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All news articles > October 2004

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29-Oct-2004

New analysis technique reveals nature of milk

Ultrasonic Scientific has developed a cutting edge technique to analyse the heat stability of milk.

Bruker launches next-gen MALDI-TOF/TOF system

Bruker Daltonics, has launched a new MALDI-TOF and TOF mass spectrometer that offers improved sensitivity, resolution and mass accuracy of TOF/TOF systems for expression proteomics, quantitative proteomics and biomarker discovery.

Qiagen launches EU-approved NA purification system

Qiagen has launched the world's first automated sample preparation system for viral nucleic acids to aid molecular diagnostics that conforms to a European Union Directive on in vitro diagnostic medical devices.

27-Oct-2004

Roche uncovers rapid way to find disease genes

A novel computational method to detect disease-causing genes accurately and rapidly has been reported in the latest issue of Science (22 October).

MWG forced to slash staff

Germany's MWG Biotech has said it will slash nearly two thirds of its workforce in a further effort to reduce costs, prompting speculation about the long-term future of the company in its present state.

US cosmetics industry reacts to BSE

The outbreak of BSE in North America is prompting the cosmetics industry to introduce a host of measures designed at protecting consumers there - measures that have already been in place since 1989 in Europe. Simon Pitman reports.

26-Oct-2004

Cambrex boosts contaminant detection tech

Cambrex has signed an exclusive license agreement that allows access to two novel, quantitative assay technologies for the detection of contaminants such as pathogens in drugs.

PCR firm aims to cut lab time for diagnostics

Researchers in the UK have developed a tabletop DNA test laboratory that can cut the diagnosis of disease and infection from hours to 30 minutes. This new test laboratory will soon begin trials in UK hospitals.

25-Oct-2004

Novis beats media old guard for publishing awards

Novis, now with almost half a million readers, last week earned broad industry recognition with two further publishing awards, following on from its best publication prize earlier this year.

22-Oct-2004

FDA makes further efforts to hinder foodborne illnesses

The FDA published this week the final 2004 Produce Safety Action Plan aimed at minimizing the number of foodborne illnesses that are contracted each year through the consumption of fresh produce.

Evotec Q3 down from 2003

German biotech company Evotec OAI posted decreased third quarterly revenues of €16.1 million, down 26 per cent compared to 2003. Evotec's performance reflects the difficult operating environment for companies supplying drug discovery technologies.

LabCD plays assays to GENESIS tunes

Tecan Europe has made available the LabCD, a centrifugally driven microfluidics disc platform which the makers say will provide a seamless in vitro method for ADMET applications in the drug development process.

21-Oct-2004

Codex countries crystallise orange juice rules

An international task force meeting in Brazil last week under the aegis of Codex Alimentarius, the global food standards body, clears a decision after difficult discussions on defining the identity of reconstituted orange juice.

20-Oct-2004

Dynex deal strengthens Magellan microplate market spot

Magellan Biosciences' expressed interest in the life science, research and clinical diagnostics market turned to action after the life sciences company confirmed the acquisition of Dynex Technologies.

18-Oct-2004

US breakthrough in Campylobacter detection

A food technologist in the US has found a new method of identifying colonies of the food poisoning bacterium Campylobacter.

EU budget firms up for BSE

Brussels commits €188 million to food safety issues in the Union linked to animal diseases, signing off the largest slice for eradication of mad cow disease.

Applied Bio system speeds PCR

Applied Biosystems has launched a new system for carrying out polymerase chain reaction (PCR) experiments in 96-well plates that can dramatically cut the time it takes to carry out the procedure.

15-Oct-2004

Ochratoxin A: barrier levels for coffee and grape juice

Food makers alert to the levels of a potentially carcinogenic mould commonly found on crops as scientists back an extension barrier levels for ochratoxin A to grape juice, coffee and wine.

Serologicals completes Upstate buy

Serologicals has completed its acquisition of Upstate Group, acquiring the privately held company for $205 million (€166m) in cash ($102.5m) and stock.

Solbar invests in sugar analysis technology

Soy products firm Solbar Industries is to set up a new company specialized in sugar analysis, which will market its technology for use by manufacturers of dairy products, protein-rich foods and probiotic products.

Thermo launches elemental analyser

Thermo Electron has launched a new elemental benchtop analyser for use by researchers and quality control scientists in the petrochemical, plastics and high-grade chemical industries.

NextGen's launches unique 2D electrophoresis tool

The first system to automate gel casting to user-defined gradients during 2D electrophoresis has been launched worldwide by NextGen Sciences, which believe this technology will increase reproducability and enhance the resolution of protein separations.

ESA take HPLC detection to higher level

ESA has introduced what it claims is the first true universal detector for use with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a based on a technology called CAD (charged aserosol detector).

Beckman launches flow cytometry software

Leading instrument company Beckman Coulter has launched new software for its Cytomics FC 500 MPL flow cytometer which it enables users to automate instrument set-up and data acquisition, which could help the process of identifying new drug targets.

Integra's Bunsen burner emphasises safety

Integra Biosciences has updated the traditional design of the Bunsen burner by coming up with a new version, which incorporates a unique triple safety system and a self-igniting system that does away with lighters or matches.

14-Oct-2004

Top scientists back new PAH levels for food

An expert group in Brussels backs a Commission proposal for tighter levels of the potentially carcinogenic compounds Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) found in grilled meats.

13-Oct-2004

Fuji develops system for nucleic acid market

Fuji Photo Film has entered the worldwide nucleic acid extraction marketplace with a product which it claims can deliver DNA whole blood samples in as little as six minutes.

12-Oct-2004

NIR studies back up usefulness of technique for QC

A new study has shown that near-infrared sprectroscopy (NIR) can be used to check the active pharmaceutical ingredient content of tablets - even if they are present in very low quantities - supporting its use in process analytical technology (PAT), a system of quality control favoured by the US Food and Drug Administration.

11-Oct-2004

DNA analysis firm febit files for bankruptcy

Germany's febit has filed for insolvency, just nine months after launching its first product, the geniom one DNA analysis instrument, into the life science sector.

08-Oct-2004

Genome project promises a beef production revolution

The beef industry's ability to accurately breed cattle for specific traits such as increased meat or milk yield has been significantly improved with the release of the first draft of the bovine genome sequence.

Absolute Vision flies solo with BioMeridian brand

UK optical recognition company Absolute Vision - a pioneer in the use of two-dimensional data matrix codes used in laboratories - has set up a new brand which signals a decision to ramp up its in-house marketing efforts.

07-Oct-2004

Individual taste profiles to drive future formulation?

Foods of the future may well be anchored in individual taste profiles as fundamental research by scientists at the Swiss food giant Nestlé details the diversity of bitter taste receptors in monkeys, chimpanzees and humans, writes Lindsey Partos, adding new data to the debate on nutrigenomics.

06-Oct-2004

BD puts Clontech on the block

Becton Dickinson is planning to sell of its Clontech molecular biology business, five years after purchasing it for $200 million.

Food scientists design sensor for listeria detection

Food scientists continue to roll out tools in the fight against foodborne pathogens as researchers in the US design a new biosensor to detect the potentially deadly bacteria Listeria monocytogenes.

Parallel processor opens up genomics data

Fujitsu Laboratories has reported a successful experiment using its BioServer, designed to overcome one of the primary obstacles to drug discovery - taking the huge amount of data coming from genomics efforts and applying it to the design of new drugs.

04-Oct-2004

Campylobacter pathogen gene decoded

US scientists claim to have decoded the gene sequence for a strain of the harmful food pathogen campylobacter, generally regarded as the most common bacterial cause of food poisoning worldwide.

Drugs in wastewater: what consequences?

What happens to medicines after their work is done, and they end up in the wastewater stream? This remains a big unanswered question that needs to be answered to gauge the impact of drugs on the environment, according to presentations at the American Chemical Society meeting.

01-Oct-2004

UK lab network boosted for public health

In the UK, The Health Protection Agency is planning to revamp the Food, Dairy, Water and Environmental (FDWE) laboratory service network from this November to deal with new outbreaks and emergencies.

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