The 2004 Readers’ Choice Awards

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BY DEBORAH KOMLOS

Most Reliable Instrument
ACL® 1000 Coagulation Analyzer
Fully automated and ideal for low-volume workloads, the ACL® 1000 coagulation analyzer by Beckman Coulter Inc. (Fullerton, CA) has a microprocessor-controlled positive-displacement fluidics system that ensures precision while eliminating the need to flush or replace peristaltic pump tubing. With a test menu that comes with a range of clotting assays, such as Lupus and APCR-V Leiden, the ACL 1000 also has a bar code scanner to reduce manual input. Tubes can be loaded immediately after centrifugation, and up to 18 samples can be processed simultaneously. The robotic sampling arm further enhances parallel processing, pipetting both sample and reagents automatically into the rotor.

Cary 300 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
Varian Inc.’s (Palo Alto, CA) Cary 300 UV-Vis spectrophotometer represents a research-grade instrument for laboratories analysing biological or highly absorbing samples. The product is controlled by the new Cary WinUV software, a Windows®-based program that features a modular design for ease of use, and also permits users to purchase only those functionalities they require. Design attributes include sealed optics to prevent exposure to corrosive environments; a spectral bandwidth that can be set down to 0.2 nm; and a phase-locked wavelength drive to prevent peak shifts and peak suppression at high scan speeds. The Cary 300 can be fitted with a broad range of accessories, including those specific to both solid and liquid samples.

Best Tech Support
Agilent Technologies Inc. (Palo Alto, CA)

Brinkmann Instruments Inc. (Westbury, NY)

Waters Corp. (Milford, MA)

Most User-friendly Equipment
Agilent Technologies Inc.

Beckman Coulter Inc.

Gotta-have Consumables: Kit or Product You Can’t Live Without
Bio-Rad Protein Assay
A colourimetric assay for measuring total protein concentration, the Bio-Rad Protein Assay from Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (Hercules, CA) is based on the colour change of Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 dye in response to various protein concentrations. The standard assay is used for sample concentrations between 200 µg/ml and 1,400 µg/ml, while microassay use is applied to samples with concentrations <25 µg/ml. The dye works by binding to primary basic (particularly arginine) and aromatic amino acid residues. Because many detergents and basic protein buffers are known to interfere with the assay, a reagent compatibility table can be consulted to check which chemical reagents do not directly affect the development of the dye.

Invitrogen TA Cloning® Kit
The TA Cloning® Kit from Invitrogen Corp. (Carlsbad, CA) is designed to clone PCR products into bacteria directly from a PCR reaction without the need for modifying enzymes, purification or restriction digestion. The cloning vector, pCR®2.1, contains the lacZ-alpha complementation fragment for blue-white colour screening, ampicillin and kanamycin resistance genes for selection, and a versatile polylinker. Each TA Cloning kit comes with two modules: the TA Cloning module contains all reagents needed for ligation, while the OneShot® module contains all reagents needed for transformation.

Best Equipment Under $20,000
CENTRIFUGES:

Allegra® X-15R Benchtop Centrifuge
Permitting centrifugation of cells directly in cell culture flasks, the Allegra® X-15R Benchtop Centrifuge from Beckman Coulter Inc. saves time and labour and reduces a potential contamination step. A swinging bucket rotor, which moves at 5,250 x g, can accommodate four 750-ml vessels. Possible applications include filtration and concentration of 3-ml and larger centrifugal devices; fast and slow blood component spins; and the harvesting of up to 3 l of microbial cells in just 14 minutes. With the ARIES™ smart balance rotor, imbalances are automatically detected and corrected. Up to 50-gram opposing loads can be carried in a single run.

IEC Multi® RF
Thermo Electron Corp.’s (Waltham, MA) IEC Multi® RF is a high-performance, refrigerated, bench top centrifuge for cell culture, subcellular component separation, gradient studies and other general research applications. Featuring a rugged digital panel membrane interface, the IEC Multi RF comes with a large, clear LED display and g-force run control for consistent, accurate centrifugation. A time-saving program allows users to quickly store and recall up to 98 centrifugation protocols. For fast cooling, the product uses a Rapid Cool program, which lowers the centrifuge chamber temperature from 20 C to 4 C in less than seven minutes. Additional attributes include fixed angle rotors that can accommodate micro-, 50- and 85-ml tubes, and are capable of speeds exceeding 25,000 x g. A stack of up to 90-mm tall plates, including 10 standard microplates or four deep-well microplates, can also be handled in one run.

OTHER EQUIPMENT:
TGradient Thermocycler
The TGradient Thermocycler from Biometra ® GmbH (Goettingen, Germany) provides optimization of annealing temperatures of new primers in a single run. The TGradient’s silver block bears a temperature gradient of up to 40 C during annealing, permitting 12 different temperatures to be tested in one run. After the program is completed and samples have been analysed in a gel, the specific temperatures are documented by the equipment’s software. A heated lid, a special clutch mechanism to ensure optimal pressure application to the tubes, as well as a large display that provides all relevant information in real time are other key features of the TGradient.

XS Analytical Balance
With touch-screen operation, the XS Analytical Balance from Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (Columbus, OH) features the SmartGrid slotted grid weighing pan, which offers rapid stability in weighing by minimizing air turbulence in the weighing chamber. The grid also ensures ease of cleaning by having a physical separation from the weighing pan beneath, onto which spilled substances can fall. Sample handling and efficiency in routine operation are improved with ErgoClips that securely attach to weighing containers on the SmartGrid. Applicable in many industries, including pharmaceutical, chemical, food or cosmetics, the XS balance has fully automatic internal adjustment and linearization.

Most Worthwhile Splurge:
Instruments Over $100,000
Alliance® HPLC System with Micromass® ZQ™ Mass Spectrometer
Waters Corp.’s Alliance® HPLC Systems are ideal for laboratories that are under pressure to run samples around the clock, year-round. Columns are maintained at a stable temperature by the Alliance column heater/cooler, promoting reproducibility of results. Five independently addressable 24-vial carousels give flexibility for multiple separation methods and multiple operator use. Central to the system is the Waters 2695 Separations Module, which permits pulse-free eluent delivery and compensates for changes in eluent viscosity. The module also provides compatibility with mass detectors such as the Waters Micromass® ZQ™ Mass Spectrometer. A small footprint, ZSpray™ dual orthogonal sampling interface, and differentially pumped vacuum system are some features of the Micromass ZQ.

LCMS-2010A
The Shimadzu Scientific Instruments Inc. (Columbia, MD) LCMS-2010A is a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer designed to function as an LC detector, delivering improved sensitivity for higher levels of throughput and productivity. Useful in a wide range of applications in the pharmaceutical and environmental fields, the LCMS-2010A can analyse non-volatile and thermally unstable compounds, among others, and can also perform trace analysis and ultra-high sensitivity analysis on complex matrices. New features include a drying gas system that helps create a finer spray mist that dries the solvent and promotes sample ionization. A new ESI probe that helps achieve higher signal strength and sensitivity, and a newly designed skimmer, which improves sensitivity by enhancing ion transmission to the mass analyser and detector, are also provided.

Analytical SFC
Thar Technologies Inc.’s (Pittsburgh, PA) Analytical SFC, distributed by Rose Scientific Ltd. (Edmonton, AB), is part of Thar’s SuperPure Discovery series of analytical systems for supercritical fluid chromatography. Designed for high throughput and resolution, the systems use CO2 as the mobile phase with co-solvent, resulting in faster equilibration, lower pressure drops and solvent reduction. Gentle on the stationary phase, the process is reproducible and ideal for method development because of its rapid equilibration capabilities. The system delivers fast chiral and achiral separations, and has a broad applicability range.

Most Valuable Online Resource
Google

GenBank®

How Stuff Works

Equipment or Product that Generates the Best Word-of-Mouth Buzz
2100 bioanalyzer from Agilent Technologies
The 2100 bioanalyzer from Agilent Technologies Inc. uses lab-on-a-chip technology to provide improved analysis of DNA, RNA, proteins and cells. The system is able to analyse from as few as 20,000 cells per sample and handle up to 12 samples in 30 minutes. Easy comparison or sharing of digital sample data and reduced use and waste of hazardous materials are other product attributes. Complete with computer and associated software, the bioanalyzer also has easy-to-use instrument control, access to real-time data, automated data analysis and advanced tools for data evaluation.

ACQUITY Ultra Performance LC™ Systems
The ACQUITY Ultra Performance LC™ (UPLC™) Systems from Waters Corp. represents a new realm of chromatography that delivers higher efficiencies and therefore greater resolving power than traditional HPLC techniques. The ACQUITY systems have been designed to handle particle sizes down to 1.7 µm, and doing so results in two and three times the efficiency than when using particle sizes of 3.5 µm and 5 µm, respectively. Consequently, the amount of time needed for method development is reduced, in addition to gaining increased sample resolution. Using 1.7 µm particles also permits column length reduction, which again translates into faster separations.

Favourite Lab Clean-up Tip
Bleach and water

Clean as you go

Wall signs

Bonus: Favourite Lab Jokes
“Practical joke: Removed spectrophotometer cuvettes that were soaking in nitric acid to clean them (replaced them into the storage box); dropped a couple of drops of methylene blue into the nitric acid. Student found blue swirls in the beaker and thought the cuvettes had dissolved.”

“If you are not part of the solution then you are part of the precipitate.”

“Blowing up latex gloves with helium and placing under the lab coats.”

Best Time-saving Instrument, Product or Lab Tip
VITROS 250
Offered by Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Inc. (Rochester, NY), the VITROS 250 chemistry system provides throughput of up to 250 results per hour, requires only small sample sizes and does not need reagent preparation for use. With a touch-screen interface, flexible processing for manual, stat or automated testing, the VITROS 250 provides walk-away operation that can be applied in multiple environments, including small hospitals, backup in large hospitals, clinics and satellite locations. Other features include on-board capacity for all assays, primary tube sampling and optional positive patient identification via a bar code scanner.

Metrohm® 719 S Titrino®
Brinkmann Instruments Inc.’s Metrohm® 719 S Titrino® is a versatile titrator for acid-base, precipitation and redox titrations. With ease of operation and a compact size, the 719 S Titrino provides ready-to-use methods that facilitate startup. During titration, the current value of the measuring signal, as well as the reagent volume added, are displayed. Also, the instrument settings can be observed at any time and adjusted in real time as required. In addition to titration use, the instrument can be used to measure pH, voltage (mV), temperature (C), and can also take measurements on polarized electrodes (mV or µA). An attached balance prevents incorrect entry of the sample weight, thereby eliminating a potential source of error.