills will be addressed as quickly as possible Employing one multi function agent that not only absorbs a chemical spill but also neutralizes and is safe to use on acids bases solvents and flammables offers the most streamlined approach to dealing with an emergency The Amphomag universal spill neutralizer manufactured exclusively by Premier Magnesia LLC is a leading technology in emergency response Amphomag is a unique rapid response chemistry that safely absorbs and treats all spills This single product can be applied in any emergency situation to safely and easily control hazardous releases It 1s used to neutralize acids neutralize bases adsorb liquids control odors and neutralize gases This product also contains a multi range pH indicator that further simplifies spill response When applied to the spill Amphomag s color turns to red for acids and blue for bases Advantages of a one step spill solution e Quicker spill response the spilled material doesn t require identification before agent is applied e One solution for acids and bases volatile organic compounds as wel
56. before being vented to the atmosphere e Affordably priced www quantachrome com Asynt www asynt com Laboratory Gas Burners Fuego SCS Series Offers more convenience through the new graphic display and comfort functions The animated self explanatory and wordless symbol display facilitates a rapid and easy selection of all functions Streamlined design reduces air flow disturbances in laminar flow hoods Safety Control System SCS demonstrates state of the art safety technology which constantly analyzes potential hazards and if necessary initiates safety measures WLD TEC www wld tec com Aspiration Controller for Cell Culture VACUUBRAND VHC PRO e Ergonomic design accommodates several different hand positions for comfortable fluid aspiration using Pasteur pipettes or pipette tips y e All aspirated liquid is contained in the tubing for easy A decontamination and minimizing air leakage e Optional 8 channel manifold with tip ejector is available e Supplied with the VACUUBRAND BVC line of fluid aspiration systems and can easily be fitted to aspiration systems from major manufacturers BrandTech www brandtech com Lab Manager November 2014 Automated Cell Culture System Compact SelecT e Allows researchers to set up their cell culture seeding feeding expansion plating and e A maintenance protocols to automatically produce ell consistent quality cells for extended periods of time i Pea jj Inclu
57. bering to do maintenance and being gentle are the keys to a happy balance Rough handling of a balance is one of the leading factors to a balance not performing at optimum levels Hurdle says If possible once your balance is initially set up it should not be disturbed Check back with us next month as we share the essentials of maintaining laboratory cold storage equipment lt A Routine maintenance on your balance should always be done by a certified technician OTHER WAYS TO SAFEGUARD YOUR BALANCE Using the balance in harsh environments exposing to corrosive materials temperature extremes exposed to water or moisture dirt dust getting inside of product etc can lead to balance damage and inaccuracy Use the appropriate cleaning agents to routinely clean your balance Some agents can significantly damage balance surfaces So be sure to consult the balance s service manual before using a cleaning solvent on the balance Plug your balance into a power surge protector Allow the balance to warm up to room temperature levels before use Do not leave items on the balance weighing pan for an extended amount of time Most manufacturers standard warranties cover the balance from manufacturer defects but often repairs fall outside of that warranty Whether or not you should purchase an extended warranty depends on the value of the balance how you use it the level of wear and tear on the instrument and
58. ccording to Whyte one new bead beating device incorporates smart technology including a touchscreen controlled microprocessor that comes with dozens of recommended programs for specific uses such as the sample being processed These programs can cut down the optimization time says Whyte With any new application you might have to tweak a program here or there but the program will get you very close to the optimum processing In a regulated environment such as the pharmaceutical industry other features make life in the lab easier Just adding a USB port for instance makes it far easier to keep track of the processing of a sample allowing memory stored assay data including when and how the sample was homogenized to be downloaded to a computer PRODUCT FOCUS HOMOGENIZERS Some applications can be very specific For instance at Sequip in Diisseldorf Germany Friedel H Schwartz chief technology officer describes using a homogenizer inside a beaker inside a bypass line during the pumping in a stream of drilling mud He adds that they use the same technology for process and lab applications in combination with Sequip s shockproof and vibration proof sensor technology These examples reveal only some of the breadth of science and technology that require a homogenizer So the only real solution to matching the best technology to the technique at hand requires lots of product research and talks with
59. colleagues and company experts plus a few test runs with various products Mike May is a freelance writer and editor living in Ohio You may reach him at mike techtyper com FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON HOMOGENIZERS INCLUDING USEFUL ARTICLES AND A LIST OF MANUFACTURERS VISIT WWW LABMANAGER COM HOMOGENIZERS November 2014 Lab Manager 43 FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON GC COLUMNS INCLUDING USEFUL ARTICLES AND A LIST OF MANUFACTURERS VISIT WWW LABMANAGER COM GC GC COLUMNS Lab Manager USERS VALUE APPLICATION SPECIFICITY by Angelo DePalma PhD hromatographers often need to balance the convenience of universal use columns against the sensitivity and resolution of specialized columns Where labs may at one time have employed a nonpolar all purpose column they now seek columns engineered for chemical families or even specific methods says Timothy Anderson GC products manager at Phenomenex Torrance CA Phenomenex for example recently introduced a column specifically for chlorinated pesticides which joins similar products from Agilent Restek and Supelco Sigma Aldrich Polyaromatic hydrocarbons PAHs are another application specific favorite PAHs are produced during manufacturing processes involving high heat European regulators specify allowable PAH levels in food and consumer products European and U S standards differ substantially enough that those markets are best served by different method specific colu
60. conversations into social media offerings to help press their case When scientists want to seriously talk science using social media they go behind closed doors Lab instruments are one example Bio Rad Laboratories which makes a range of life sci ence research products developed interactive tutorials targeting bench scientists and comple menting the written content for 1ts nucleic acid detection and analysis systems The response has been favorable says marketing manager Paul Streng Concise educational animations that provide tips and tricks for successful research have generated positive feedback If customers see social media as a sales pitch it diminishes the message said Kevin McLaugh lin senior marketing communications specialist for Shimadzu Scientific Instruments F Key Kidder left journalism to pursue a career in government relations politics and PR but he still likes to keep his hand in writing He can be reached at k2 keykidder com or by phone at 410 963 4426 As the challenges grow so does The Baker Company It s an evolution 7 guided by the integrity am N fe we re known for k _ We are building on our achievements adding capabilities and products distinguished by the same uncompromised engineering and quality Thousands of researchers around the world depend on us and we will stay worthy of their trust Because we want to go wherever the challenges
61. costs related to manual cleaning and autoclaving Large cell culture reactors for example use automated clean in place or steam in place techniques incubators employ chemicals and or heat Some designs require users to remove internal components and clean or autoclave them separately while in others components are sterilized in place Regardless of the disinfection protocol it should not in itself introduce risk of contamination or harm to cells Angelo DePalma is a freelance writer living in Newton NF You can reach him at angelo adepalma com November 2014 Lab Manager 61 62 TECHNOLOGYNEWS cs C O Our two highlighted tradeshows this month include the Materials Research Society Fall Meeting and Exhibit MRS and the American Society for Cell Biology s annual meeting 2014 ASCB IFCB The 2014 MRS Fall Meeting takes place November 30 December 5 2014 in Boston Massachusetts featuring over 6 000 presentations Not long after the 2014 ASCB IFCB Meeting a premier biomedical research conference runs December 6 10 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania Its Keynote Talks will soan the origin of lite to the cosmos Remember that the companies highlighted here in Tech News will be exhibiting but these specific products may not be at the shows Q TOF GC MS System 7200B Replaces the 7200A with new capabilities that will significantly boost laboratory performance Features improved hardware performance newly upgraded software feature
62. d applications and then flipping through a catalog to see what fits Proper inventory management is key which means Lab Manager November 2014 2 Reusable containers can provide a sustainable alternative to disposable bottles single use containers and one way drums and can reduce chemical waste and disposal costs for frequently used chemicals by Steven Daley pa buying only what is needed when it s needed and in the right volume grade and package While it may seem elementary a dependable chemical supplier is a vital contributor to these decisions and can help make the purchasing effort more efficient An effective chemical supplier will partner with you to evaluate all your chemical related lab processes applica tions and product needs They will assist with gathering application information product numbers chemical grades and package sizes so your chemical selection can be optimized for each application Good supply partners know that these important considerations in chemical selection also affect other facets of lab management including productivity safety and sustainability So make sure your supplier is doing more than just delivering chemicals a good supply partner should also support your best practices and laboratory man agement initiatives Be smart about buying in bulk Buying in bulk can provide many advantages including less frequent refill change outs and fewer op portunities for subseq
63. d risks of storing large volumes of hydrogen in the lab www labmanager com It was a curious Scot that discovered life saving penicillin We also design the world s best Gas Generators Sir Alexander Fleming was a Scottish biologist and pharmacologist who won a Nobel Prize for discovering the world s first antibiotic But Scottish inventiveness didn t stop there Today Peak Scientific gas generators also proudly represent Scottish innovation Manufactured to ever higher standards and with new features appearing regularly Peak s gas generator range offers innovation reliability and the assurance of peak performance Add to this world class after sales care and you can see why Peak Generators are used in some of the most sophisticated labs in the world FIND OUT MORE Call 1 866 647 1649 Email marketing peakscientific com EXPECT INNOVATION www peakscientific com PEAK Y SCIENTIFIC 78 PRODUCTS IN ACTION ADAM EQUIPMENT S NIMBUS BALANCE DELIVERS SKY HIGH PERFORMANCE AND DOWN TO EARTH VALUE The new Nimbus range of lab balances from Adam Equipment provides a streamlined weigh ing experience for discerning scientists worldwide Innovative design enables a compact footprint so the Nimbus occupies a minimal amount of space on the laboratory bench but maintains the highest levels of performance The base for the Nimbus is formed from a single piece of extruded aluminum o
64. d to ke ep abreast of new or inforces the desired behaviors must be managed properly to through positive recognition maintain regulatory compliance evolvi a g re OU lations that Training and orientation i a Employee involvement WI IM Dact your operations Training can assume a vari Employee involvement in all ety of forms from classroom aspects of a safety and health style to hands on from general program benefits both the employees and management concepts to task specific Besides the need for safety The frontline employees have experienced problems that training from a regulatory standpoint it is critical that might not otherwise be recognized by management Em employees know what to do to perform their jobs cor ployee involvement also serves as a bridge of understand rectly and safely ing to the employer concerning health and safety issues all GONGOAHASALETHERIEGES CONCOA offers all the components required to deliver gas for any analytical application SilcoNert 1020 regulators manifolds and hoses boost performance and reduce costs in analysis of sulfur compounds in low concentrations The universal Intelliswitch supplies a seamless flow of argon to multiple ICP instruments from any combination of high pressure cryogenic liquid cylinder or bulk sources Fully populated gas cabinets emergency shut off assemblies and flashback arrestors ensure safe transition from helium to hydrogen for economical gas ch
65. depend on making the correct decision When making that ings are an important part of getting people to listen to your ideas To decision it s important to consider NI PO e The pros and cons of the various supply options e Break the ice e Budget constraints e Get the buyer to admit they have a need e Demand e Deliver your solution to the buyer s need e What sort of gas pressure regulator is best e Wait for the buyer s decision to agree with you 34 A PREVENTIVE APPROACH PERSPECTIVE ON Prevention programs are effective and do reduce workplace illnesses A CELL CULTURE LAB 46 injuries and fatalities Some specific guidelines for developing a solid Dr Chris Fasano s lab at the Neural Stem Cell Institute in Rens proactive approach to protecting your employees from potential haz selaer New York is dedicated to finding the cause of autism Some ards in the workplace cover factors such as of the challenges and rewards of working with his young student a employees include e Hazard recognition evaluation and control Pa e Workplace design and engineering e Ensuring students aren t pushed too hard as they are still learning e Safety performance management e Giving students a sense of ownership while building teamwork at the same time e Regulatory compliance management e Keeping up the lab s morale during frustrating times e Mentoring students 90 Lab Manager www labmanager com Victor the name you know and tru
66. des a unique SelFeeder liquid handling r unit that allows scheduled feeds and media changes and also has a gentle liquid addition and removal action Helps reduce damage to cell layers TAP Biosystems www tapbiosystems com CHEMICALS KITS amp REAGENTS Dicer siRNA Generation Kit Mimics the natural RNA interference process by using recombinant human dicer enzyme a double stranded RNA specific endonuclease to cleave in vitro transcribed dsRNA templates into a pool of 22 bp siRNAs Allows easy and cost effective generation of a large number of small interfering RNAs siRNAs from full length target genes Contains everything required for preparing double stranded RNA RNA cleavage siRNA cleanup and transfection AMSBIO www amsbio com Gamma H2AX Pharmacodynamic Assay Kit Designed for the study of double strand DNA breaks through the detection of gamma H2AX e Developed for anti cancer drug screening basic research and upcoming clinical trials providing one of many needed tools to support hypothesis driven drug design strategies Documents differences in gamma H2AX levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured cells and tissue biopsies AMSBIO www amsbio com Multiplexing Reagent System AlphaPlex e Designed to extract more information from each assay by simultaneously quantitying multiple analytes in a single well e Utilize PerkinElmer s AlphaLISA technology to quantify multiple analytes in a si
67. dicals NuAire Inc Panasonic Healthcare Parker Hannifin Corporation Peak Scientific Pittcon Pro Scientific Inc Proton Onsite Retsch SARSTEDT SHEL LAB SLAS Sonntek Inc SPEX SamplePrep Thermo Fisher Unity Lab Services Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc Vacuubrand Inc Victor Equipment Company URL www andweighing com ion www adamequipment com nimbus icp oes spectro com BLUE www waterbaths com www bakerco com www beckmancoultercentrifugation com www binder world us www biospec com www cellimager com WWW CONCOA COM ConquerScientific com dri dek com www elgalabwater com www millipore com ultrapure www eppendorfna com cellculture www EquipNet com www fedequip com www hettweb com www iasonline org www labconco com www miele pro com www mpbio com www nudire com us panasonic healthcare com solutions parker com conservehelium www peakscientific com www pittcon org www proscientific com www ProtonOnSite com www retsch com www sarstedt com www shellab com SLAS2015 org www sonntek com www spexsampleprep com www unitylabservices com smartcapture www thermoscientific com www vacuubrand com VictorSpecialtyGasControl com 14 08 4 25 6 53 57 99 14 9 PRE OWNED EQUIPMENT MARKETPLACE Global Supplier of High Quali Pre Owne Lab Equipment Ss Congue Full systems complete with tune reports And pre lralalled aofbware Conquerscentificcom Br AO A infofbconquersciont
68. ducing risks associated with gas leaks such as asphyxiation or explosion Further once installed a gas generator will provide continuous supply to a single or multiple instruments without the need to remove replace and reorder new canisters on a regular basis It is important to note that in some cases gas genera tors may present delivery pressure limitations resulting in problems for labs requiring high pressure gas or for labs that wish to serve multiple instruments from a single generator In such situations it is best to position the generator as close to the instrument as possible to avoid supply line pressure drops and keep in mind that you may require multiple generators to meet the needs of your lab While on site gas generators present a very attractive option in terms of convenience be advised that they do require some maintenance to maintain optimum per formance and reliability Depending on the type of gas generator used 1t may require replacement of filters or desiccant cartridges on a semiannual basis as well as re placement of valves sensors heaters or thermocouplers www labmanager com every couple of years Complete knowledge of the main tenance requirements and the associated costs is important when purchasing a gas generator Gas generators present a very attractive argument in fa vor of safety Their low storage volumes and low pressure minimize much of the risk associated with working with either flamm
69. e with RNA sequencing the challenge is making sense of the huge amount of data gathered You really need the help of computer scientists and mathematicians to help you decode that to have it make sense Fasano says of that data As biologists we re not trained to do that so you have to be interdisciplinary You have to work with people outside your field to make sense of the data you re getting Overall new technologies including cell culture kits are making it easier to grow cells better and more efficiently he says Admitting he may be biased he says the StemBeads technology has really helped as researchers have gone from needing to feed cells every day even on weekends to two or three times a week Its important to be in the lab but it s important to be out of the lab he says You want to be dedicated but you need some time to yourself This kind of advance has allowed that to happen without sacrificing quality of cells He says StemCulture aims to grow the StemBeads product line and he also hopes to grow his own lab get more funding and add some postdoctoral fellows to his staff to offer extra guidance and support for the grad students All that will help them continue their promising work The fact that we can now take an everyday occurring toxin and ask basic questions like What does it do to early brain development How does it affect the genes that are changing during what
70. e airtight construction of stainless steel and rigid Plexiglas for unobstructed vision and integrity BACTRON300 anaerobic chambers have ergonomic armport doors which ensure user comfort and minimize shoulder fatigue r Contact SHEL LAB 800 322 4897 www shellab com DID YOU NOTICE AN AD IN THIS MONTH S ISSUE THAT SEEMED UNUSUAL OR UNBELIEVABLE IF NOT YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AGAIN SOMEWHERE IN THIS ISSUE IS A HIDDEN FAKE AD IF YOU FIND IT SEND THE NAME OF OUR FICTITIOUS COMPANY TO FAKEAD LABMANAGER COM FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN AMAZON GIFT CARD INTERNATIONAL l MAS ACCREDITATION SERVICE a See Leading Accreditors Since 1975 Accrediting Test Labs Rapid Scheduling and Assessments to ISO IEC 17025 www iasonline org LM ILAC Signatory Testing Calibration Inspection Lab Manager November 2014 Siaterment of Ownership Management and Circulation o Rages Publications Only eae Hea A tO ss ee Fa ety LE PDA The Chved Bed Presa Inc Agen for Foreign Corporation cag Grower B ic eee et o Pale dl or Lime Meda Drop PO Bor 718 470 Bay Sel Miani DA Canada LAR 10 E hf Witri O Li A A T Palas PA lr ed e EE Pana Paar aon carpe ery sci i Ebrard hiso 15 Miden Aya 1505 flees Hea Yok NY 10097 1911 408 Madison Aree 18th floor Kew York Nr 10017 1110 arre A a mies 210 hisdan Avs 19h cor Mera ork HY 10017 1111 T hs Pear rar hr Fre ee semi py ee pm beure m aes i b
71. e cabinet cross ing over the work surface contaminating the air passing it up through the HEPA filter for clean air TIP 2 WORK AT THE PROPER SASH LEVEL Proper airflows are reached by a certifier measuring air speed on an annual basis or more ensuring the cabinet is fully operational to provide personnel product and environ mental protection TIP 3 NEVER COVER THE AIR GRILL Covering the air grill compromises airflow integrity and can cause laboratory air to enter the work zone or even work zone air fo enter the laboratory environment TIP 4 MINIMIZE MOVEMENT Move arms in and out slowly perpendicular to the face opening of the cabinet reduces the risk of air barrier containment disruption Other personnel activities in the room e g rapid movement open closing room doors etc may also disrupt the cabinet air barrier TIP 5 REDUCE SPLATTER Good microbiological techniques will mini mize splatter and aerosol generation Class cabinets are designed so that horizontally nebulized spores will be captured by the downward flow of cabinet air within fourteen inches 35cm of travel Keeping clean materi als at least twelve inches 31cm away from aerosol generating activities will minimize the potential for cross contamination TIP 6 KNOW YOUR WORK AREA All operations should be performed at least 4 inches trom the front grille in the middle third of the work surface area TIP 7 WORK FRO
72. e nre fo eee et E ee BS Pr EE UA ee ee DA ee ee ee A A A a a A ae ii e a a ee mA ee eS ee A ee el eda i e a Pi a rai cara Be ee ee he ee ere pe ee st Pall Seer Soe Bar Sa Lahk Meca Gace PO Boo 718 378 Bar Gren llar Doe Kalos ON Canada Lat 155 11 Ear Pur Lie hrii M ic rd Coe Es Poll Hara arpa har ra del A e id e e dl dy Pr a khe a da al dl Pd ia TE PE MR PEA y AA AI PAN E PTA PP IRA PA o re pee ea re lu meral rens br ee ees he pe EX riki Three ire Bering T Lies l Hn rl ey Pb U ees dee mai ade ee ge el En dal PE ion A bog Aa a ieee ae E PA PA AA PASTA a es ep ee ee e LS i han ee er ae Pr LA LAA pl mbar 2014 AAA E E yee io dar lp emmy la silla Li b ll ur it A el HEH a cards Pe accel E M eles Faden a PS Tae A A er ele may Sal Flat snif Ldeinpsiesien dal iid tn T MA 2431015 1 er hinge E prnl m y ra i aah re errs a pu rpa es a hee ped i i b dl aaron Jeri Fa Gee Ge ia eee al om A ee ET Pai 5 k eet ee marai Gere ees ree irg al er re LAR i gampi bam pee prd cule wees riL rest nir ues ee mir Him POW FRH PFEP Loe a A FL pori Tiaris 1 Fa Lia TH Pr DAA ee Lee ee ee LA a Us Pat AA LP ay Spee ger re ar il Se Vie e A mo Url Ca ee ST AAA A 8 ea Pal AS AA A APA O PAE P 344 354 Aj jmi 5 i z 1 sr rer beeen a a oe Pla a pa rai ore y ree min pre a liea m ere La Peca ki aam Fg m aang La mn ei re hamai l eee al Par eer rel a 8 qe y eh
73. e reduction they require but there is more than one way to skin this particular cat Potential purchasers should always test a mill before buying to confirm in spec particle characteristics Top vendors are quite open about testing samples and advising customers Our application engineers have experience with most materials and can quickly identify www labmanager com the right milling system explains Boyer He recommends submitting a few samples beforehand which his colleagues will test to customer specifications with several possible mills an air classification universal or hammer mill for example Hosokawa invites customers to its facility to discuss results in person with the firm s technical staff We give customers options based on outcomes and performance Boyer says One mill may be right if they re looking for high production rates and low energy costs whereas a different mill might be suitable for ultrafine or coarse granulation Boyer admits that at times given a particular material and performance criteria we may not even offer the right type of equipment Buyers should avoid mill grinder vendors that lack experience in their specific field A company known for pharmaceutical milling may not fully understand the requirements for foods Boyer says For example regulations for processing drugs are quite stringent with respect to particle size size distribution and process temperatur
74. e students and the postdocs to focus on more important things His lab also uses a lot of high throughput RNA sequencing technology in order to better understand human brain development from start to finish That technology looks at all the genes in our genome at static points and then we can decode that to get an idea of what genes go up and what genes go down as the brain develops Fasano says Then we compare that to samples from autistic patients to see how those gene changes are now different Induced pluripotent stem cell technology iPS plays a strong role in the work of Fasano s lab as well allowing researchers to take a sample of somebody s skin and reconvert that all the way back to an embryonic stem cell he explains This allows us to generate stem cell lines from autistic patients that we can then turn MAIN TECHNOLOGIES USED IN THE LAB e StemBead growth factors e High throughput RNA sequencing technology e Induced pluripotent stem cell technology 50 Lab Manager November 2014 into brain cells and see how that went wrong The combination of those technologies gives the lab a powerful model to understand how the human genome changes in people with autism However the two technologies are not without their difficulties With iPS there is a lot of variation each time the lab makes a cell line so they have to use many experimental controls to account for that variability whil
75. e workplace Ignoring such behavior certainly won t make it go away and could actually make every thing worse for the entire team They could get the message that manage ment doesn t care about such behav 10r or that treating people in such a way is an acceptable way of conduct ing business in that particular lab This is where the extremely difficult partof managing people comes in es pecially with all their great and un savory qualities tending to dovetail in very complex ways on the job How can you consistently and successfully work through these daily political scenarios and battles How can you encourage both a spirit of self regard and innovation as well as one of work ing collaboratively respectfully and openly with the whole team If there is indeed a Machiavellian personality in your midst again as a manager you must first recognize that the coworker exists For manag ers this can often be the most dif ficult part of the equation rec ognizing that there is a problem i i Unfortunately we all tend to avoid problems but managers do this at their peril especially when it comes to an employee who could potentially undermine an entire staff or business Second managers must recognize that there is no one tried and true method for tempering the person alities of others This is where elu sive soft skills must come into play which will often dictate how to deal with employees
76. ents that do not easily separate including contaminants or matrix We include the November 2014 most difficult probes in our test mix English says If a column can separate those then the customer is assured it will work on all the others A test mix extends to column conditions as well as analytes and provides a rough estimation of column life End users need GC columns that can cope with actual separation conditions says Cristian Cojocariu senior applications specialist at Thermo Fisher Scientific Runcorn UK Columns that last longer ultimately lead to improved productivity and provide superior return on investment We use standards to test columns for critical isomers in the 8270 semivolatile mix for example says Cojocariu We also test for ruggedness using difficult matrix samples spiked with target analytes like pesticides and we test columns as part of a workflow such as extraction detection and quantification of pesticides in difficult matrices Column care GC column performance depends on how the analyst cares for 1t beginning from when it is taken out of the box Cojocariu provides the following best practices e Never exceed the recommended maximum column temperature both isothermal and programmed e Do not inject highly acidic or very alkaline samples e Store columns under oxygen and water free conditions as even tiny amounts of oxygen and moisture can damage the stationa
77. er Rotors Improved ergonomics and performance 58 INSIGHTS ON CO2 INCUBATORS ite F E iN PH f Pai aca E i a j Fien s Behe E a i Ri h F 4 Pio E pa l i os t vier FT 1 f l Da 1 Y Pl a gt raed i p pl i iria P 4 r i 4 hi ha gh A f j ja T Y Vy 4 j i Tr 2 4 P Le E ti J ral T Pida o e e a i 11 poy i P i 5 bi Ha s 0 A A pF pout M 4 pil baal Te o gE is dt Je F 4 j E at He f aie ee t3 x A T wi pl ul ot eth s a iait r Ea E F p Ei E ja hh ae gt e it Py r f aie i be F A LAA j Ki it pier Eni 5 s a wt F rie e md T Mar i b 4 4 J a E mri i ah hea Ti i ed 4 J c erh r i Mita a by Angelo i DePalma PhD Peo eti he relationship between form and function in carbon dioxide incubators has led to evolutionary changes in incubator design In addition to tried and true water jacketed CO incubators most vendors now offer incuba tors that employ direct heating Lab managers specify these designs according to experience and personal taste Processes that have worked well in water jacketed incuba tors are likely to remain in this type of equipment Water jacketed incubators are renowned for temperature stability but return to temperature set point more slowly say after opening the door than direct heated units In the event of a power failure water jacketed incubators remain warm longer but
78. ers found in BSCs Different BSC designs are available Sample and reagent storage 9 3 What are your size limits Know what the maximum space allotment is so that you don t end up with equipment that Mycology 5 is too big for your lab or so small that you can t work Gross dissection 5 Laboratory animal handling 5 4 Does your procedure require modifications to the equipment that are uncommon BSCs should be built to an appropri Other please specify 3 ate standard and listed by a testing agency Some modifications can lead to the equipment being unsafe reputable manufacturers will not provide such alterations BS Cost is always a concern Avoid looking at the sticker price of a BSC inquire instead about the lifetime cost of each Nearly 24 of respondents plan on purchasing a BSC BSC This includes energy savings service life and a proven product track record in the next year The reasons for these purchases are as follows mont doa et 56 TOP 10 FEATURES FACTORS E Addition to existing systems increase capacity 31 respondents look for when purchasing a BSC E Setting up a new lab 20 E First time purchase of a biosafety cabinet 9 DURABILITY OF PRODUCT 94 Other 4 ieee PERFORMANCE OF PRODUCT 94 HO ee SAFETY AND HEALTH FEATURES 94 HO LOW MAINTENANCE EASY TO CLEAN 92 A CONTROLLED AIRFLOW 90 N EASE OF USE 89 N VALUE FOR PRICE PAID 84 O SERVICE
79. es 180 per year payable in U S funds Back issues may be purchased at a cost of 15 each in the U S and 20 elsewhere While every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein the publisher and its employees cannot accept responsibility for the correctness of information supplied advertisements or opinions expressed 2013 Lab Manager by Geocalm Inc All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission from the publisher WDS Canadian return P O Box 216 478 Bay Street Midland ON Canada LAR 1K9 POSTMASTER Send address changes to Lab Manager PO Box 2015 Skokie Il 60076 BPA WORLDWIDE BUSINESS Lab Manager Magazine is audited by BPA FastPrep The Most Advanced Rapid and Thorough Sample Preparation Systems Ever FastPrep 24 5 SupfastPrep 1 FastPrep 96 Delivering the Most DNA RNA and Proteins from Routine and Resistant Samples e Most Powerful Highest speed available improves quality e Flexible Optional sample holders allow processing up of analytes to 250 mL size under ambient or cryogenic conditions e Fastest Grind Lyse and Homogenize Toughest Samples e Most Consistent Eliminate cross contamination with in 40 seconds or less single use matrix tubes e Reproducible Consistent lysis results every sample with e Most Complete Lysing Matrix Tubes and Purification precise automated control Kits from One Source The MP F
80. es Over or undermilling can be disastrous for realizing a product s key quality attributes Hopkins provides several tips on purchasing a high capacity bead mill cell disruptor Sample capacity number not volume and cost are the first features to consider Next comes vial orientation Vials positioned horizontally with agitation in the same direction disrupt more efficiently than vials held vertically thanks to greater shaking room within the mill High shaking speeds and throw distance the vials move during oscillation are critical for optimal performance Skimping on either parameter can lengthen disruption times by up to a factor of ten If your lab works with microplates make sure the mill you purchase can handle deep well versions that users can seal appropriately for the vigorous shaking that bead milling entails Not all microplates qualify Hopkins warns Several bead mill suppliers sell microvials with beads preinstalled Although this can save the user some time it increases disposable materials cost about tenfold Furthermore Hopkins says there is nothing magical about the bead mix in precharged vials and beads are easy to self load Not all workflows require highly efficient ball mills PCR preps can often get by on partial cell disruption since the genes are amplified afterward But proteomics investigators need all the material the sample holds which 1s achievable only through 100 percent lysis Angelo
81. esigned to protect valuable cultures trom contamination the Heracell VIOS is equipped with e SO class 5 HEPA filters to protect against airborne microbes and particulates e Steri Run a fully automatic on demand overnight 180 C sterilization cycle assures uniform 6 log high temperature sterilization on all surfaces e Condensationfree chamber with covered protected humidity reservoir e 100 percent pure copper interiors to provide lasting sustainability and easy maintenance For operation simplicity the intelligent iCAN touchscreen interface provides complete data visibility to monitor all incubator interaction featuring on screen menu prompts error ana usage monitoring downloadable data log ging with a standard USB performance trend graphing and multiple language selection including English Spanish German French Italian Japanese and Mandarin More information on the Thermo Scientific Heracell VIOS CO2 incubator series can be found by visiting www thermoscientific com heracellvios About Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc is the world leader in serving science with revenues of 17 billion and 50 000 employees in 50 countries Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier cleaner and sofer VVe help our customers accelerate life sciences research solve complex analytical challenges improve patient diagnostics and increase laboratory productivity O
82. ession is caused by one or more interfering components or species that co elute with the analyte s of interest during LC MS analysis and manifests itself as a loss of analyte response The co eluting species can affect droplet formation or ionize concurrently resulting in an erroneous de crease suppression in analyte signal response The end result is poor assay reproducibility also losses in accuracy and sensitivity One of the major causes of ion suppression in bioanalysis is the presence of phospholip ids during LC MS analysis Phospholipids are prevalent in extremely high concentrations in blood based biological fluids 1 mg ml and represent the second largest lipid component in biological matrices atter triglycerides In addition to ionsuppression phospholipids may build up on the analytical column They may elute uncontrollably downstream in an im jection run sequence causing unpredictable ion suppression effects and poor reproducibility If gradient conditions are used to elute phospho lipids this leads to longer analysis run times Solution HybridSPE Phospholipid sample prep platform designed to selectively technology is a remove endogenous protein and phospholipid interferences trom biological plasma and serum prior to LC MS or LC MS MS analysis Biologi cal plasma or serum is first subjected to pro tein precipitation by adding the sample to the HybridSPE 96 well plate followed by aciditied acetonit
83. eted laser in duced DNA desorption as one of our experimental platforms Q Do you need extensive training to get started with digital PCR A The next generation PCR in struments are definitely more user friendly and do not need users with advanced degrees operating them Vendors are working to provide www labmanager com systems where the workflows are much simpler and easier from the user s per spective There is no need for extensive training A course that provides a good understanding of how digital PCR works and training from the vendor on how to use the instrument is all you should need The software tools and data analysis packages that come with the instruments are also fairly stan dard but users do need some training there to get started Q Is sample preparation still a challenge in digital PCR like it is in traditional PCR A Sample prep is every bit as im portant as it used to be and perhaps more so in digital PCR since there is no room for error in quantitation The controls and standards that are used in standard PCR are also equally important in digital PCR when you are initially validating your assay Howev er digital PCR has certain advantages if you have inhibitors in your sample because the inhibitors are partitioned and may not be present in reactors containing targeted oligos Also the systems use endpoint detection instead of real time detection so if your amplification efficiency
84. fele Nealey Corley provided some of the first empirical evidence of the impacts of sci entists using online tools to interact with lay audiences Engaging in Twitter activity with journalists increased peer reviewed articles published and citations the study further showed that exploiting Twitter amplified one s prominence compared with scientists who weren t users An online presence 1s a near necessity for professional scientists but this study indicates the career rewards of an active presence Not that long ago we were all scrambling around excited just to have a social media platform said Ver non As social media matures and usage becomes more professionalized we have to be more rigorous about analyses that build the case for best practices Twitter s eminence as the social tool of choice is owing to the perception that it is a more professional platform than Facebook which in turn is considered superior for the dissemination of personal information Solutions Moisture Viscometers Analyzers AND A amp D Weighing THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE SELFIE and so lends itself to the architecture supporting the vast new research networks that are transforming laboratory practices Network enabled research remarked one user has approximately the same relationship to traditional research as driving has to pushing a car it s a problem solving dream Very few women had a highly inflated T
85. ffering greater stability and highly repeatable results Cratted from a single block the weighing sen sor in the Nimbus has been optimized and contains fewer parts than a traditional force motor balance improving the lifespan of the balance Highly efficient mechanics combined with improved processing power of the elec tronics leads to more consistent results and no tably superior performance et ADAM PERFECT BALANCE Speed Performance Value Ruthanne Bell Adam Equipment t bell adamequipment com 203 790 4774 Lab Manager November 2014 Software for the Nimbus provides all the features necessary for the demands of everyday labora tory work With 10 weighing units including a customizable unit the Nimbus capably handles parts counting percentage weighing density measurement for liquids or solids and dynam ic animal weighing Intuitively designed the navigation buttons are large and colorcoded helping users operate the balance and perform tunctions with a minimal amount of training The Nimbus boasts comprehensive communi cation capabilities so it is ideal for use with Adam DU software which is used to efficiently gather and analyze information from multiple balances Data collection and transmission are optimized with the Nimbus s USB and RS 232 interfaces while a third interface allows for an optional remote display About Adam Equipment Lay he USE ce R5232 conmepiorn The Nimbus is av
86. ficult for lab personnel to handle due to its size shape and welght In this case dispensing and handling larger quantities of solvent could lead to a hazardous situation so 1t makes sense to order smaller more manageable sized bottles to ensure safety while also getting results For other applications a bulk purchase may simply be overkill and smaller batches may better match the workflow For exam ple many salts used in laboratory analysis are critical to ensure reliable results but they are consumed in smaller quanti ties While purchasing salts in larger bulk sizes may reduce the cost per gram it also increases the potential for contamination clumping and degradation of the product Conversely purchasing salts in smaller bottles can ensure your product remains fresh while reducing or preventing the potential waste of product that has expired or becomes clumped or contaminated The key is to evaluate your situation carefully and be cautious about overbuy BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ing Instead consider purchasing chemicals in smaller quantities when applicable so that no product goes to waste Nothing more nothing less Purchasing chemicals should be like going to the grocery store with a meal plan and a shopping list You get exactly the ingredients you need it takes you less time to move through the store and you don t have to throw anything away at the end of the week This best prac tice at home also translates i
87. ge features a liquid temperature control module and coaxial cylinder geometry accessory Yield point determination package includes a universal container holder and vane rotor Educational package includes a Peltier temperature control module coaxial cylinders and parallel plates geometry accessories and RheoWin software Thermo Fisher Scientific www thermoscientific com Temperature Controller Meros TCU 100 Offers advanced temperature control from 1 to 100 C for microfluidic chips microscope slides and other third party devices Chemically resistant robust reliable and only 11cm 4 1 4 inches wide Enables cooling heating and thermocycling with an accuracy of 0 5 C stability and target temperature resolution of 0 1 C and rapid ramp rates up to 1 C s Dolomite www dolomite microfluidics com Industrial Variable Speed Metering Pump IVSP Suited for viscous fluids Features a rugged 1 4 HP variable speed drive motor and available with sanitary quick disconnect fittings Speed is controlled via a DIN mountable controller for both manual and electronic speed control Valveless function is accomplished by the synchronous rotation and reciprocation of the ceramic piston within a precisely mated ceramic liner Fluid Metering Movable MS Bench e Features solidly built lockable casters Provides noise reduction performance of 15 db A 75 reduction in noise perception Can house either one or two vacuum pumps
88. generative diseases such as Parkinson s and Alzheimer s Fasano s roughly 1 000 square foot lab 1s staffed by five employees most of whom are students working toward their master s degrees or doctorates Lab Manager November 2014 When the majority of your lab staff are students it s important as a manager or principal investigator to remember that the primary goals of that relationship are education and training Fasano says He adds that stem cell science is a very competitive field and students tend to want to move quickly and publish as many papers as possible As a primary investigator he says while it would look good for the lab to have students publish often it s more important that they are properly trained in basic science I think that s a challenge nowadays in a very competitive environment where you want to push your students to produce but you have to be cautious because they are students and they are learning and you have to make sure that they are properly trained first and foremost he says In his lab that training starts with basic cell culture techniques including aseptic technique and how to grow and maintain cells Students also learn a bit of molecular biology dealing with DNA cloning polymerase chain reactions PCRs immunochemistry and staining cells with different antibodies They all receive a similar level of training says Fasano who has been at the NSC
89. get to know them as people and help guide them through this stage of their life and onto the next That involves a lot of responsibility and it s great to work with really smart young people Getting technical On the technology side of things Fasano says reagents are especially important in stem cell culture work so much so that NSCI created its own reagent company called StemCulture so that it would have full oversight of the quality control process When we grow cells especially stem cells they require alot of care he explains They re very sensitive and they require a daily cell media feed so you have to come in every day and feed them That s really annoying because it s very tedious He adds that if you get a bad FROM THE COMPETITION Hettich EBA 280 www hettweb com laboratory PERSPECTIVE ON A CELL CULTURE LAB reagent in cell culture that can destroy a lab s cells for months taking down its whole process as well as team morale To solve this issue StemCulture created a growth factor product called StemBeads essentially a time release stem cell food You just add it to your dish and it will feed your cells for you so we don t have to constantly feed cells every day says Fasano who s also chief operating officer of StemCulture In a way we ve created a management tool for cells We ve created a way to manage cells less intensively It allows th
90. has always been fascinated by generational issues Most of her staff are bored with the topic except at fundraising time That s when Lee updates them on or afterward at Unity Lab Services Part of Thermo Fisher Scientific HAVE FUN MAKING WORK WORK FOR YOU By Dr Patt Schwab CSP generational issues the group should know about in relation to their do nor population and client base She s delighted to share her expertise The staff is delighted she has it 2 Reverse brainstorming When brainstorming topics about superior customer service bet ter employee morale etc becomes tiresome reverse them Challenge a group s creativity by brainstorming topics like e What can we do to provide really terrible customer service e In what ways can we undermine our lab s loyalty e How many ways can we lose the Race to the Future Groups have fun and produce much more creative lists At the end simply reverse the answers and the group has a list of powerful fresh solutions to the original problem 3 Create a multipurpose link between your professional and personal interests Pathology Associates Medical Labs in Spokane WA is a large medical testing lab for physicians and hospi tals A few years ago the company s very overweight CEO was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes He took action by substituting lunch three days a week for a walk around the grounds and invited any staff w
91. hem their own project that they feel is theirs but at the same time you want them to collaborate and work with their labmates because they are there for a common goal Lab Manager November 2014 The manager s chair Fasano says one of the most difficult parts of transitioning to a lab management position is learning how to manage people successfully When you receive a PhD in your doctoral training nobody trains you on how to manage anyone It s not part of grad school he says There s no class on management no one s coming in there to teach you how to run a business It s purely science Those skills come through experience but having a mentor is something that Fasano says helped him a lot when he became a manager Having a mentor in someone who s been managing a lab or has been in a company for a while to talk to and ask their advice on how they did or didn t do it successfully really helps he says ve been lucky to have mentors www labmanager com 1 Former NSCI research scientists Dr Timothy Blenkinsop and Dr Barbara Corneo 2 Dr Chris topher Fasano NSCI principal investigator director of research and development 3 Former NSCI postdoctoral fellow Sumitra Sen gupta PhD She joined Dr Sally Temple to study how the timing of different types of neuronal cell generation is orchestrated during development and aging and to understand the role of the stem cell niche in regula
92. hemselves to leave the cabinet safely FLEXIBILITY OF A TYPE A Though incapable of handling the hazardous chemical applications reserved for Type B BSCs Type A cabinets are much more labora tory friendly In a recirculating mode they can placed on mobile stands allowing for move ment required by today s modular lab designs When ducted through a thimble or canopy connection a Type A cabinet has much lower exhaust requirements and can often be installed into existing laboratory exhaust networks Type B BSCs however require their own dedicated exhaust system per cabinet once installed a Type B BSC is a slave to its mechanical system The Omni Flex design of the Axiom allows it to easily alternate between Type A and Type B modes as the laboratory needs change SAVINGS OF A TYPE A Along with the Type B BSC s dedicated exhaust system requirement they also have high vacuum and volumetric air rate requirements This makes them expensive to own and operate In fact a Type B2 BSC costs twice that of a Type A2 a Type B1 or the Axiom to own and operate due to its high airflow demands A Class Il Type B1 and the Axiom will require comparable airflow requirements yet the Axiom can be discon nected from its ductwork and save the lab the precious air and energy it takes to temper that air that a B1 will always require BRIDGING THE GAPS The Axiom provides enhanced safety over all modern and current Class Il B
93. ho wanted to join him to do so A small group did It was called Walking with the Presi dent As they walked they covered topics from current events to issues in the industry projects staff were developing lab equipment needed and the like Fast forward three years There are 100 staff on these walks The CEO was getting input from staff he never would have met before Research and lab staff were connect ing throughout the organization The company was voted one of 100 best places to work in Washington state PLUS staff used measurably fewer sick days a large group of them entered the local 12 K race and the CEO lost 60 pounds I hope these models spark your thinking To further inspire you let me share a quote from Eric Hoffer In time of drastic change it 1s the learners who inherit the future Those who have finished learning find them selves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists Dr Patt Schwab CSP ts an international speaker and writer who works with mid level staff who want to improve their skills at managing others managing change and managing to have more fun She may be reached by email at Pattschwab aol com or through www FUNdamentallySpeaking com Be sure to attend Dr Patt Schwab s Lab Manager Academy webinar Making Work Work for You on Wednesday December 3rd to watch the archived video LABCAST November 2014 Lab Manager www labmanager com Asset Utilization
94. icals Santa Ana CA says that a bead beating homogenizer works great for agricultural November 2014 biosciences needs such as extracting DNA from a parasite on a plant s roots or for forensic applications such as grinding bone samples or processing a bodily fluid on clothing Take a test run It s hard to ensure that a homogenizer will do just what you need So test it first As Hielscher says Before buying a new homogenizer it can be very helpful to test different types of homogenizers to compare the results that can be achieved with different homogenization tools Especially demanding tasks for example in nanotechnology or biology often cannot be fulfilled with a traditional mixing device and require a powerful homogenization tool Customers ask frequently for multifunctional devices to fulfill demanding applications A user also needs to know how the process affects that sample Because of that a common question is whether homogenizing heats up the sample According to Hielscher Although the homogenizing process for example by ultrasonication is a mechanical nonthermal mixing method the processed liquid heats up Based on the law of thermodynamics the input of energy into a medium ends in heat finally She adds The ultrasonic homogenizing method is a very energy efficient means of homogenization which means that 80 to 90 percent of the total energy input is converted int
95. icienc Y complex sorts One example is Ryan Duggan technical ea director at the University of Chicago s flow cytometry core facility Researchers were waiting up to 16 days to sort cells in his core lab Becoming aware that personal sorters might Purity be the solution to this bottleneck he tested three of them Maye side by side see chart He found that Bio Rad s new S3 cell sorter was comparable to the others in terms of performance but stood out for its ease of use Resol ition Jazz The S3 system was designed so even novice users can quickly set it up And calibration typically an issue for high end instruments requires no user involvement Just by clicking the power button the system performs a hands off startup Easy sequence that automatically aligns the lasers optimizes the droplet side stream and turns the stream on With one more click the instrument completes a one bead alignment QC and drop delay assessment The researcher can then begin sorting Table 1 Ryan Duggan s conclusions arrived after testing the BD FACSJazz Bio Rad s S3 cell sorter and the JSAN Jr Swift The S3 stood out for its user friendliness This system also takes care of the little details that more complex cell sorters ignore Instead of forcing someone to watch the collection tubes fill up stop the sort and insert a new empty tube the S3 automatically knows when to move to the next empty tube Also the system can detect bubbles and c
96. ific com www EquipNet com LMM sales EquipNet com 800 371 6555 EQUIPNET APPRAISERS BROKERS AND AUCTIONEERS OF INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT SA Company Equipment Solutions for Pharmaceutical Laboratory and Research Industries 216 271 3500 www fedequip com pharmaceuticals fedequip com 8200 Bessemer Ave Cleveland OH 44127 Lab Manager 89 PARTING POINTS Takeaways from this month s issue PARTING POINTS Takeaways from this month s issue THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE SELFIE Social media has insinuated its way into every corner of the scientific enterprise While social media has had a positive effect on the research community it has also had negative effects Main pros and cons of social media in the sciences include e Giving scientists a greater presence in the scientific world e Making science more accessible attractive to the general public e Having a cheapening effect on science and scientists e Hurting the reputations and careers of scientists who aren t careful NEGTIATING AGREEMENT Gane See NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT GOT GAS Have you ever presented a great idea only to see it ignored while If you are thinking of changing updating or modifying your current other less important things were discussed Those in the STEM world gas supply consider that the overall success of your analytical work prefer to trust in facts and figures while discounting feelings But feel flow may
97. ike a Business The Good the Bad and the Selfie Social media has insinuated its way into every corner of the scientific enterprise employment and hiring career trajectory research practices collaboration marketing publications internal communication and outreach and commerce But is it helping or hurting the scientific community F Key Kidder Perspective On A Cell Culture Lab Dr Chris Fasano s lab at the Neural Stem Cell Institute in Rensselaer New York is dedicated to finding the cause of autism He shares the rewards and challenges of working with young students on discovering the secrets of early brain development Rachel Muenz BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 16 In the Mix The modern laboratory manager s role requires an intimate understanding of how safety productivity and sustainability work together to determine the success of their entire operation in achieving accurate results and containing costs One of the biggest challenges of running a successful lab operation is meeting all these expectations without sacrificing any one of them Steven Daley LEADERSHIP amp STAFFING 20 Negotiating Agreement Have you ever presented a great idea only to see it ignored while other less important things were discussed This happens to everyone but it is especially painful for those in the workplace STEM professionals tend to think and believe in facts numbers and logic rather than feelings Yet feelings have a strong effect
98. ime and place when they will be most likely to hear you First thing in the morning before the day s problems have arrived is often a good time After lunch while they are full and in a good mood 1s also good At the end of the day when they are looking for relief from the problems they are facing can be an excellent time This process is an art and everyone is different Paying attention and being strategic is the key to success THE FOUR TURNING POINTS THE SUBLIMINAL DANCE BETWEEN BUYER AND SELLER In every meeting where persuasion 1s the goal there 1s a subliminal dance of feelings that takes place Very few of us are trained to see this so you may need to practice There are four fundamental turning points in this dance and learning to recognize them will lead to increased success In our examples we will have a buyer and a seller Of course the seller is trying to convince the buyer to agree The first turning point is called breaking the ice Here you allow the buyer of your idea to feel in control by allowing them to make the choice of when to get serious and talk business The second turning point is getting the buyer to admit that they have a need The third turning point is to deliver your solution to the buyer s need The fourth turning point is to wait to see the buyer s decision to go forward in the buying process 1 Break the ice When you start the conversation always start by talk
99. incubation washing reading and storage TOP 6 QUESTIONS You Should Ask When Buying a Microplate Handler 1 How many plates and plate types can the handler accommodate An ANSI compatible handler provides increased flex ibility for those using multiple plate densities ex 96 384 1536 well or low volume plates and interchangeable plate stacks accommodate varying throughput requirements 2 Whatis the transfer speed Transfer speed is especially important for increased throughput Adding a dual plate carrier keeps two plates in process thus further increasing assay efficiency 3 Can the handler operate in portrait and landscape configurations A rotational gripper option optimizes positioning of the microplate handler with its mating instrument thus improving flexibility and efficient operation 4 Does the handler fit into a hood or biosafety cabinet Placing a microplate handler within a hood or biosafety cabinet allows users to maintain personal safety and protect samples 5 Is the handler compatible with a wide variety of other instruments 6 Does it come with a barcode reader for easy microplate identification Barcode scanning is especially useful for increased throughput TOP 10 FEATURES FACTORS respondents look for when purchasing a microplate handler DURABILITY OF PRODUCT 88 tits PERFORMANCE OF PRODUCT 85 E AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLIES AND ACCESSORIES 77 EEE Desan au SEEE TENEN S ie LOW O
100. ion through social media outlets will detract from their work Dennis Meredith a science communication consultant and author urges researchers to observe his three B s when it comes fo engaging with social media be strategic be useful and be careful Despite the differing personalities and generational affiliations that may influence their use of social media most scientific professionals share one thing in common which is their logical fact driven approach to problems A general assumption is that scientists are not very touchy feely However according to Donald Truss in this month s Leadership amp Staffing article Negotiating Agreement being unaware of other people s feelings can be detrimental when it comes to being effective in the workplace In every meeting where persuasion is the goal there is a subliminal dance of feelings that takes place says Truss Turn to page 20 to learn the four fundamental turning points in that dance Far less touchy feely but absolutely critical when it comes to the safety of your lab is a straight forward time tested illness and injury prevention program Turn to page 34 to find out the essential elements needed to build such a program and how that program can provide a framework to serve as a basis for performing a gap analysis on your existing approach As a reader of Lab Manager you know that our primary editorial mission is to help lab managers hone their business a
101. ions that could otherwise interfere with ultrasensitive analysis methods such as HPLC Inductively Coupled Plasma ICP Atomic Emission Spectrometry or ICP Mass Spectrometry Constant realtime total ELGA 5 Earl Court Woodridge IL 60517 630 343 5251 Email elga usa veolia com www elgalabwater com Lab Manager November 2014 organic carbon monitoring provides complete confidence in the organic purity of the water In addition the employment of integrated ultrafiltra tion microfiltration full spectrum UV treatment and tull recirculation guarantees the highest or ganic purity of the water at the point of use with complete removal of endotoxins proteins nucleases and particulates This makes it ideal for even the most sensitive of applications PURELAB Chorus 2 is the optimal fit for those applications requiring reliable high purity wa ter with good organic inorganic and microbial control but where ultrapure water is not essen tial These include electrophysiology histology and general chemistry The PURELAB Chorus 3 offers the lowest cost of ownership and provides high flow rates of up to 120 liters per hour all while being simple to operate and easy to maintain The smart system has an auto rinse function to maintain purity dur ing periods of low use offers the option of CO2 removal and is designed to allow flow rate to be easily upgraded to meet future demands As such it is optimized for all the
102. izes e Simple to load and operate e Two plastic slide on off plastic tubing holders accommodate easy tubing replacements or tubing size changes Aalborg Instruments www aalborg com Thermoelectric Sample Conditioner TESC System Incorporates a Brookfield DV2T digital viscometer and thermoelectrically controlled sample chamber Automates the entire conditioning and testing process including preheating room temperature stabilization cooling of the sample to test temperature and testing the final viscosity of the conditioned sample Lessens the hands on time needed to prepare and run a D2983 viscosity test and improves test precision CANNON Instrument Company www cannoninstrument com Integrated Vacuum Controller CVC3000 detect Combines the CVC3000 vacuum controller and a solenoid valve to provide advanced two point control for any stand dlone diaphragm vacuum pump from VACUUBRAND or competitive units New detect feature allows the CVC3000 to automatically find the first boiling point with a rotary evaporator Allows the preprogramming of up to ten multi step programs bi directional communication via RS232 serial port and more BrandTech Scientific www brandtech com Rheometer Application Packages HAAKE Viscotester iQ BOOTH 422 Include a DIN package for liquids with medium viscosities a yield point determination package for difficult to measure samples and an educational package for beginners DIN packa
103. kimmed the surface of the major components of a good IPP We hoped to provide you with a starting point for the review of your own program Perhaps you can identify holes in that program or use this as a catalyst to move forward We guarantee that it will help those you work with return home each night in as good a condition as when they arrived at work that morning In providing a successful safety and health program effective human resource management is vital References 1 Nine Elements of a Successful Safety and Health Program John Czemiak amp Don Ostrander National Safety Council 2005 http shop nsc org Sale Products Nine Elements of a Successful S H System P24 aspx 2 Injury and Illness Prevention Programs White Paper US Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Washington D C 2012 https www osha gov dsg Injury IllnessPreventionPro grams WhitePaper html Vince McLeod is the founder and senior member of the Safety Guys and an industrial hygienist certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene He currently serves as the senior industrial hygienist in the University of Florida s Environmental Health and Safety Division He has 27 years of occupational health and safety experience at the University of Florida and he specializes in conducting exposure assessments and health hazard evaluations for the univer sitys 3 000 plus research laboratories November 2014 Lab Manager 39
104. l as inorganic chemicals like chlorine ammonia sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride e Stable for long term containment of highly hazardous materials because neutralized e No misapplication or overdosing e Safer and easier to use requiring minimal special training and safety equipment e Reduced heat and spattering seen with commodity neutralizers The more efficiently and effectively you can address emergency scenarios in your environment the better off you will be from a safety cost and liability standpoint It s important to continually re evaluate your protocols to ensure that you have the best program and products available for your lab to deal with any unforeseen situations as quickly as possible And at the end of the day minimizing the steps to safety 1s the best road to safety For more information related to specific experience relevant to your application please contact us at Amphomag premiermagnesia com or visit www amphomag com November 2014 Lab Manager 73 4 hannual CONFERENCE amp EXHIBITION february seven eleven C O ME WASHINGTON DC SLAS2015 0RG aT R A N S FO R M WALTER E WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER a TE E ma Y EE mm AT SLAS2015 aL Join more than 5 000 of the brightest most innovative minds vested in scientific automation at SLAS2015 E E E hes 3 i E as they come together to learn share and explore how to transform scientific research
105. l media they go behind closed doors to sites like ResearchGate for their nitty gritty conversations said Vernon Some scientists are shy about going public on Twitter with what they re thinking Social network com munities are a safe place to ask hard questions and get the right kind of feedback These same networks in concert with other social media platforms have assumed de facto responsibility for rectifying research falsehoods that slip through the editorial review processes of journals Image and data manipulations that toy with the truth and other miscues are increasingly being flagged through crowd sourced post publication peer review a development not with out controversy Some question the wisdom of giving junior scientists a forum where any unhinged idiot with an Internet connection can rage away against a highly technical paper that he doesn t get said one observer Others suggest that such blowback is a thinly disguised power play to maintain control since post publication peer review often gives voice to the marginalized Nobody has a more colorful take on the situation take then does Zen Faulkes a biologist at the University of Texas Pan American Post publication peer review through traditional scientific publishing is like kabuki theater a slow re hearsed drama in which the viewer must recognize the subtle profundities of performers wearing deliberately ambiguous masks Post publication
106. load assay history from the 5G s memory to the attached computer in the form of a CSV file This feature is of critical im portance in lab settings were run verification documentation is necessary CONCLUSIONS The FastPrep 24 5G is a novel ultra high performance sample preparation system that allows for the extraction of fully intact biologi cally functional macromolecule from routine as well as highly resistant samples Learn more at www mpbio com fastprep5G Es MP Biomedicals LLC 3 Hutton Centre Drive Santa Ana CA 92707 USA 800 854 0530 www mpbio com November 2014 Lab Manager 83 84 PRODUCTS IN ACTION TIPS FOR WORKING IN YOUR NUAIRE BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINET uY pl me HERA Filtered Air Contaminated Worksurface Alr mie Ca iarminaiad Beam Al NuAire Inc 2100 Fernbrook Lane Plymouth MN 55447 Toll Free 1 800 328 3352 Phone 763 553 1270 Fax 763 553 0459 E mail sales nuaire com Lab Manager November 2014 Good technique when working within a Class Biological Satety Cabinet BSC will minimize air turbulence prevent splatter or unwanted spread of aerosols and maximize potential protection of personnel product and environment TIP 1 KNOW YOUR AIRFLOW Biological Satety Cabinets provide personnel product and environmental protection through the use of HEPA filtered air Knowing how the air is passed through the cabinet is essential Contaminated Room Air enters th
107. logs and stop the sorting process thus preventing bad sorts For more information please contact Bio Rad at 510 741 4043 or Robert_Archer bio rad com or visit www bi0 rad com S3_lm The S3 is equipped with one to two lasers 488 nm and either 561 or 640 nm and up to four fluorescent detectors Such a system 1s ideal for high speed enrichment of cell populations expressing fluorescent proteins high purity isolation of rare cells labeled with fluorescent markers and the isolation of single cells for single cell biology The fluidics pressure and temperature controls are neatly stowed away inside the instrument permitting a small footprint All of these features come at cost that is a fraction of the traditional more complex cell sorter putting cell sorting within reach of every researcher whether in their lab or at a core facility 70 Lab Manager November 2014 www labmanager com 7 a PIO TUN THE LEADER IN N SITE GAS GENERATION 203 949 8697 info ProtonOnSite com HOW IT WORKS A MINI PLATE SPINNER Problem Achieving successful PCR polymerase chain reaction results requires proper control of many factors and parameters The yield quantity and quality of amplified DNA is often essential for downstream applications and ultimately successful completion of experimental research PCR reagents consumable sample vessels and the thermal cycler instrument must all be properly chosen for the specific PCR applica
108. loop dual valve alternate switching system to increase separation efficiency e Enables the separation of peaks that are difficult to separate using conventional LC e Achieves the highest possible theoretical plates for LC separation Shimadzu www ssi shimadzu com Core Shell Column Line Aeris PEPTIDE e Now includes a 5 um particle size for small scale purifications e Enables higher efficiencies and higher loading capability for small scale peptide purification in 10 mm ID semi prep columns and 21 2 mm p ID Axia packed prep columns CS e Fully scalable over four particle sizes 1 7 um 2 6 um 3 6 um and 5 um enabling easy method transfer Phenomenex www phenomenex com Triple Quadrupole GC MS MS A TSO Duo BOOTH 422 e Designed specifically for labs needing to maintain a their current GC or single quadrupole GC MS workflows while adding triple quadrupole capabilities with minimal disruption Allows users to run their current methods and then easily move over to MS MS analysis when the time is right for them on a familiar system using the Chromeleon chromatography data system www thermoscientific com Thermo Fisher Scientific www labmanager com BASIC LAB Mini Peristaltic Pump Improved Model TPT e Provides low cost reliable service e Flow rates are user selectable from 7 ml min to 28 ml min by selecting from a choice of four different RPM drives 8 12 17 or 25 and tubing s
109. me for higher value tasks while also removing the opportunity for human error and the additional safety risk of handling chemicals Lab managers can also save costs by matching the quality of the chemistry to the application at hand For example some general processes such as sample prep and sample analysis can benefit from the use of universal re agents which can sometimes be substituted for individual technical and reagent grade chemicals such as acids salts and solvents Universal reagents can reduce inventory by reducing the number of products needed thereby con serving space and limiting packaging disposal Likewise using volumetric solution concentrates for analytical processes such as titrations or dissolution media concentrates for tablet testing can also help reduce waste and streamline operations by eliminating the need to store and combine multiple component chemicals on site For more stringent processes talk with your supplier about application optimized chemicals that are specifi cally developed and engineered for your methodology Application optimized chemicals can maximize accu racy and reproducibility while avoiding inconsistent or substandard results that can lead to wasted material and time for correcting experiments Size space and safety The chemical products you purchase have a direct effect on how smoothly your operation flows the quality of your results and the waste and disposal of unused por
110. mns Column manufacturers are also addressing columns chemical activity which arises from incomplete coverage of base silica with the stationary phase Active sites promote undesirable chemical interactions or analyte breakdown Capping free Si OH bonds produces lighter coatings shorter analyte residency times and sharper peaks Purpose driven tests Application specificity extends to tests as well as to columns Chris English lab manager at Restek Bellefonte PA describes tests as the specific things customers are analyzing Column companies create application specific tests or methods so that when customers receive a column they can count on it One example is simulated distillation a high temperature analysis common in the petroleum industry The test allows labs to recreate conditions and results of a lengthy distillation through a much shorter high temperature up to 430 C column run Historically many manufacturers supplied the column but did not actually test it to 430 C English says Without running up the temperature there s no way to know if the column can handle those conditions or what the bleed will look like Other top column companies have jumped on the test column bandwagon Agilent and Phenomenex for example provide specific tests for EPA method 8270 for semivolatile organic compounds and even offer an 8270 specific test mix as a reference standard A robust test includes compon
111. moving water and organic solvents from biological samples in a range of formats including tubes microplates and vials Genevac www genevac com Transcriptome Solution TH lon AmpliSeq BOOTH 201 AND 219 e Provides access to a wealth of valuable RNA data ei BE e Draws gene expression profiles from just 10ng of RNA sets aaa 3 e Compatible with formalin fixed paraffin embedded FFPE samples e Provides a faster and more cost effective workflow without the sample manipulation required for microarrays or analytical complexity normally associated with whole transcriptome RNA sequencing Life Technologies www lifetechnologies com Collagenase Neutral Protease Blends STEMxyme BOOTH 800 e Available for primary and stem cell isolation regenerative medicine biopharmaceutical and cell bioprocessing applications e Animal origin free AOF e New specialized combinations of AOF Clostridium histolyticum collagenase and AOF Bacillus polymyxa neutral protease Dispase offer a minimum of 250 CLS units and 1 000 or 2 000 caseinase units per mg dry weight respectively Worthington Biochemical www worthington biochem com Scanning Electron Microscope Teneo VS BOOTH 323 e Integrates FEI s latest generation SEM with VolumeScope an in chamber microtome and proprietary analytical software to provide fully automated large volume reconstructions with dramatically improved z axis resolution e Ensures fast easy analysi
112. mple Clouser says After milling tubes are suitable for further manipulation such as extraction reagent addition and filtration Mills as cell disruptors Because there 1s a wide range of marketed cell disruption technologies one might not consider ball milling bacteria yeast or suspended animal cells due to their small size Yet this form of size reduction which releases cellular contents undamaged is fast and efficient We sell an ultrasound homogenizer as well but a bead mill is superior for cells Clouser tells Lab Manager He predicts that within a few years ball mills will replace traditional homogenizers including rotor stator ultrasonic and even pressure homogenizers for many lab applications Ultrasound of microorganisms 1s slow may chemically disrupt target analytes and adds heat that can denature proteins and genes Bead milling reduces the likelihood of losing sample through mechanical or thermal events Since sample tubes are disposable bead milling eliminates cross contamination or artifacts due to improper cleaning of sonication heads or propeller blades Both tubes and beads are intended for a single use In the life sciences shaking type bead mills are superior to other types of mechanical disruption because the sample is securely enclosed within a small November 2014 vial and the integrity of each sample is protected says Tim Hopkins president of Biospec Products Bartlesville OK
113. n Hydrogen peroxide ster ilization may be justified on the basis of reduced downtime The technique involves introducing per oxide gas into the cham ber and then circulating it through an internal blow er A drawback of this technique compared with heat is that surfaces and internals must come into contact with the gas The final operation involves activation with narrow bandwidth ultraviolet light Manufacturers claim that autoclaving is not required because all com ponents remain within the A CO Incubators C and CB Series BINDER www binder world com A Borosilicate Glass Culture Tubes Denville Scientific www denvillescientif1c com Lab Manager November 2014 enclosure throughout the process But as Ellison notes peroxide sterilization leaves behind some residual ster ilized water that does not remain pristine for long and requires manual removal Still manufacturers claim downtime of about two hours for hydrogen peroxide sterilization versus 14 hours for high heat Physical location is Rey to ensuring high performance in CO incubators Uwe Ross president of Binder Inc Bohemia NY likens ongoing discussion of contamination to beating a dead horse But the proliferation of decontamination methods suggests that the problem remains unsolved Personally I believe that hot air sterilization at 180 C is the only method that really works but even that technique cannot address
114. n for crisp and clear data capture in each channel e Features rapid cycle time and ultra fast brilliant qPCR reagents that enable rapid comprehensive workflow e An onboard diagnostic system provides two modes a quick pre test which covers over 60 performance attributes and a comprehensive 30 minute test which covers more than 120 attributes Agilent www agilent com Solution for In Vitro CRISPR Cas9 Research SureGuide e Complete workflow includes a SureGuide Cas9 nuclease kit SureGuide gRNA synthesis kit and SureGuide gRNA control kit all designed to work together for any lab interested in quickly enabling next generation genome engineering e Series of tools will enable in vitro cloning of large genes or complex DNA mixtures without the limitations imposed by common restriction enzymes or PCR fidelity Agilent www agilent com November 2014 Lab Manager 65 66 Bio Rad BMG LABTECH Lab Manager TECHNOLOGY NEWS Chemiluminescent Imaging System TH ChemiDoc Touch BOOTH 224 Surpasses the performance of film in terms of quantitation and sensitivity Improves the user performance of other digital imagers with more intuitive and efficient image capture review and export Allows detection of faint bands missed by film and produces publication quality images Wide dynamic range permits easy and reliable quantification even of highly abundant proteins Atmospheric Control Unit e Designed for the CLARIOstar
115. nd management skills And of all those skills the most challenging is managing people In this month s Perspective On article page 46 Dr Chris Fasano a principal investigator PI at the Neural Stem Cell Institute NSCI in Rensselaer New York speaks to that challenge You can teach anyone how to do an experiment but you can t teach someone how to be motivated he says In addition to motivating and training his staff Fasano recognizes the importance of keeping a positive attitude especially in these underfunded times A lot of people say that science is just not viable as a long term career anymore disagree with that think it just takes the right person You have to keep going and keep trucking through and eventually your ideas will pan out Whether you share Dr Fasano s upbeat attitude or do or do not embrace social media we welcome your thoughts on these topics and any others Please visit us on Twitter and Facebook to share Happy tweeting Pamela Ahlberg Editor in Chief 8 Lab Manager November 2014 EMD MILLIPORE Experience the quintessence Milli Q Integral system pure and ultrapure water at your fingertips e Dual POD point of delivery concept saves space and increases convenience e Lower running costs and water waste with exclusive Elix technology Experience More www millipore com ultrapure a a EMD Millipore is a division of Merck KGaA Darmstadt Germany 10
116. ng 32 liters per minute 1 13 CFM of nitrogen for 8 hours per day will consume around 5 5 million liters 194 230 ft3 of nitrogen in 1 year of operation This is equivalent to 620 cylinders What also needs to be factored into the costs required to satisty these gas needs is the time taken for ordering cylinder installation processing of paperwork and a whole host of other factors that use employee time Now if we take the example above and look at the costs associated with the purchase installation and running costs of a generator which produces 32 liters per minute 1 13 CFM of nitrogen to supply the LC MS we have seen in our experience that within 1 year or better we would already have paid back the cost of the generator with money to spare From that point onward the only costs associ ated with the generator are maintenance and running costs electricity which are negligible compared with the costs associated with cylin der deliveries rental and administrative time PEAK SCIENTIFIC FIND OUT MORE Call 44 141 812 8100 Email marketing peakscientitic com www peakscientific com Lab Manager November 2014 Another advantage of using gas generators as well as convenience is their satety Cylinders contain a large volume of stored gas which can present a danger if released rapidly into the lab environment In the case of hydrogen there is the additional explosion risk Once the level of hydrogen reache
117. ngle well e Can reduce total assay time from one or two days to as little as two hours wre Lay Er EI a PE mr Er i A Lr us Ter i a AU i PerkinElmer www perkinelmer com www labmanager com Operating Software for HR CS AAS Instruments ASpect CS V 2 0 Designed for the contra series of instruments Main new features include simultaneous multi element analysis of any number of analytical wavelengths within the spectrum window Integration ranges for each line can be selected freely for increased sensitivity e Anew background correction method and an improved spectral correction of interferences allow simple and automatic correction of complex structured spectral background and overlapping matrix lines Analytik Jena www analytik jena com Laboratory Information Management System Matrix Gemini Supplied complete with three separate databases Since each database can have its own independent design this arrangement means that widely varying requirements can be accommodated on the same system Matrix Gemini is an ODBC Open Database Connectivity compliant system which will operate with a number and mixture of commercial databases to suit either corporate standards or user preferences Autoscribe www autoscribeinformatics com Protein Analysis Software OmniSEC 5 1 Makes it easy to integrate any of the Viscotek SEC detectors o o with Waters Empower Sa driven SEC systems f
118. ntities of to applicable regulatory requirements and materials that should be stored in labs in and out of these cabinets identified corporate goals This should include a system of accountability for meeting those There is no federal requirement for these cabinets to be vented CO standards within their control Assign a staff member to be responsible for oversight of the cabinet This responsibility can include checking to make sure that containers are Regulatory compliance management properly labeled caps are tight and the inventory on the cabinet door is Research laboratonemustec tr OSA up to date EPA DOT and often accreditation or other Source Kaufman James A Laboratory Safety Guidelines Expanded Edition ooo specific standards Noncompliance The Laboratory Safety Institute www labsafetyinstitute org can have serious ramifications in terms of financial liability penalties and fines institutional reputation and in some cases the ability to continue operations It is very 1 Me C pi Di important to have a mechanism for staying JUISC MOLI O IAAI N informed and complying with existing regu high throughput at a competitive price k b f je e dealforcleaninglargevarietiesandvolumesofglassware ES Sepa Sad Ee OE ENO ue Buds tions that will impact your operations A self e Our customized solution for the education market ai a i assessment or an assessment conducted by an outside party is a good tool for determining
119. nto a best practice in the lab For some laboratories purchasing and using pre blended chemicals can be an ingredient for saving time and allowing better allocation of laboratory staff which can impact the total lab operational budget Purchasing pre blends can also reduce inventory and conserve stor age space while limiting waste from inaccurate mixing or spillage One common pre blended solvent used by quality control labs is Acetonitrile 0 1 trifluoroacetic acid In this lab environment pre blended solvents for use in liquid chromatography mass spectrometry can save preparatory staff up to 30 minutes time that would oth erwise be spent preparing the mobile phase For an application such as high performance liquid chromatography there is no need for lab staff to blend on site In fact pre blended solvents remove the op portunity for human error and the safety risks of handling chemicals while also ensuring the quality of the end results Dri Del Safety Never Felt So Good Standing on a hard bare floor causes back and leg strain And a slippery floor We all know what can happen Fight back with Dri Dek s patented design cushioning your legs with a positive footing 0 FREE Samples A LA 9 DADA 1x1 es js Soap A Call 800 348 2398 or Visit dri dek com g sas oa l SETE Al ara Baaraki 394 ETEA Je 18 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 2 Purchasing pre blended solvents can save valuable staff ti
120. o Fisher Scientific www thermoscientific com design and performance If contamination is a concern lab managers should pay special attention to incubator design and time to disassemble clean reassemble and disinfect Be aware of future requirements as CO incubators are a long term investment Philip continues Total cost of ownership over the first five years including initial price installation gas usage time and labor for cleaning routine spares etc must be evaluated to identify the best value for your money Manufacturers and end users emphasize temperature uniformity and recovery to set conditions Mary Kay Bates global cell culture specialist at Thermo Fisher Scientific Asheville NC encourages buyers to investi gate these performance factors Ask to see temperature mapping and recovery data In considering recovery the telling parameters are temperature atmosphere composition and humidity Humidity is the performance lynchpin and not every one appreciates that Bates adds Humidity prevents water evaporation from culture media which causes nutrients minerals and other media components to become more concentrated This may re sult in poor performance or even cell death Bates notes Evaporation is four times higher at 80 percent humid ity than at 95 percent humidity which illustrates why humidity is king The low humidity air conditioned ambient air found in most labs exacerb
121. o accurately compute a starting sample titer Q What is the biggest advantage as well as the obvious limitation of using digital PCR A The biggest advantage of digital PCR is that it offers an extremely accurate quantitation of the copy number of the target molecule in your sample The obvious limitation of partitioning your sample into dif ferent reactors is that you now have to observe and record tens of thousands if not millions of reactors instead of just a few cuvettes or samples Lab Manager November 2014 ASK THE EXPERT THE EMERGENCE OF DIGITAL PCR by Tanuja Koppal PhD Reginald Beer PhD medical diagnostics initiative leader at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory talks to contributing editor Tanuja Koppal PhD about the trends and innovations in digital PCR While touting the advantages of digital PCR he explains that not every lab needs to invest in this technology Lab managers should look closely at their samples and assays to determine if digital PCR is needed for their application Q Does digital PCR involve completely different instrumentation and reagents compared to traditional PCR A The reagents such as enzymes primers and probes that you use for standard PCR are the same for digital PCR However there are some ad ditional reagents that need to be used For instance for systems that use the droplets you need emulsifying re agents like oil and some surfactants Q Is digi
122. o pro tect product integrity which means less waste and more reliable lab results For example anhydrous solvents that have septum seal caps allow solvent to be extracted from the bottle using a syringe while protecting the solvent from exposure to the environment Recyclable and reusable containers such as Avantor s J TBaker CYCLE TAINER solvent delivery system provide a sustainable alternative to disposable bottles single use containers and one way drums These con tainers are available in a variety of sizes and can reduce chemical waste and disposal costs by preserving product quality Also user friendly designs with features such as easy to use dispensing ports can further complement the environmentally conscious aspects of the reusable con tainer by reducing the opportunity for spills and waste www labmanager com BUSINESS MANAGEMENT And finally purchasing chemicals in poly coated bottles that are easier to grip and resist shattering in case the bottles get dropped can provide additional safety when handling acids and solvents These bottles are also designed to contain the chemical for a short period of time if the bottle does break making it easier to clean up Supplier support Don t overlook a very important aspect of the relationship with your chemical products supplier their ability to consistently meet your chemical demands to avoid rush deliveries and the potential for the ac companying unnecessary co
123. o ultrasonic cavitation so that the input of thermal energy 1s kept low Moreover a cooling bath can be used to minimize any temperature change in a heat sensitive sample Even simpler the process can be done in an on and off fashion to limit any heating www labmanager com In many cases the speed of the process matters which can be another reason to test a product before purchase For instance Whyte says Faster processing time increases the quality of the yield for nucleic acids and proteins because it gets them into the protective buffer much quicker Industrial advances Some industries need particular features more than others do For instance Whyte says Big agribio and forensics process lots of samples so they tend to use larger instruments like ones that use 96 well plates or are even bigger Conversely some scientists use homogenizers for small batches There s a bit of a trend toward smaller personal instruments that homogenize just one to three samples at a time says Whyte Also Whyte mentions that his company even makes a battery operated single sample device that can be taken to the field This kind of portability really expands how and where a homogenizer can be used Making a better fit with a homogenizer and a specific industrial application often depends on the options for controlling the technology It s easy to find a homogenizer that allows a wide range of options However a
124. oductivity environment of a modern lab Boiling it down Purchasing the right chemicals in the right volume grade and packag ing is a critical first step to any laboratory s success However understand ing how these choices affect the broader goals of safety productivity and sustainability is best achieved with the help of a dependable supplier A good supplier will work with you to implement these best practices and optimize the entire ordering process from selection through delivery Together your thoughtful and informed decisions can control costs en sure quality results foster safety in the workplace and reduce waste all important contributions to realizing your lab management goals Steven Daley is vice president of sales laboratory products for the Americas at Avantor Performance Materials in Center Valley Pennsylvania He can be reached at steve daley avantormaterials com November 2014 Lab Manager 19 How do you achieve OPTIMAL CELL GROWTH Contamination free CO Incubator with 180 C hot air self sterilization Reduced interior surface without a fan Temperature uniformity and accuracy Modern well insulated air jacket Stable and uniform pH value Drift free unique IR sensor y y vv yv High humidity without condensation Patented re condensation system go2binder com us C 02 stack 2 CO C150 incubators plus stacking adapter Stack C 150 115 V UL R hinge 5 4 cu ft 9040 0077 St
125. or powerful efficient protein characterization Features the ability to directly aaa interrogate analytical sequences within the Waters Empower software Eliminates the need to input sequences in duplicate making an integrated system easier to use quicker to set up and less prone to errors Malvern www malvern com TECHNOLOGY NEWS LAB AUTOMATION NGS Workstation Freedom EVO e Simplifies next generation sequencing NGS sample preparation and PCR set up e Offering user friendly walkaway automation of library preparation at the touch of a button it eliminates the need for extensive manual processing e Designed to offer robust and reliable automation including library preparation quantification qPCR set up normalization pooling and capture even for inexperienced users Tecan www tecan com Cardio System a XCELLigence RTCA CardioECR SS BOOTH 409 e Combines impedance and multi electrode array MEA technology with a pacing function e The first platform to allow simultaneous cardiomyocyte contractility and field potential measurement e Designed to be placed in a standard tissue culture incubator with physiological temperature C02 level and humidity allowing better controlled assays with both short term and long term measurements in real time ACEA Biosciences www aceabio com Modular Real Time PCR System AriaMx e Can multiplex up to six channels and deliver higher optical resolutio
126. osciences com sites viaflo_assist html video Download product brochure http www integra biosciences com sites pdf flyer 127951_VO1_Flyer_VIAFLO_Assist_EN pdf PRODUCTS IN ACTION NTEGRA 2 Wentworth Drive Hudson NH 03051 USA Phone 603 578 5800 Website www integra biosciences com November 2014 Lab Manager 81 PRODUCTS IN ACTION Highly dynamic systems of the PRESTO series employ cutting edge temperature control technology Numerous functions make day to day tasks easier and deliver the thermodynamic power needed to handle even the most demanding external applications See for yourself what makes the dynamic temperature control systems so unique and take advantage of their special features HOT amp COLD Reactor temperature control tests for all kinds of substances or temperature simulation the PRESTO are made for highly precise temperature control and rapid temperature changes PRESTO provide large heating and cooling capacities covering a working temeprature range from 40 C to 250 C Highly efficient components allow extremely fast compensation of exothermic and endo thermic reactions For optimized performance during opera tion the maximum heating capacity adjusts automatically to the power input of the main power supply A40 VV40 The PRESTO is hydraulically sealed Temperature induced volume changes within the heat exchanger are accommodated by an integrated cooled expansion
127. ossible for applications requiring high ASK THE EXPERT titer accuracy then take a look at the droplet based systems that provide millions of reactors There are also array based systems that offer tens of thousands of reactors which are sufficient for some medical and environmental modeling applications Array based systems tend to be easier and faster to load so 1t really depends on the focus of the lab and what assays they are running Q Where are the big gaps in this field2 What needs to be improved upon A By and large the gaps are being worked on in terms of making systems user friendly and the workflow smooth er However no matter how easy 1t gets there 1s still more engagement and time needed making emulsions performing additional steps and taking more read ings Digital PCR is more expensive in terms of cost and labor Another gap that is being filled is in assay develop ment More assays are being modified to the digital PCR format and you will see people making that investment if the assay is for an application that re quires accurate quantitation There are a lot of good choices for digital PCR on the market today It s a proven and user friendly technology and if they have a need for it people should not be afraid to take a look Dr Reginald Beer is the medical diagnostics initiative leader at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he develops lab on chip technologies for molecular diagnos
128. ow With an enhanced LCD touch screen plus anywhere anytime mobile access with MobileFuge youre in control in the lab and out Discover more at www beckmancoultercentrifugation com dulter Inc 28 TECHNOLOGY THE BEST SOURCES SYSTEMS AND DELIVERY METHODS nalytical research and testing laboratories are be coming ubiquitous across a wide range of indus tries from clinical and pharmacological research to consumer products and environmental analysis In fact virtually every product we encounter in our daily activi ties has likely been examined in an analytical lab at some point in its development While there is great diversity in testing methods available and industries represented these laboratories have one thing in common a desire for precise and accurate results As such these labs often rely on high purity carrier combustion and calibration gases When considering laboratory gas sources there 1s growing pressure among lab managers to stay abreast of the requirements for the latest analytical equipment while also attempting to find solutions that optimize efficiency gains and minimize costs When it comes to laboratory gas solutions managing capital costs safety convenience quality and long term returns are all con siderations If you are thinking of changing updating or modifying your current gas supply consider that the overall success of your analytical workflow may depend on making the correc
129. peer review on social media 1s like the mosh pit at a punk rock show It s fast uncoordinated a lot less subtle more in your face and involves a few more risks Then again social media is inherently risky says Dennis Meredith a science communication consultant and author who reminds us that too many scientists proceed without being fully informed and become overwhelmed with tools and techniques and are probably confused about how to use social media to their advantage They suffer from sins of commission like jumping into Twitter or starting blogging without a strategic plan or sins of omission opt ing out of media pathways that may be beneficial www vacuubrand com ry i By strategic Meredith means using the same discipline and strategy a manager might use in designing research programs Consult ing available literature is a smart first step Meredith recommends the Public Library of Science PLOS guide on social media which takes a strategic approach by asking what you want before you jump in and then gives you the pros and cons As a rule of thumb Mer edith urges researchers observe his three B s be strategic be useful and be careful Social media is loosening the grip that trade shows and conferences have held on product marketing These venues remain vital for devel oping leads and learning the wants and needs of customers but more manufacturers are turning those
130. purposes and as a carrier gas for gas chromatography GC where it offers increased speed resolution and sensitivity over helium especially when used with FID On demand laboratory gas generators are available in a variety of configurations and output capacities suitable for supplying single or multiple in struments However while gas generators offer a number of safety reliability and convenience benefits to the user these benefits come at the expense of higher initial capital cost require ongoing maintenance and may pose delivery pressure limitations in some situations A matter of choice For many labs previous commitments and constraints on capital investment may prohibit conversion to on site gas generation However there are other reasons that a lab may choose a cylinder setup and in many cases the benefits of cylinders may outweigh those of on site gas generation Regardless of what type of gas you are using there are essentially two methods for setting up your gas cylinders single point of use cylinders and a multi cylinder configu ration Choosing a suitable gas solution will depend largely on the size and demands of your particular lab www labmanager com Together we can conserve helium by converting GCs to hydrogen carrier gas Helium is a non renewable resource There is a global shortage of helium that has e caused prices to increase significantly Many GC users are already switching to climate control h
131. r solution to the buyer s need Once you are convinced that they have become fatigued from describing their problem then you have their tacit permission to describe your solution Now they will be capable of hearing and understanding your recommenda tion because they feel that you understand them Don t believe me Think about this Imagine that you are in that little room at the doctor s office You have been waiting for 55 minutes and no one has checked on you Suddenly the door opens by three inches and a man in a white lab coat throws a small bottle of tablets at you saying Take these you will be fine How would you feel Most people would be thinking Wait a minute how could you possibly know what is wrong with me You did not exam ine me and I do not trust your diagnosis This is the same feeling the buyer gets when you step in and blast them with your solution to their problem They are feeling that you do not fully understand You must take the time required to get the buyer to trust you and to feel understood Seek first to understand and then to be understood Stephen Covey 1989 Now it is your turn Because you have done your homework you can describe your solution in a re hearsed concise way You have been thinking about this for some time so you know what to say Be focused and careful not to ramble Time is money Address each of the concerns that the buyer described www labmanager com
132. r to ensure that the rinse water legally can go into the water supply To make a lab washer work well over time requires features that provide flexibility For example Nolan says Our washers come with seven preset factory cycles and a couple that are open for a user to set Some labware for instance might have dried on residue that needs a longer steam cycle to get clean other labware might need more heat A scientist can create custom cycles for such situations A washer manufacturer can also help a scientist develop the right washing procedure Miller says We work with clients who send in something to wash and we design washer and racks to the cycles and custom cycles for it This includes detergents determine how clean wash cycles detergents your labware comes out and accessories How a lab washer gets used also matters For example it should be run only with water saving devices and when full according to the sustainability program at the University of California San Francisco All of the parts from the Mike May 1s a freelance writer and editor living in Ohio A staff member at the biological nanostructures lab in You may reach him at mike techtyper com the California NanoSystems Institute at the University of California Santa Barbara wants a glassware washer that is user friendly and easy to run and operate and that lets you select preprogrammed wash cycles or program customized
133. re inclined to take potshots at him as did a reviewer who questioned Eisen s mental bandwidth Social media s forward curve remains a charged and contentious space for researchers to occupy Prolific Twitter users like Eisen were exactly the kind that Great Britain s Neil Hall had in mind this past summer when he proposed a Kardashian Index that measures the number of Twitter followers against the number of citations that a scientist has accrued Scientists with high scores suggests Hall may be seen as leaders in their field simply because of their notori ety derived from their dalliance with social media Ms Kardashian is famous for being famous Hall is con cerned that phenomena similar to that may also exist in the scientific community His lighthearted proposal produced a Twitter storm of both blowback and approval sometimes from the same source reflecting the general ambivalence of the rank and file and the quandary faced by scientists torn between the old and the new There is a lot of noise out there a lot of people com municating about the value of social media said Jamie Vernon director of science communications at Sigma Xi and editor in chief of American Scientist With so many competing voices it s hard for scientists to decide who to listen to Vernon cites an article that essentially questioned the qualifications of scientists with a high K Index but then continued on to list the
134. res of up to 40 C will not make the PRESTO sweat Mainte nancetree pumps and drives also guarantee operational readiness ONE OF A KIND The new PRESTO are the only highly dynamic temperature control systems with closed sides a JULABO tradition A key requirement for develop ment is the consistent channelling of airtlow from the front fo the back This design does away with venting slots at the sides The required instal lation space is reduced to a minimum so the PRESTO can easily fit into tight spaces JULABO continues as one of the world s leading experts for temperature con trol systems Our high quality products systems and solutions have influenced the development and progress of temperature control Contact us today to learn what our PRESTO units can do for you www labmanager com PRODUCTS IN ACTION MP Biomedicals introduces the FastPrep 24 5G The most advanced sample preparation instrument yet INTRODUCTION Mechanical sample lysis is rapidly becoming the preferred sample preparation method in life science labs for the isolation of DNA RNA proteins metabolites and other small molecules because the elimination of chemi cals enzymes and detergents minimizes the introduction of potential inhibitors to down stream processes The FastPrep 24 5G Fig 1 is the newest innovation in beatbeat ers and produces the fastest lysis of even the most difficult samples OVERVIEW
135. ressure reactors ranging from just a few millilitres to 50 litres capacity and different construction materials for corrosive and caustic materials Custom versions of DrySyn range of heating and cooling blocks glassware and PTFE components and apparatus also available Asynt www asynt com Pipette Tips BRAND e Include sterile non sterile filtered and ultra low retention tips e Feature a new environmentally friendly box and insert system with lids that can hinge or lift off e Manufactured in BRAND s new state of the art clean room and packaged DNA RNase ATP and endotoxin free e Fit pipettes from all major manufacturers BrandTech www brandtech com As an expert in conflict Sis Dr Peace s Micr opl ates program will give you the skills you to nertGrade manage your staff relieve stress from conflict and improve co worker relationships For the cultivation of non adherent cell lines spheroids and stem cells in a 96 well plate format KEY TOPICS Treated with a proprietary hydrogel that Se lt a MAN AGING THE INNER eyHE HIDDEN BEAUTY OF creates a hydrophobic interface between 1 CONFLICTS WITHIN YOUR LAB CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM the surface of the plastic and cellular oa material to inhibit cell and protein attachment SHOW TO SAY NO WITH E INTEGRATING SERENITY Microplate surface successfully suppresses the adhesion of a wide variety of adherent cell m LOVE AWD RESPECT TECHNIQUES INTO YOUR apnar LABO
136. rile precipitation agent The filter trit assembly acts as a depth filter physically re moving the proteins while concurrently remov ing the phospholipids via Lewis acid base inter actions The HybridSPE Phospholipid packed The phosphate moiety of phospholipids is a strong Lewis base election donor that interacts with Zr atoms coated on the silica surface Proprietary HybridSPE Zirconia Coated Silica A O Si OH Si O The Zr atom acts as a Lewis acid electron acceptor because it has empty d orbitals O pty N _ r 0H bed consists of proprietary zirconia coated silica particles The zirconia sites exhibit Lewis acid electron acceptor properties that interact strongly with Lewis bases electron donor The phosphate group inherent with all phospho lipids acts as a very strong Lewis base that will interact intensely with zirconia atoms func Atter the protein precipitated sample passes through the HybridSPE Phospholipid device the resulting effluent is phospholipidtree and ready for im mediate LC MS or LC MS MS analysis tionalized on the particle surface Formic acid is a critical modifier used in the precipitation agent to improve the recovery of many analytes of interest e g acidic com pounds it plays a critical role in preventing analyte retention without affecting the phospho lipid retention removal process In summary HybridSPE Phospholipid products are valuable tools in LC MS analysis
137. risk of damage and how critical the balance is to your daily operations November 2014 Lab Manager 69 HOW IT WORKS AN EASY TO USE CELL SORTER Problem Scientists must typically rely on high end cell sorters in core facilities to run their samples These cell sorters equipped with five or more lasers and double digit detection channels were originally utilized to answer pressing questions arising in the immunology field However they are overly complex for the new breed of user who sorts cells today cell biologists and biochemists who employ fluorescent proteins and require at most four colors and one to two population sorting The challenge is that as demand increases the number of staff available to operate these complex instruments remains the same As a result wait times at core facilities have ballooned literally putting research on hold until capacity is available For the more than half of today s cell sorting users who require four colors or fewer sorts the elaborate equipment is becoming a bottleneck Solutions Instead of waiting days or sometimes weeks to use a core facility biologists who only need to perform basic sorts now have an alternative A number of compact affordable and easier to use cell sorters has recently entered the market Flow core directors are also looking at these personal sorters to add capacity to their facilities alleviate wait times and free up their higher end cell sorters for more Ef
138. rmation on specialty gases and gas gen erators visit www labmanager com gas generators Trevor Henderson technology editor for Lab Manager can be reached at thenderson Jlabmanager com or by phone at 888 781 0328 x 291 Unlike many competitors SHEL LAB provides true o da sterilization with a unique 180 C decontamination cycle Ladd A strong advantage of SHEL LAB incubators is the unusually long warranty on the incubator 5 years and IR sensor 7 years No competitor offers such an excellent warranty Dr Roger Lippe Professor at Universit de Montr al Montr al Quebec Fastest high heat cycle on the market without having to remove critical cotmponents Industry best warranty 5 years parts and labor in the USA Dry heat for two hours at 180 C O L AB www shellab com 800 322 4897 ASK THE EXPERT i Reginald Beer PhD Q What is digital PCR and how does it compare to traditional PCR A Digital PCR is really a limiting dilution PCR and involves partition ing a sample of DNA or cDNA into multiple reactors so that there are individual PCR reactions taking place in parallel Traditional PCR has copies of a sample all in one reac tion vessel whereas in digital PCR each reactor has either a single copy or no copy of a target molecule and that s really the fundamental differ ence This allows Poisson modeling of the percentage of reactors that show amplification t
139. romatography All CONCOA products are completely manufactured assembled and tested in the United States FIND THE REST OF THE PIECES AT WWW CONCOA COM iin Organizational communications Communication within the organization keeps em ployees informed of new and existing policies proce dures lessons learned and missions Likewise 1t provides avenues from the front line to upper management for consideration in the development and revision of those policies A flow of information in both directions is needed for an effective health and safety program Management and control of external exposures This might be considered incident or emergency plan ning Plans need to be developed for emergencies such as severe weather incidents stemming from contractor or neighborhood incidents and man made issues such as the presence of protestors or activists Environmental management Environmental management is a broad and complex enough issue that it requires a program of its own Often there is overlap of duties and as such environmental ELGA Q VEOLIA HEALTH amp SAFETY management is grouped under the health and safety program umbrella Issues from proper permitting to pre venting potential environmental liability are considered under this heading It is critical that employees know what to do to perform their jobs correctly and safely Workplace planning and staffing In providing a successful s
140. ry phase To achieve this install one end in the GC inlet leaving the other end free and uncapped inside the GC Start the carrier gas flow set the GC oven temperature low and run for at least 30 minutes e Appropriate column conditioning ensures good performance and enhances column shelf life Condition columns at 10 20 C above maximum operating temperature to allow column bleed to stabilize This takes up to two hours sometimes longer depending on column dimensions stationary phase properties and film thickness Many GC problems arise from non eluting components Anderson advises planning a periodic bake out to expel leftovers Phenomenex has developed high temperature versions of several of its phases for this very purpose to allow regeneration at 430 C Anderson also suggests using a guard column to trap matrix and non volatiles covering the ends of stored columns with rubber septa and periodically checking injector linings for non volatiles Angelo DePalma is a freelance writer living in Newton NF You can reach him at angelo adepalma com www labmanager com PRODUCT FOCUS LABORATORY WASHERS NEW LABWARE AND TECHNIQUES DRIVE THE NEED FOR NEW CLEANING REGIMENS by Mike May PhD Personal touches hoosing the right lab washer depends entirely Beyond different cycles a washer also needs various on what needs to be cleaned and why Both racks There s not a universal rack that fits everything the labware and the
141. s and exact mass databases Provides improved mass accuracy specification of less than 3 ppm and an extended mass range optimizing its capabilities for the most challenging problems Includes chemical ionization source and backflush capabilities as standard Agilent www agilent com Particle Size amp Zeta Potential Analyzers mee Nicomp N3000 BOOTH 710 e Measure particle size from 0 3 nm 10 um and zeta potential in aqueous and organic solvents e New capabilities include expanded size and concentration dynamic ranges e Touch panel display allows for easy viewing of count rate e Zeta potential is now measured using a proprietary DSP based phase analysis light scattering module which is more sensitive stable and works at higher concentrations Particle Sizing Systems www pssnicomp com Benchtop Spectrofluorometer A FluoroMax Plus BOOTH 917 e Expands on the capabilities of the FluoroMax series with the option of a second detector and two position grating turret providing an extended range out to 1650 nm and TCSPC performance down to 25 ps e Enables faster measurement of weaker and smaller samples e Convenient and easy to use HORIBA www horiba com scientific Lab Manager November 2014 Two Dimensional Liquid Chromatograph Nexera e Comprehensive e Offers a powerful separation method for the most complex sample matrices e Combines two independent separation modes orthogonally in combination with a dual
142. s while the combination of ThruSight and MAPS software delivers unprecedented resolution over large sample volumes e Switching between volume imaging and normal SEM operation is fast and easy FEI www fei com www labmanager com TECHNOLOGY NEWS Horizontal Gel Electrophoresis Units Solid Phase Extraction Microplate MultiSUBTM Development Microlute Each unit provides an easy to use versatile and flexible i Offers scientists a choice of up to 12 different phases system that can evolve and adapt with the changing needs and sorbent loadings 10 100mg in a standard of today s laboratory researcher format 96 well plate All five units in the MultiSUB range deliver a combination of Allows users to simply and rapidly screen for the economy of gel and buffer volume with gel size and sample number versatility optimal retention and selectivity required to achieve e Gel size and sample number requirements can be exactly matched in each unit with the their sample preparation objectives option of additional gel tray sizes e Delivers considerable savings in valuable laboratory time Cleaver Scientific www cleaverscientific com Constructed from a single piece of molded high quality polypropylene SU PPL ES amp CONSUMAB LES Porvair Sciences www porvair sciences com Custom Specified Laboratory Ap paratus e Exactly meet the demands of the user s application or pled e Company also offers a totally bespoke solution for p
143. s 4 1 by volume in air the lower explosion limit is reached meaning that ignition of the gas could cause an explosion A large hydrogen cylinder con taining 9 000 liters 318 ft3 of compressed hydrogen contains enough gas to reach the LEL for a 220 m3 7 770 ft3 room 1A A hydrogen generator offers a sate alterna tive producing enough hydrogen to supply a number of applications without the require ment for bulk storage of gas Using a GC TCD we analyzed a gas mixture of oxygen nitrogen methane and carbon monoxide in balance helium Results showed no difference in performance by either gas showing that a hydrogen generator is a safe alternative to cylinders while offering excellent performance 18 Figures 1A amp 1B Analysis of gas mixture using hydrogen from a generator 1A and a gas cylinder 1B Figures 1A and 1B show results of analysis using hydrogen from the generator and a hydrogen gas cylinder Figure 2 shows an overlay of results from the generator and cylinder demonstrating identical performance of the two gas sources Figure 3 shows TCD baseline Figure 2 Overlay of gas analysis results using Cylinder blue and hydrogen generator red Figure 3 GC ICD baseline results using cylinder blue and hydrogen generator red Results of the analysis show that a hydrogen generator can be used to produce carrier gas that will give comparable results to cylinders without the associate
144. s a complex combination of analytical knowledge extensive manual handling dexterity and strict adherence to protocols in order to achieve reliable results According to GE failure rates however can be as high as 25 percent and data variations between different users can be as high as 35 40 percent The Amersham WB s standardized Western blotting workflow typically achieves a variability of less than 10 percent between users The publication landscape has changed dramatically over the past year and the need for quantified blots and data is of significant importance for peer reviewed journals said Martin Teichert a research scientist at DKFZ German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg Germany I think that the Amersham WB system fits perfectly into this niche and solves this problem of having quantifiable data that can be relied upon It has arrived at just the right time For more information visit https promo gelifesciences com gl artofwesternblotting November 2014 www bio rad com www bmglabtech com PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Centrifugal Vacuum Concentrator miVac Quattro e Rapidly removes a wide range of solvents from volatile organic solvents through to DMF including water e Especially suited for concentrating precious samples in applications including oligonucleotide synthesis RNA DNA preparation peptide preparation sequencing molecular biology and ADME toxicology research e Capable of re
145. s cen trifuges users can access the centrifuge from virtually anywhere via personal computer or mobile device using the custom MobileFuge application available for iOS and Android devices Using the email diagnostic alerts fea ture lab managers can be notified whenever there is an issue with a centrifuge This feature notifies lab managers of any issues regardless of their location O scan COULTER Life Sciences Phone 800 526 3821 www beckmancoulter com November 2014 Lab Manager 79 80 PRODUCTS IN ACTION PURELAB Chorus The PURELAB Chorus range of laboratory water systems offers customers the ability to customize a system to fully optimize to best fit their application budget and the configuration of their laboratory all without compromising on water quality or the visual appeal of the unit PURELAB Chorus systems are well suited in laboratories with limited laboratory space and that must retain precise con trol over dispensing methods and storage options The PURELAB Chorus range includes three wa ter purification systems specifically designed to deliver the necessary water quality at the re quired throughtlow Chorus 1 for ultrapure Type l Chorus 2 for pure Type Il and Cho rus 3 for general pure grade Type Ill water PURELAB Chorus 1 produces the highest inor ganic water purity available by applying ad vanced PureSure deionization which removes even trace amounts of those
146. st is synonymous with high performance and peace of mind quality It s our mission to ensure that every user of our innovative technology has the best experience possible We listen and we deliver specialty gas control solutions that work exceptionally for you For more information call 1 800 569 0547 or visit VictorSpecialtyGasControl com Victor is a registered trademark of Victor Equipment Company 2014 Victor Equipment Company e e Fi o 9 E CE 8 a A A A O gt A a O 8628 6 8 326 soe gt AAA D P o o A fetes a A A a 1 A A A O A SEE EEE TOE A Ce DEE DEE HEE 0 0 9 The all new product line of Eppendorf gt Unsurpassed quality clarity purity Cell Culture Consumables will truly and sterility providing reliable cell delight your cells Its outstanding culture conditions design reliability and purity is based gt Significantly improved design for on more than 50 years of experience more safety and consistency Products created by experts developed gt Maximum safety and confidence for perfectionists Impress yourself during storage and transportation www eppendorfna com cellculture 800 645 3050 052 A1 0101 B O 2014 Eppendorf AG eppendorf
147. st watched program in public television s history He had a hand in 20 books and published 600 scientific pa pers His elevation displeased colleagues Despite having awarded him its highest honor the National Academy of Sciences denied Sagan membership But as more scientists are compelled to compete for their share of shrinking research resources and fund ing opportunities the right touch of social media can provide the soft sell that sustains them in today s harsh XA Homogenizing Shanti PRO Scientific is a global leader in manufacturing of homogenizers and mixing equipment View our entire homogenizing product list online www proscientific com yeo 1 800 5 THE PRO 843 776 sales proscientific com economic climate Mastery of digital communication platforms can become a matter of self preservation as microbiologist Jonathan Eisen explains in To tweet or not to tweet in the careers section of Science Mastery of digital communication platforms can become a matter of self preservation As one who works the edges of science communica tion the tenured Eisen experiments with new tools for communication in the same way I would actively test a new microscope Judicious social media exposure opens doors to recognition and grants he says People cite my work more almost certainly because they ve heard about it more on blogs or Twitter And other scientists most certainly a
148. sts An unbalanced supply demand relation ship with your supplier can lead to rushed work mistakes safety risks and expensive rework so make sure your supplier has the global resources to meet your needs especially in times of local chemical shortages Another important aspect of supplier support is electronic documen tation which is essential for a modern laboratory to run safely and ef ficiently It is imperative that all labs prepare for GHS labeling require ments that are designed to promote the safety of lab workers Make sure your supplier can provide excellent electronic documentation to help you comply with these new requirements Chemical providers with comprehensive electronic documentation can also help you reduce paper waste and enable faster communication for quick responses to changes in your daily lab needs Materials sourcing and electronic catalogs and data sheets are just a few of the common documentation tools provided by suppliers to increase efficiency and streamline laboratory functions Some chemi cal suppliers even offer mobile apps that allow smartphones and tablets to instantly access product information A quick scan of a product bar code for example can provide information such as product specifica tions certificates of analysis material safety data sheets and container and packaging information In your purchasing practices consider how each of these tools can support the fast pace and high pr
149. t decision Supply options Traditionally most specialty gases have been supplied in compressed gas cylinders These cylinders are typically 4 feet tall and weigh between 75 and 80 pounds with their contents pressurized to around 2 000 pounds per square inch psi While compressed cylinders are still by far the most commonly used method for supplying analytical gases they do present a number of limitations Specifi cally they present risks to worker safety require specific storage and handling equipment and may have cylinder to cylinder quality variations that make sensitive analyses difficult Although cylinders present some challenges for the analytical lab they remain widely used and coupled Lab Manager November 2014 OT Gasx with engineered solutions for safety and regulation still present an attractive choice for many labs Alternately the adoption of point of use gas genera tors to produce a continuous supply of compressed gas ses such as zero air nitrogen and hydrogen has become popular for a broad range of instrumentation As ex amples zero air is used for liquid chromatography LC and gas chromatography with flame ionization detec tion GC FID nitrogen is used with GC FID thermal analysis TD inductively coupled plasma spectrometry ICP Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry LC MS and hydrogen is used both as a combustion gas for multiple
150. take longer to return to set point when the power comes back on They are also larger and heavier for a given work volume due to the water jacket Maintenance of water jacketed units is also somewhat more complex Users must add algaecide to the jacketed water and these incubators cannot employ high heat disinfection gt Regardless labs tend to stick with what has worked in the past which guarantees that despite losing some market share to direct heated incubators demand for water jacketed units will not disappear any time soon Many direct heated incubators now are fanless A CO Incubator Shaker New Brunswick S411 Eppendorf eppendorfna com a a Cot ce which imparts several ben efits Moving air through A CO2 Incubators CO2CELL BMT USA www bmtus com Lab Manager November 2014 natural convection rather than forcing air movement with a fan reduces both condensation and cross contam ination explains Rick Ellison business development With incubators the less mechanically complex the better manager scientific division at BMT USA Monroe WA Fanless designs also reduce maintenance by eliminating replacement of HEPA filters that cleanse incoming air and thus eliminating any cleaning or contamination 1s sues arising from the fans themselves With incubators the less mechanically complex the bet ter Other designs may be just as effective but they intro duce more variables
151. tal PCR more suitable for certain applications than standard PCR A The applications that are most suitable for digital PCR are obviously ones where titer or copy number quantitation is extremely important or an application where you need to pick out one or a few copy numbers of target from a complex background One application that comes to mind immediately is in oncology test ing where you are looking for early detection of mutation or metastasis In digital PCR the mutated DNA or RNA oligo is partitioned out into different reactors and hence becomes easier to detect as compared to tradi tional PCR where it s part of a bulk massively complex sample Hence the strongest and most obvious use for digital PCR right now is for medical applications It s ideal for applica tions where knowing the titer is very important such as in monitoring viral load present in very low copy num bers or in HIV testing Q What are you working on in your lab related to digital PCR applications A As a national lab we investigate many parallel threads and look for the right opportunity to put a new capa bility together We wanted to develop technologies to detect certain rare targets in complex environmental sam ples and our droplet digital PCR tech nology was developed with that goal in mind Since then we have moved on to other broader applications Currently we are looking at enriching microar rays using PCR and targ
152. that any time the balance 1s not performing as it did Lab Manager November 2014 when the lab first began using it us ers should contact their local service provider to have it checked out Most manufacturers tell you to calibrate a brand new balance before using it as the simple process of shipping can affect the mechanics of the balance Storey adds Frequent calibration ensures consistent results and maximizes precision in your mea surements If you notice your balance is delivering readings that are incon sistent or less repeatable it s definitely time for calibration If a user s lab experiences frequent temperature or barometric changes they will need to calibrate their bal ances more often as such fluctuations mean inaccurate results Fluctuations in barometric pressure can wreak havoc with the results from a precision or analytical balance that hasn t been calibrated Storey says And if the location in which you re working has a different gravitational force than that of the factory produc ing the balance calibration 1s neces sary for precise measurements As with other lab instruments there are plenty of mistakes users make when looking after their balances Hurdle notes that not using a certified technician to perform routine mainte nance or not using certified weights to perform the calibration when doing it themselves are common errors he sees users make Always be sure to
153. the appropriate level of compliance Occupational health The nature and scope of an occupational health program can vary widely from com pany to company Often in research labora tory settings one might expect preemploy ment health evaluations periodic medical surveillance injury protocols including first aid needle stick and blood borne patho gens maintenance of medical records and coordination with the departments when work related health and safety issues arise One might typically find coordination of respiratory protection and hearing conserva tion programs within the occupational health component of a program PP 991 9380 e proinfoQmieleusa com e 8 miele pro com PROFESSIONAL WWW labmanager com HEALTH amp SAFETY Information collection Motivation behavior and attitudes Information is critical for proper decision making The goal of this element is to change behavior and Equally important as the collection of information 1s its attitudes to promote a safer and healthier workplace subsequent management We have seen situations where It places great value on the management team s visible important information had been leadership and support for collected but never analyzed or changing unsafe behaviors atti distributed to those who needed ad Fo tudes and work processes One it Much of the safety and t IS also VE ry HM porte nt additional benefit 1s that it re health information collecte
154. the conical wells ensuring a well mixed sample and concentration of all reagent components and removal of any bubbles There are many commercially available centrifuges for spinning 96 well microtiter plates and PCR plates These typically use a large expensive swing out rotor with plate holding trays Most of these centrifuges are designed to accept a variety of different rotors have sophisticated electronic control systems and take up valuable lab bench space One alternative to such units is Labnet International s MPS 1000 Mini Plate Spinner centrifuge which is designed specifically for quickly spinning down PCR plates before and after a PCR reaction Unlike standard benchtop centrifuges with microplate rotors this plate spinner is compact in design and simple to operate Sealed PCR plates are inserted vertically into the instrument and the surface tension of the small samples keeps them from moving within the sample wells The spinner accommodates all standard plate sizes or 2 plates strips or tubes when using the optional adapter The entire centrifuge process is quick easy cost effective and results in a guaranteed homogeneous sample mixture For more information please contact Labnet International Inc at labnetinfo corning com www labnetinternational com or 732 417 0700 A Labnet International s MPS 1000 Mini Plate Spinner centrifuge Lab Manager November 2014 A Figure 1 Inconsistent or imprecise
155. they touch There 1s ample clinical science and popular psychology surrounding the phenomenon of the Machiavellian personality Some have called the trait akin to narcissism and psychopa thy Deriving its name from the Ital ian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli who wrote The Prince a book that seems to largely condone unscrupu lous politics the term Machiavel lian in the workplace has a negative connotation and is often used to de scribe people who have no problem deceiving and manipulating others to get what they want In essence the Machiavellian cowork er is the person who may eventually stick that proverbial knife in your back In a lab setting this behavior has the potential to be not only annoying and worrisome but unethical Take for instance a project in which both col laboration and confidentiality are key If there is a bad apple in the bunch Lab Manager November 2014 THE POLITICS LATEST TRENDS SHAPING THE SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE OF PERSONALITIES By Mark A Lanfear you may not be able to trust him or her to hold that confidentiality as sacred What if that coworker were prone to share details of the project with someone outside the lab who has a competing interest What if that coworker were to take a project s findings somewhere else to further his or her career This type of scenario shows why un fortunately managers cannot avoid dealing with Machiavellian tenden cies in th
156. tics applications He demonstrated the first real time digital PCR in monodisperse droplets i in 2007 and has developed additional sorting trapping and amplification tools to aid in droplet digital PCR His research in digital PCR on chip miniaturization and selective microarray dehybridization has led to several new technologies offering improved diagnostics capabilities November 2014 Lab Manager 33 34 HEALTH amp SAFETY A PREVENTIVE APPROACH CREATING A SUCCESSFUL INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM by Vince McLeod e believe in prevention finding and fixing problems and hazards before employees are hurt We also know that prevention programs are effective and do reduce workplace illnesses inyu ries and fatalities Not only are injuries and illnesses decreased significantly but many leading companies that have adopted the preventive approach are seeing a transformation in their safety culture This shift is a posi tive one leading to higher productivity reduced worker turnover and greater employee satisfaction Want a suc cessful health and safety program Follow our guidelines for developing a solid proactive approach to protecting your employees from potential hazards in the workplace Hazard recognition evaluation and control is the neart of industrial hygiene practices and Rey to any health and safety program These essential elements represent a consensus of the opinions of health and
157. ting cortical function 4 Qingjie Wang PhD postdoctoral fellow at NSCI His current project aims to reprogram human retina pigment epithelial cells towards neural retina lin eage including photoreceptors for my PhD and for my postdoc who ve been great in giving me advice for how to successfully manage He says the most important ways he motivates his staff are through creating a positive work environment and choosing the right people who are willing to work hard as a team You have to bring people into your lab who are self motivated and really want to push things forward Fasano explains You can teach anyone how to do an experiment but you can t teach someone how to be motivated He adds that he works to create a good environment for staff by being passionate and interested in the work they are doing In science 90 percent of the time experiments don t work he says Ninety percent of the time your grants don t get funded So as a manager my job is to always be positive to always keep the morale up by trying to inspire them and say Your work matters Your data really is going to make a difference That creates an environment where people are much more upbeat As PI Fasano is in the lab about two to five times each day In an average day staff will feed their cells analyze them chat with Fasano about their latest data and analyze that data T like to sit down and have
158. tion and must also meet quality and performance requirements In addition to these components that must work correctly in conjunction sample preparation is typically done manually and must be done with care and accuracy One of the crucial manual sample preparation steps in the PCR process is removing the final amplified product from the PCR plates following the thermal cycling procedure If these liquid handling steps are not performed accurately PCR yield will be significantly affected Solutions It is widely known that centrifugation of PCR plates before and after the thermal cycling process aids in positioning the liquid reagent samples at their proper locations in the bottom of the sample wells Inconsistent or imprecise pipetting of the samples into the plates during PCR set up can lead to small droplets of solution on the side walls of the plate wells see figure 1 Incomplete mixture of the reaction reagents and target DNA samples in this case can and will lead to poor amplification results Another common problem when pipetting such small volumes of samples into the plate wells is the formation of bubbles in the samples Bubble formation leads to non uniform contact of the samples to the surface of the plastic wells and this can cause poor or inconsistent heat transfer during the thermal cycling process Centrifugation of the plate prior to thermal cycling brings the entire quantity of reagent mixture to the bottom tips of each of
159. tions In addition to considering the volume or quantity that is needed for a chemical product another best practice is Lab Manager November 2014 to consider the physical size of the product packaging as the space occupied by your chemical inventory is in many ways just as important in the purchasing process One benefit of matching the volume of chemical products to your exact need is that you can better control the amount of space required for storage For instance the size of the product packaging has a direct impact on the ease of movement by your personnel around the laboratory Storing unnecessarily large quantities can hamper the flow of activity in the laboratory and in some Cases even cause trip hazards and other safety risks By contrast proper product sizing also limits change outs reduces the number of open containers and limits disposal of spoilage and or excess product all of which reduce safety risks to personnel Packaging and containers In addition to physical size other aspects of a prod uct s packaging or container should be considered as part of your chemical purchasing best practices due to their impact on various aspects of your operation including product integrity safe handling sustainability measures storage requirements and disposal costs Purchasing chemicals should be like going to the grocery store with a meal plan and a shopping list Specialty packaging for instance is designed t
160. tized they must be controlled The generally accepted hierarchy of controls is elimina tion substitution engineering controls personal pro tective equipment and administrative controls Workplace design and engineering We often see failure in this aspect when we are called in to solve a problem Designing safety into a workplace is as Important as designing in efficiency and these often go hand in hand Some of this is already accomplished by building codes e g electrical standards fire suppression and egress requirements but other aspects must be con sciously addressed such as ergonomics ventilation and www labmanager com Refrigerated amp Heating Circulators ANOVA Temperature Control Instruments for Lab and Industry www waterbaths com 281 277 2202 HEALTH amp SAFETY do noise requirements for the anticipated work at hand equipment and machine safeguarding materials handling and storage use of auto mated processes and added reserve capacity Safety performance management PROVIDE FIREPROOF CABINETS FOR This can be thought of as the measurable STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE CHEMICALS actions of employees in relation to safety in By James A Kaufman their work Performance measurement should E PNS reflect how employees management as well Flammable liquids should be stored in fireproof cabinets The NFPA E A done conpaed provides recommendations in codes 45 and 30 for the qua
161. tru ments by a centralized gas supply you may experience supply pressure variations especially if automatic swi tchover manifolds are used In this situation a two stage regulator with a narrow supply pressure effect should be used Alternately if you are using your gas for a short duration calibration a single stage regulator with a wider supply pressure effect but a constant flow should be used Materiality is also a concern when selecting a gas regu lator Gas regulators must be constructed from materi als that are suitable for the application in question For general use brass regulators with elastomeric diaphragms will be adequate for many applications However the use of stainless steel diaphragms will prevent adsorption of gases on the diaphragm and eliminate air diffusion Such diaphragms are necessary for trace analyses where com ponents may be adsorbed on an elastomeric diaphragm or for applications such as GC which can be affected by dif fusion of atmospheric oxygen or outgassing of monomers and dimers from the elastomeric components Kicking the canister On site generation of laboratory gas is becoming increasingly popular in many analytical labs by offering an increased level of safety and convenience as well as con siderable long term cost savings when compared to using high pressure canisters On site gas generators typically op erate at low pressures and store only small volumes of gas lt 50 cm greatly re
162. uent chemical spills which translate into a safer more efficient laboratory environ ment Buying in bulk can also mean fewer shipping costs and less pack aging disposal which contribute to sustainability goals While bulk purchasing may be an effective way to manage supply and control costs more isn t always bet ter so an important best practice is to calculate all the benefits and pos www labmanager com sible risks of bulk purchasing not just the up front cost per unit savings Overbuy ing may be less expensive in the context of cost per volume but it can also lead to wasted chemicals that expire before they are disbursed and result in costly disposal For instance some labs may purchase bulk one way chemical drums and pump the contents into smaller containers in an effort to reduce costs however the integrity of the chemical may be compromised in the dispensing process if 1t goes into an unclean container or the lab may end up discarding unused chemicals with disposal costs due to degradation or extended exposure to the environment The large size of the drums also increase the total volume of chemicals in a facility which means they can become a storage and safety issue if not consumed in a reasonable amount of time While the cost per unit may be lower the use of bulk containers may present additional risks in the lab For example a product such as an ACS grade solvent in a 20 liter container may be dif
163. ur four premier brands Thermo Scientific Life Technologies Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies purchasing convenience and comprehensive support For more information please visit www thermotisher com Acc var HA Thermo SCIENTIFIC A Thermo Fisher Scientific rs oma ort SITE 5X Ho 55HE r RR R0s0sn5n5no io oo www thermoscientific com heracellvios November 2014 Lab Manager 87 PROFILES MARKETPLACE 00 TISSUE AND CELL DISPERSION HEADQUARTERS BioSpec Products provides equipment supplies and expert advice on mechanical tools used to homogenize disperse gt or pulverize laboratory sized samples 1 mg 10g of tissue or microorganisms Whether you require high or low throughput a beadbeater or a rotor stator homogenizer beads or vials BioSpec has it Innovative Best Products Best Price g Contact BioSpec Products Bartlesville Oklahoma 800 617 3363 info biospec com www biospec com SHEL LAB BACTRON300 ANAEROBIC CHAMBER The BACTRON300 is an economical anaerobic environment system with air lock a 17 6 cu ft workspace and a 300 plate capacity incubator which delivers optimum productivity in a compact space The operator has total command of the work area yet enjoys ample bench space for efficient performance of all procedures requiring an anaerobic atmosphere SHEL LAB BACTRON systems hav
164. ure and its attendant commu nication platforms would impose on the good name of deliberate science And while numerous scientists have since succumbed to social media s inevitability reason ing they will miss the boat so many others have caught many remain suspicious of social media s shiny offerings www labmanager com CY TATION imaging reader Consistently Brilliant Microscopy amp Remarkable Data WHAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE DO Cytation 5 is the compact automated cell imaging and multi mode reader that easily and quickly captures and analyzes brilliant images and transforms them into meaningful results Simplicity precision and flexibility all in one powerful bench top solution Find out what is possible visit www cellimager com Think Possible oe Biolek www biotek com THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE SELFIE Still others resent colleagues who revel in them figuring it exacts an opportunity cost on their research If you re serious about a research career it s easy to invest too much in social media said Jim Austin who heads up the American Association for the Advancement of Science s careers section of the journal Science Senior scientists are quick to trot out the cautionary tale of astrophysicist Carl Sagan Back in the 1980s he was riding high as the public face of science His TV show Cosmos broadcast in 60 countries was said to be the mo
165. usands of gravitational force equivalents to the sample through spinning and play a Benchtop Refrigerated Centrifuge 19 a 42 Yole in a wide range of workflows and applications Floor Ultracentrifuge 8 Benchtop Clinical Centrifuge 8 Benchtop Ultracentrituge 7 TOP QU ESTI 0 NS Floor Centrifuge e You Should Ask When Buying a Centrifuge 1 What is the maximum gforce the centrifuge can generate Centrifuge speed range s used by survey respondents 3 2 How does the company s centrifuge differ from other ones that can achieve the same speed and capacity 0 7 500 RPM 32 3 What kind of warranty comes with the centrifuge and what does it cover 7 500 10 000 RPM 18 10 000 15 000 RPM 25 4 Ifthe company discontinues the product for how many years do they provide accessories and parts for the centrifuge 15 000 20 000 RPM 13 5 Ask about cost of the purchase not just the price of the product being installed but the total cost of ownership including price 20 000 RPM 12 service expectations warranty etc Nearly 20 of respondents plan on purchasing a serna in a E ig The reasons for these TOP 0 FEAT U RES F T 0 RS respondents look for when purchasing a centrifuge Replacement of aging centrifuge 52 Addition to existing systems increase capacity 23 RELIABILITY 96 Setting up a new lab developing a bran o C 21 new method EASE OF USE 96 Require more speed gforces and capacity 4
166. use a company that has been properly trained to work on balances by the manufacturer of www labmanager com MAINTENANCE MATTERS your balance he stresses adding that It is also important to store calibra tion weights in the proper containers where they will remain free from dust or smudges and at the proper ambi ent temperatures Calibration weights should also be handled with the proper gloves and forceps where applicable to prevent damage Storey says users need to be careful when cleaning storing and moving their balances as applying more pres sure or weight to the pan than it can handle can cause damage It s best to remove the pan when cleaning or storing your balance he says If you don t you might acciden tally set something on top of it and then wonder why it s not working Simply forgetting to calibrate your balance is another mistake that can lead to large issues but 1s eas ily solved by keeping a log to record maintenance tasks Storey adds A maintenance log 1s very beneficial especially if there are multiple users operating the balance he says Also if you need professional repairs done it s helpful for the technicians to know exactly what you ve done and when you did it Apart from the user s manual calling the manufacturer for maintenance tips or to help solve any issues you have is a good resource in caring for your bal ance Overall just remem
167. ut being allowed to speak to or with each other We moved logs and assembled benches and 1t was amazing just how well we understood the other persons thoughts and intentions after quietly patiently watching them in silence This 1s exactly the skill you need to practice if you want to become a better communicator www labmanager com Sky High Performance Down to Earth Value The newest star on the laboratory horizon is the Nimbus balance by Adam Equipment Nimbus delivers performance and features for everyday lab work at a value that is light years ahead of the competition With 15 streamlined models offering readabilities from 0 1mg to 0 1g Nimbus provides an intuitive user interface compact footprint and clear glass weighing chamber The forecast is bright with Nimbus in your laboratory Learn more about Nimbus www adamequipment com nimbus You Om inf f 2014 Adam Equipment Inc All rights reserved NA 4085 22 LEADERSHIP amp STAFFING Picking the right time and place makes all the differ ence in your ability to be heard Start the conversation not when it is convenient for you but rather when it is convenient for the other person Be strategic Make an appointment or find them when they are relaxed We are all creatures of habit and fall into transition ritu als patterns of behavior before settling down to work or getting in the car to drive home Take time to recog nize these patterns and then choose the t
168. vessel STAY IN TOUCH A special feature of the PRESTO is the integrated 5 7 industrial touch screen All important information is displayed clearly and concisely enhancing ease of use considerably The PRESTO can be operated intuitively with the tip of your finger PUMP POWER The PRESTO provides continuous parameter monitoring for the right pressure at any time The pumps dynamically compensate for any viscosity changes of the temperature control fluid A40 W40 Permanent internal monitor ing and selflubricating pumps ensure a long Julobo THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL COMPANY JULABO USA Inc 884 Marcon Blvd Allentown PA 18109 610 230 0250Fax 610 231 0260 www julabo com Lab Manager November 2014 operating life of the PRESTO Another fea ture is the closed temperature control circuit The bath fluid has no contact with ambient air meaning no moisture and no oxidation This results in a signiticant increase in the lifetime of the bath fluid The closed circuit also pre vents the PRESTO trom releasing oil vapors ALWAYS READY The PRESTO works with one bath fluid cov ering the entire working temperature range That saves you from frquently changing the bath fluid and stocking extra bath fluid The tilling tunnel of the PRESTO is easily acces sible at the top of the unit As the PRESTO operates whisper quiet you will hardly hear them in your laboratory Even at high room temperatu
169. ward to addressing customer s applica tions and requirements www labmanager com PRODUCTS IN ACTION NEXT GENERATION OF CO2 INCUBATORS FOR DEMANDING CELL CULTURE APPLICATIONS Direct heat incubator with latest proven technologies designed for reliable reproducible results Cell culture scientists working with sensitive cultures such as stem and primary cells can turn to a new CO2 incubator that combines the latest technologies for optimal cell growth and contamination control designed to create uniform growth conditions with consistency and reliability The Thermo Scientitic Heracell VIOS incubator series is ideal for academic research and pharmaceutical applications allowing scien tists to maximize their productivity with excel lent reproducibility reliability and efficiency Reproducibility and contamination preven tion are critical when it comes to sensitive cultures in order to ensure the integrity of your research said Doug Wernerspach global business director Thermo Fisher Scientific Our new Heracell VIOS series leverage our long history of CO2 technology leadership with innovations including our new THRIVE active airflow and proven decontamination that are critical for today s demanding cell culture applications Incorporating the breakthrough THRIVE active airtlow technology the Heracell VIOS delivers a homogeneous culturing environment with fast recovery for unwanted variation D
170. wash cycles to facilitate your individual requirement FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON LABORATORY WASHERS INCLUDING USEFUL ARTICLES AND A LIST OF MANUFACTURERS VISIT WWW LABMANAGER COM LAB WASHERS SAJIHSVM AUOLVAOP November 2014 Lab Manager 45 PUSH _ CHES SSION AND PERSISTENCE THIS LAB FORWARD AS IT SEA FOR THE CAUSE OF AUTISM 4 46 by Rachel M u nz any studies suggest that toxins 1n the environment may be a cause of autism affecting a mother s unborn child as it develops However proving this for certain is difficult as it is something that cannot be tested directly You can t feed a toxin to a pregnant woman and say to her Hey we just want to give you these toxins and see what happens to your child Obviously that can never happen says Dr Chris Fasano a principal investigator PI at the Neural Stem Cell Institute NSCI in Rensselaer New York But with stem cell technology we can model that in a dish Fasano s lab at the NSCI uses stem cells to gain a better understanding of how the human brain develops even in the earliest stages aiming to discover what causes autism Once we understand that process we can try to understand what happens when things go wrong he says As a whole the NSCI is focused on using stem cells to understand and create new therapies for nervous system diseases including blinding disorders such as macular degeneration and neurode
171. what goes on during use after sterilization Contamination arises from organisms settling on sur faces and growing with the assistance of condensation This leads to a design approach that reduces working surface areas to an absolute minimum less surface equals less room for microorganisms to grow A CO incubator will do its job to protect an experi ment or process but only if operators follow best prac tices In its excellent primer on cell culture Invitrogen suggests the following contamination preventives e Wipe hands work areas and anything that enters the work area with 70 percent ethanol e Avoid pouring media and reagents directly from their fac tory containers and reseal bottles immediately after use e Follow good pipetting practices When in doubt throw it away e Keep flasks bottles and dishes covered until use rest caps with their tops down e Use only sterile glassware and equipment e Eliminate gratuitous exhalation singing whistling while working and perform experiments as rapidly as possible Factors to consider when purchasing Review short and long term laboratory and cell culture needs in order to identify factors critical to the purchase says Philip All incubators capably control temperature CO and possibly O but units may differ significantly in www labmanager com INSIGHTS ON CO2 INCUBATORS de REE 4 al EP TI a q A CO Incubator Heracell 2401 Therm
172. witter following while most nad fewer followers than would be expected Such possibilities have long been dreamed of said Jim Austin who heads up the careers section of the journal Science a solid platform that s truly social in a scientific context complete with its very own social tool kit to connect global users that opens up a new world of collaborative possibilities Similar efforts in the past seemed to be a waste of time said Austin But ResearchGate often called Facebook for scientists rolls with the momentum of a membership approaching five million each and every one a scientist Just as Facebook revolutionized users digital presence a decade ago ResearchGate 1s a game changer that increases the visibility of research and citations and allows users to track who is citing them and their publications an optimal networking opportunity Academia edu boasts a bigger membership of 12 million but anyone can sign up It s an idea that has caught on social networking sites continue to proliferate many discipline specific A survey undertaken by Nature that studied the social media activity of more than 3 000 scholars and engineers found that nearly half visited ResearchGate regularly Google Scholar was the leader with 60 LinkedIn was third with 41 followed by Facebook at 38 Twitter 13 and Academia edu 5 weren t even close When scientists want to seriously talk science using socia
173. would be the equivalent to pregnancy in a culture dish it s really exciting and we think there s going to be a lot of cool data there that s going to elucidate autism and have a really positive effect on the general health of people going forward Fasano says Rachel Muenz assistant editor for Lab Manager can be reached at rachelm labmanager com or by phone at 888 781 0328 x233 www labmanager com Types of microplate handler s used by survey respondents Microplate reader 37 Microplate centrituge 20 Microplate washer 14 Microplate stacker 12 Microplate sealer 8 Microplate labeler 5 Other 5 Top 5 microplate handler applications as reported by survey respondents Biotechnology 27 Clinical diagnostics 23 Pharmaceutical medicine 18 Education research 11 Environmental 6 Nearly 31 of respondents plan on purchasing a microplate handler in the next year The budgets for these purchases are as follows Less than 1 000 8 1 000 2 000 15 2 000 4 000 19 4 000 8 000 8 8 000 16 000 19 16 000 31 gt SURVEY SAYS ARE YOU IN THE MARKET FOR A MICROPLATE HANDLER Microplate handlers are specialized robotic devices that transfer microtiter plates in three dimensional space from one location within a workflow to another The locations are actually operations such as solvent addition through liquid handling aspiration heating shaking
174. ydrogen as a carrier gas electromechanical Hydrogen provides many advantages over helium including higher resolution shorter run times longer column life and cost savings Many instrument manufacturers now provide resources to make switching carrier gas easier hydraulics pneumatics process control sealing amp shielding fluid amp gas handling A hydrogen generator is a safe convenient and an inexpensive solution to storing hydrogen cylinders Learn more at solutions parker com conservehelium ENGINEERING YOUR SUCCESS Baston solutions parker com conservehelium 30 TECHNOLOGY Point of use cylinders are generally best suited for smaller laboratories with single systems or a limited number of gas applications In this setup the cylinder is typically mounted to the wall in close proximity to the instrument it is serving Close proximity to the device operator offers the advantage of easy monitor ing and flow control if necessary Additionally there is less tendency for variations in pressure when the gas supply is close to the device in use However the main disadvantage of this setup is that your process must stop whenever a gas canister must be switched out which may result in considerable instrument downtime Choosing a suitable gas solution will largely depend on the size and demands of your particular lab For large labs and those with high gas demands or several systems requiring a specific gas
175. ye out on social media for opportunities to share and connect with us and your fellow readers www labmanager com Innovative SPECTROBLUE ICP OES eliminates expensive gas purging Unique sealed no purge optical technology lets SPECTROBLUE save you thousands of dollars a year versus ordinary spectrometers And this compact instrument saves even more with a patented air cooled design that eliminates costly complicated external water chilling Besides cutting costs SPECTROBLUE raises routine elemental analysis performance to new levels with advantages such as its robust powerful generator and choice of radial axial or twin view plasma interfaces So SPECTROBLUE can provide among the industry s highest levels of resolution sensitivity stability and throughput for your industrial or environmental applications FREE WHITE PAPER How new spectrometer technologies substantially cut operating costs pP E B j iv O http icp oes spectro com BLUE 800 548 5809 Patent No US 8 649 006 B2 Y Introducing the z OC gt Refrigerated Circulating Bath We started with the form factor how to gain a large work area with a limited footprint As with most great innovations the solution was simple we removed the control head to create more space We lost our head so you don t lose your cool help me go headless Thermo SCIENTIFIC LAB MANAGER ACADEMY 24 HAVE FUN MAKING WORK

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