The annual meeting of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) is a chance for vendors to highlight new products and unveil the technologies they’ve been working hard at all year long. Here are a few to keep an eye out for as you browse the exhibit hall.
Sample Processor
Reduces errors, speeds workflow
The Tomcat instrument from Hologic Inc, Bedford, Mass, streamlines laboratory workflow by providing automated processing of liquid-based cytology samples. Designed to eliminate the error-prone activities required to manually aliquot samples, the Tomcat performs a range of processing activities, including decapping and capping of sample tubes, vortexing, aliquoting, incubating, and racking of each sample, as well as positive barcode matching and reagent addition. The instrument can accommodate multiple sample types concurrently, and loads and unloads samples and consumables continuously. The Tomcat is designed to minimize the risk of cross-contamination by enabling limited hands-on interactions through a touchscreen interface.
Hologic
(781) 999-7300; www.hologic.com
HPV Test
FDA cleared for cervical cancer primary screening
The Cobas HPV test from Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Pleasanton, Calif, has received FDA clearance for use as a first-line primary screening test for cervical cancer in women age 25 and older. The qualitative multiplex assay detects 14 high-risk HPV types while providing specific genotyping information for HPV types 16 and 18, the types responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer. The test is automated for the Cobas 4800 system, which provides walk-away automation of nucleic acid purification, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) setup, and real-time PCR amplification and detection to facilitate laboratory efficiency. The automated result algorithm provides clear positive, negative, or invalid results.
Roche Molecular Diagnostics
(925) 730-8000; www.molecular.roche.com
High-Volume Clinical Analyzer
Each module runs up to 1,600 tests per hour
The new, FDA-cleared CLC6410 analyzer from Carolina Liquid Chemistries, Winston-Salem, NC, is a modular clinical chemistry analyzer for large laboratories with high-volume needs. A single module can run up to 1,600 tests per hour, while four modules can be joined together to achieve 6,400 tests per hour. An optional ion-selective electrode (ISE) module processes up to 480 tests per hour. All configurations include a 300-sample loader and intuitive software that automates numerous operational and quality control procedures. The stat function provides quick access to samples. The CLC6410 also features technological advances that save time, water, and energy.
Carolina Liquid Chemistries
(877) 722-8910; www.carolinachemistries.com
POC Data Management System
Manage blood gas analyzers from an iPad
This major upgrade to the RapidComm data-management system from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, enables users to centrally manage Siemens in vitro diagnostics analyzers and operators at the point of care (POC) for improved control and transparency. Version 5.0 incorporates core components such as device and operator management, quality control (QC), compliance reporting, competency and inventory management, remote monitoring, and mobile access. The new RapidComm web application allows POC coordinators to quickly view instrument status and troubleshoot issues from a handheld device such as an iPad. With an interface to the company’s personalized education plan administrator, coordinators can create and assign custom web-based quizzes for training and certification purposes. New device workload reports help customers manage their consumable inventory by identifying the number of patient and QC samples processed by their POC devices.
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics
(610) 448-4500; www.healthcare.siemens.com
Anti-CCP Immunology Control
QC for rheumatoid arthritis markers
The Liquichek immunology control from Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif, now includes anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) along with rheumatoid factor to assist clinical laboratories in their quality control for rheumatoid arthritis markers. Liquichek immunology control is a trilevel, liquid, comprehensive serum protein control with assayed values for a wide range of methods. Available in 1-mL and 3-mL vials, the product has a 2-year shelf life at -20°C to -70°C, and a 30-day open-vial stability at 2°C to 8°C for most analytes. 2D barcodes with Vista values are also now available.
Bio-Rad Laboratories
(510) 724-7000; www.bio-rad.com
