Discovery is delighted to announce the release of the long-awaited alternative to the Bertin PreCellys from Omni International of Kennesaw, GA. The Omni Bead Ruptor is the newest generation of highly efficient  bead mill homogenizers.

Key Features:

• - Simultaneously homogenize either 24 x 2mL or 12 x 5mL tubes
• - Unique front-loading tube holder position for ease of use and optimal bead/sample interactions
• - Broad speed range for any type of sample processing
• - High reproducibility: number of cycles, time, speed, dwell/pause
• - No cool-down between runs: process hundreds of samples per day
• - 99 program pre-set memory
• - Advanced sample temperature monitoring system
• - Multi-lingual user interface
• - Interchangeable adapters for different tube sizes
• - Disposable tubes ensure no threat of cross-contamination or sample degradation

This system is specifically designed for the grinding, lysing and homogenization of biological samples prior to any molecular extractions. Using sample tubes pre-filled with a variety of lysing beads, the Bead Ruptor 24 vigorously and uniformly shakes the tubes providing an efficient and high-yield homogenization usually in less than 40 seconds.

The Omni Bead Ruptor 24 can simultaneously grind up to 24 tubes of 2mL or 12 tubes of 7mL in seconds at very high speed for releasing DNA, RNA, Proteins, Enzymes etc. while still retaining molecular integrity. The Bead Ruptor 24 guarantees a homogeneous and efficient homogenization combining high yield, quality analysis and consistency.

All soft tissues (bacteria, liver, brain, skin etc.) and hard/tough tissues (bones, corn, hair, seeds, soil etc.) can be homogenized with one of 8 adapted bead kits.

More Information

View a video of the Bead Ruptor in operation or click here to download a copy of the Omni Bead Ruptor brochure. Contact Discovery for homogenizer pricing or click here to purchase bead mill lysing kits for the Bead Ruptor.

Discovery is delighted to announce the release of new real-time qPCR system. The qTOWER has been developed by our supplier, Analytik Jena of Jena, Germany, and is based on a novel fiber optic system patented by the company. The unit combines real-time fluorescence detection with Analytik Jena's super-fast rapidPCR technology that can generate ramping rates of up to 12 °C/sec at the same time as considerably reducing sample volume down to as low as 5 µl per reaction.

Key Features:

• - Real-time PCR and analysis of 96 samples in parallel within less than 60 minutes
• - Heating rates of up to 12 °C/sec and cooling rates of up to 8 °C/sec
• - Sample consumption down to 5 µl
• - 9 different color modules available including 4 FRET filters
• - Read-out of 96 wells within 4 sec regardless of the number of dyes
• - Integrated control and analysis software qPCRsoft offers a wide variety of methods for data
•   analysis
• - Absolute and relative quantification

The qTOWER will be a highly flexible instrument offering nine different colour modules that will make it ideal for multiplexed applications using commercially available fluorescent dyes.



More Information

Please click here to download a PDF copy of the qTOWER brochure.
Contact Discovery to request pricing or to receive updated information on the qTOWER qPCR system as it becomes available.

Key Features:

• - Wash any 96, 384 and 1536 well SBS-formatted microplate with a single microplate washer
• - Advanced wash head manifold design eliminates the need for separate wash heads for
•   different plate formats
• - Precise, fast, easy to use and robotics-compatible
• - Ideal for the most demanding wash requirements with a washing efficiency >10⁶
• - Quick setup with easy out-of-the-box design

SQUIRT is the simple solution for flexible and reliable plate washing. This multi-format plate washer and coater handles any 96-, 384- and 1536-well SBS-formatted plate without manifold exchange or adjustment at speeds of up to three wash/dry cycles per 15 seconds. The SQUIRT microplate washer is designed for reliability either as a bench top device or as part of an integrated robotic system.

The SQUIRT microplate washer's unique slit manifold design sweeps a blade of liquid across the whole surface of the plate. A second manifold completes the operation by drying with an air blade.  This minimizes clogging of the manifold and eliminates the 'corona effect' where cells are selectively removed from the centre of the wells during washing with traditional probe-based instruments. The SQUIRT's plate inversion spraying technique achieves a wash efficiency of >10⁶.




Photomicrograph of cells grown in a 1536 well plate and washed with SQUIRT. The top picture was taken before washing and the bottom picture was taken after washing. Cells were processed three times and remain undisturbed by SQUIRT. Notice the absence of pressure points that result from probe-based methods.

Applications:

SQUIRT microplate washers are ideal for:

•   Cell-based assays
•   ELISA plate washing
•   High content screening
•   Proteomics
•   Washing genomic slides
•   Coating microplates

The SQUIRT can be fitted with an optional magnetic plate carrier insert for applications using magnetic bead technology. The magnetic plate carrier can be quickly attached to the SQUIRT to secure magnetic beads to the bottom of the microplate during washing.

More Information

Please click here to download a PDF brochure on the SQUIRT microplate washer.

Key Features:

  - Systems can be configured for a wide range of applications: One channel for simple cell printing,
    2-channel for multiple cell types or  cell and reagent printing, and 4-channel for bulk dispensing of
    cells.
  - Larger plate and deck formats are available to support both research and high throughput robotic
    integration.
  - Multiple channels can be used for multiple cell lines. The CellJet supports multiplex assays without
    cross- contamination.
  - Full control of dispense height and dispensing speed offers easy optimization, improved
    performance and faster results for a wide variety of cell types.
  - Choice of drop-by-drop or on-the-fly dispensing modes for optimized performance and increased
    throughput.
  - System dispenses a full range of cell types from robust to delicate.
  - synQUAD technology is able to dispense fluid types from low viscosity solvent to highly viscous
    solutions such as 30% PEG.
  - The CellJet includes a cover over each plate which creates a micro-environment for each cell to
    prevent contamination and evaporation. The cover is removable for easy cleaning and sterilization.
  - The CellJet can fit into most standard fume hoods or can be purchased with an enclosed chamber
    with optional humidity control.
  - Flexible, easy-to-use software offers productivity to multiple users with minimal training.

The CellJet Cell Printer incorporates Digilab’s proprietary synQUAD liquid dispensing technology that offers both on-the-fly and drop-by-drop non-contact cell printing while maintaining the viability of even the most delicate cells. This extremely flexible technology offers users full control over critical dispense parameters such as height of dispense and dispensing speed which allows printing of both viscous solutions and fragile cells.

The CellJet prints into plates or onto slides using a valve-free fluid path which greatly reduces cell damage. The printer also includes full wash capability, an easy-to-clean and sterilize evaporation cover and an effective instrument design for hassle-free maintenance.

More Information

Please click here to download a PDF brochure on the Digilab CellJet.
Learn more about synQUAD technology and its applications.

Flexible Micro-feature Printers for microarray, microelectronic and nanotechnology applications

Key Features:

• - Non-contact deposition
• - True contiguous lines, arcs and bends
• - Features as small as 5 μm
• - Viscosities up to 450 cP
• - Consistent spot size and shape with coefficients of variability as low as 2.5%
• - 3-axis positioning with down to 1 μm resolution
• - Integrated digital video capture
• - Automated surface calibration

The SonoPlot^® GIX Microplotters are benchtop picoliter fluid dispensing systems for the life science, polymer electronics and nanotechnology markets with significant advantages over existing products in deposited feature size and type, regularity of volumes dispensed, and flexibility for the end-user.

The core of the Microplotters is a dispenser that uses controlled ultrasonics to deposit fluids in a non-contact manner. This patented technology can produce picoliter droplets that form features on a surface as small as 5 μm wide. When combined with automatic surface height calibration, coefficients of variability for deposited feature diameters as small as 2.5% can be achieved. A wide range of fluids can be used, including aqueous solutions and many organic-solvent-based mixtures. Fluids that other dispensers struggle with, such as saturated solutions for MALDI-TOF matrices, or fluids with viscosities up to 450 cP, can be deposited with ease. The ultrasonic pumping action is also an efficient cleaning mechanism for quickly depositing many solutions sequentially.

More Information

Three different models are available. Just click on a link below to download a brochure for that particular model. Click here to visit our web site to view a video that shows the Microplotter printing process.

GIX Microplotter - CV of 2.5% and 1 um resolution
GIX Microplotter II - CV of 10% and 5 um resolution
GIX Microplotter Desktop - CV of 10% and 20 um resolution

Ever thought of using Raman Spectroscopy as the basis for a microplate reader? Well Digilab has done just that with the introduction of the new IDENTITY Raman microplate reader. This instrument is now available through Discovery Scientific.

Raman spectroscopy offers many advantages over other spectroscopy and analytical techniques with the "fingerprint" nature of the data produced. Libraries of spectral data can be created, stored and easily retrieved to allow users to rapidly and accurately perform sample identification. Specific advantages include:

•  
• - Raman spectrometers require minimal or no sample preparation
• - They permit non-contact, non-destructive sampling and minimize sample handling
• - Allow a sample to be measured directly or remotely through glass or translucent containers
• - Samples can be measured through vessels in a production environment
• - Work with liquid, solid or complex solutions
• - Produce fast, accurate measurements generally within a few seconds
• - Minimize the interference of water making Raman Spectroscopy ideal for the analysis of
•   aqueous solutions

Specific Raman Spectroscopy applications include:

• - Identification of unknown materials
• - Quality control of incoming materials
• - Determination of molecular structure
• - Measurement of reaction kinetics
• - Quantitative analysis of complex mixtures
• - Determination of crystalline phase

The new IDENTITY Raman Spectrometer can be used with 96 or 384 well microtiter plates, glass slides or an optional tablet holder. It is fast and accurate and measures and analyzes samples in a 96 well plate in under five minutes. The IDENTITY can be configured with either a 532nm or a 785 nm laser and plate adapters are available for measuring liquids, powders and solid samples.

More Information

Please click here to download a copy of the brochure on the Digilab IDENTITY or contact Discovery for pricing.

Quanta Biotech Thermal Cycler Validation Systems

In core facilities and many laboratory environments (e.g. clinical, forensic, QC, compliance) data assurance is critical. With this in mind Discovery Scientific is pleased to offer our clients with thermal cyclers the QTAS Thermal Cycler Validation System and related validation services.

Key Features:

• - Comprehensive set of data on thermal block accuracy and temperature uniformity, gradient operation, ramp  rates and performance at set temperature
• - Temperature accuracy of ±0.1 degrees C with a sensor response time of 200ms
• - Sampling rate of 0.1s to 1 hr
• - Temperature range of 4-99 degrees C
• - Compatible with 0.2ml, 0.5ml and 384 well blocks
• - Simultaneous data collection from up to 96 probes

These advanced systems can be configured with up to 96 probes that can track the individual temperature profiles in each well of your thermal cycler block as the unit performs a standard or gradient protocol. The QTAS software displays these individual profiles in real-time and provides critical data on the actual performance of your block in response to the protocol that is being run. QTAS systems are also ideal for developing new or optimizing existing protocols to ensure the most efficient amplification of scarce samples and use of expensive reagents. Please contact our Customer Service Department to obtain more information on our validation services or purchase these products from our Online Store.