New Products

United Biomedical Inc., based in Lake Success, N.Y., recently received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market a new type of AIDS antibody screening and diagnostic test. The UBI-Olympus HIV-1 enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was jointly developed by United Biomedical Inc. and Olympus Inc. The UBI-Olympus test will be manufactured by UBI and marketed worldwide by Olympus Optical Co. Ltd. The new AIDS antibody test is based on I highly specific and conserved small peptide segments of the AIDS virus. Chemically synthesized peptides are used in the detection of antibodies to the AIDS virus. The new test is safer than other AIDS antibody screening and diagnostic tests, because the use of chemically synthesized peptides eliminates the need for growing the AIDS virus to obtain protein segments for antibody detection. In addition, the incidence of false-positive, or nonspecific, test results is minimized, because of the precise binding of the peptides. The new diagnostic test is highly reproducible and takes just 45 minutes to complete, as compared with the 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours required for other licensed enzyme immunoassay screening tests. Designed for use with the EIA Synthea from Olympus, the UBI-Olympus test offers applications for the early detection of AIDS virus infection in individual physicians' offices and in large blood bank and plasma centers, where early detection of the deadly virus is crucial. Ten 96-well plates (providing for 960 tests) are available and cost $4 per test; two 96-well plates (which provide for 192 tests) are also available at a price of $4.50 per test. Olympus Optical Chemotaxis Chambers Researchers in immunology, cell biology, and developmental biology frequently perform experiments designed to analyze the effect of various factors on target cells (for example, cellular chemotaxis). Such experiments require the use of culture chambers that are separated by a membrane to allow diffusion of macromolecules through both chambers while restricting the movement of Cells. NeuroProbe Inc., based in Cabin John, Md., has developed a variety of chemotaxis chambers designed to fulfill the requirements for experiments such as these. Ten-, 12-, and 48-well chemotaxis chambers, are available (priced at $250, $300, and $495, respectively). The chambers feature precision-machined, clear acrylic plates; polished well interiors (to facilitate cleaning and reduce the chance of contamination); raised rims around the mating surfaces of top and bottom wells (to facilitate sealing); and curved sealing surfaces (to distribute pressure evenly). The chambers are designed for use with either polycarbonate or cellulose nitrate separation filters. In addition, NeuroProbe offers a variety of culture chambers, including 12-well manifold chambers (which are priced at $595), Zigmond chambers ($75), Hoyden chambers ($135); and Guirguis chambers ($695). NeuroProbe DNA Synthesizer Molecular biologists depend on the ability of DNA synthesizers to produce highly purified oligonucleotides (oligos) with a defined sequence for a variety of experimental purposes. Individual laboratories, however, often cannot afford the cost of DNA synthesizers. Biotix Inc. has developed a new low-cost, high speed DNA synthesizer capable of producing high-purity oligos with 99% efficiency and coupling cycles under five minutes. Biotix, based in Danbury, Conn., now markets both one- and two-column units with a 125-mer synthesis guarantee and 200-mer capacity. The single-column unit, priced at $14,950, includes an IBM-compatible PC and is fully automated and user programmable. Biotix Inc. Linker Kits For Cell Trafficking Zynaxis Cell Science Inc., has developed two kits for the irreversible and reproducible fluorescent labeling of cells: The PKH2-GL kit has a fluorescent lipophilic probe that incorporates into the plasma membrane. Researchers can subsequently identify and localize labeled cells via argon-laser or mercury-arc lamp fluorescence analysis instruments. Quantification of the fluorescent intensity of the detected cells, relative to their initial intensity, allows the analysis of the cell's proliferation history. The second fluorescent linker kit, PKH2-PCL, includes the fluorescent membrane probe and a diluent, which results in the aggregation and internalization of the probe by phagocytic cells. The two fluorescent linker kits, priced at $250, contain a 500-µl vial of PKH2 stock dye, five 10-ml vials of appropriate diluent for dye application, and detailed instructions for cell labeling. Zynaxis Cell Science Peptidyl-Leukotriene Measurement With a new radioimmunoassay kit from Du Pont, biomedical researchers can now obtain the precise measurement of individual or total peptidyl-leukotrienes. The NEN peptidyl-leukotriene (C4, D4, E4, F4)-[3H] kit is highly sensitive, with high reactivity to the leukotrienes LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, and LTF4. Measurements of C4 and D4 are highly variable and uncertain because these compounds convert to E4 during sample collection. The NEN kit from Du Pont, headquartered in Wilmington, Del., eliminates this variability by providing for LTC4/LTD4 measurement following quantitative enzymatic conversion to LTE4. The new kit, starting at $560, contains individual standards for researchers to quantitate individual leukotrienes after chromatographic separation. Du Pont

New Products

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