Day one at AACC was packed with activity beginning with a media breakfast hosted by Siemens. Up for discussion were a number of topics including the company's move toward what they call integrated diagnostics, bringing together imaging technology and clinical chemistry under one roof. Next up, I met with Cepheid; the company is launching the new Gene Expert Infinity 48, which can run up to 48 independent PCR assays simultaneously.

Beckman Coulter hosted a media luncheon at the Cordoruy Restaurant (highly recommended) at which company execs were available to discuss products including chemistry and immunoassay analyzers, middleware, and new PSA and Hepatitis B assays. Afternoon highlights included stopping by Biot Test (FDA approval of manual blood typing reagents expected shortly), Seegene, a small company making innovative multiplexed PCR reagents for sepsis, among other applications, and Bio Rad, whereI received a demo of their impressive third party quality control products, which can be applied to literally hundreds of instruments. I wrapped up the day by stopping by the Vista Lab Technology booth to witness presentation of their 1 millionth pipette sold. Vista Labs, a family-owned company, has been in business for more than forty years.