Beckman Coulter has introduced a new high-throughput modular assay detection platform, the Paradigm, which allows quick and easy user configuration.

Eight different cartridges will be available, based on detection modes including fluorescence polarisation, time-resolved fluorescence, dual-label fluorescence, luminescence and monochromator-based absorbance.

The company claims the system is ideal for laboratories with multiple users and applications and can take readouts from various well plate formats from 6 to 1,536 wells.

"Detection modes are difficult and costly to add to other multimode detectors once the systems are installed. This can result in compromised performance and lab downtime," said Jim Barry, marketing manager for Beckman Coulter.

"Our new cartridge system truly redefines modularity, enabling the user to maximise return on the platform investment."

Bruker Daltonics has introduced a new version of its Compass ion trap software for its high-capacity HCTultra PTM Discovery mass spectrometer (MS) system.

Compass 1.3 enables the system to be fully equipped with both EFD (electron transfer dissociation) and PTR (proton transfer reaction) for rapid, top-down characterisation of large peptides and mid-size proteins.

In addition, the upgrade introduces a new CID (collision-induced dissociation) fragmentation mode called PAN that eliminates the low mass cut-off of ion traps during MS/MS experiments enabling multiplexed quantitavtive proteome analysis by iTRAQ labelling chemistry.

Bruker has also released a new bioinformatics platform, ProteinScape 2, to address the needs of biomarker profiling, quantification and validation.

"ETD on our Paul high-capacity trap is revolutionizing proteomics mass spectrometry, as demonstrated by the very substantial success our HCT-Ultra has in the proteomics market," said Clive Seymour, Bruker Daltonics' vice president for Asia and the Pacific.

"We believe that the simplicity and vastly improved sensitivity of doing ETD in a Paul 3D high-capacity trap, which by its very nature traps positive and negative ions at the centre of the our unique ion trap configuration, makes our ETD implementation by far the most robust, most sensitive, fastest and most useful ETD implementation on the market"

GE Healthcare has launched a competition to find the best images taken using its IN Cell Analyser system, with winners being awarded a trip to New York to see the images displayed on the NBC screen at Times Square in March 2008.

Three images need to be submitted, along with a short description, to incellimage@gehealthcare.com by the 24 November 2007. Two winners will be selected, one by a scientific panel and by a popular vote at www.gehealthcare.com/incellcompetition and attendees at the CHI High content Analysis meeting in San Francisco next January.

Invitrogen has introduced a new kit, the Stempro EZChek Multiplex PCR kit, which enables researchers to quickly and reliably monitor the state of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).

The kit enables the analysis of four early differentiation markers in a single test that would usually involve five separate reactions.

"The crux of any stem cell researcher's work is the ability to monitor the differentiation state of hESCs," said Joydeep Goswami, vice president for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine at Invitrogen.

"Unfortunately, current processes are laborious and consume more cells, a precious scientific resource. Stempro EZChek makes this important step less time-consuming and less costly and allows researchers to assess whether the cells remain pluripotent."

PerkinElmer has launched four new quantitative protein analysis products at the Human Proteome Association (HUPO) 6th Annual World Congress in Seoul, South Korea this week.

The new technologies include an isobaric mass tag kit, ExacTag; a new version of its ExacTag Analysis software, Phos-tag Gold phosphoprotein and phosphopeptide solution colour assay and Phos-tag Enrich phosphoprotein and phosphopeptide enrichment kit.

"We have focused our R&D and product development on quantitative protein analysis, because we believe the demands of today's and future research require sophisticated new technologies to help researchers be more efficient and exacting," said Dr Richard Eglen, vice president and general manager, Discovery and Research Reagents for PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences.

"This is the new paradigm for understanding biological systems, disease states, and targets for drug discovery."

In addition, PerkinElmer has introduced a new 2D gel imaging system, the Geliance 1000. It includes an advanced illumination unit that enables images of multiplexed 2D gels to be captured for a range of applications including cellular, molecular and cancer research.

The system can acquire a cyanine three-dye image with 90 micron resolution in less than eight minutes - five times faster than standard scanning systems.

The Geliance 1000 Imaging System is available with Nonlinear Dynamics' Progenesis SameSpots 2D analysis software ensure a comprehensive performance package.

"This latest addition to the Geliance imaging family demonstrates our steadfast focus on meeting varying lab needs, and on offering complete end-to-end imaging solutions to a broad customer base," said Nance Hall, vice president and general manager of Automation and Detection Solutions, PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences.

Promega has introduced a new version of its integrated personal automation system, the Maxwell 16, for purifying up to 16 DNA, RNA or recombinant protein samples simultaneously.

The company claims that samples are purified in less than 40 minutes and achieve higher more consistent yields than similar methods.

The system meets regulatory requirements for clinical diagnostic DNA purification as well as supporting DNA-based tests performed in both clinical and research laboratories.

Sigma-Aldrich has launched a new proteomics dynamic range standard, the Universal Proteomics Standard 2 (UPS2), to enable researchers to verify, challenge and troubleshoot their proteomics strategies and compare results with other laboratories.

"I believe the availability of a dynamic range standard like the UPS2 is invaluable for proteomics research, both for validating existing methodologies as well as developing new ones," said Professor Phil Andrews of the University of Michigan's Medical School Department of Biological Chemistry.

ThalesNano has launched a new hydrogenation flow reactor, the H-Cube Midi, for process development applications.

The system is based upon the H-Cube platform but is designed to increase the capacity of the system up to kg quantities per day without compromising efficiency or safety.

"H-Cube Midi was designed in response to increasing customer needs to be able to scale up reactions optimized on H-Cube," said Dr Laszlo Urge, CEO of ThalesNano.

"Several pharmaceutical companies have adopted H-Cube as the first choice for hydrogenation in discovery. As compounds move from discovery to development, there is a need to increase the scale up to kg levels as fast as possible."

Thar Instruments has announced its new 2008 SFC (supercritical fluid chromatography) range resulting from its acquisition of the Berger SFC division from Mettler Toledo.

According to the company, the merged product line gives the best singular line-up of product choices for analytical and preparative customers in pharmaceutical drug discovery and development.

"Since the acquisition of the Berger SFC product line, we've analysed both product lines with careful consideration of our customers," said Harbaksh Sidhu, president of Thar Instruments.

"We've combined the products and took the best from both companies to give customers great choices from a much stronger partner in SFC."