What is microbead milling? Microbead milling is a homogenization process used to break up (lyse) samples in order to release the DNA, RNA and proteins contained within the cells. Samples are placed in tubes with the appropriate grinding beads and subjected to high energy mixing. The beads impact the sample, eventually breaking it down on the cellular level releasing subcellular contents. The samples are then typically centrifuged and the lysate recovered from above the beads.
Aug 2, 2017 9:40:35 PM
Jul 22, 2017 12:41:10 PM
Mar 19, 2017 3:50:19 PM
Autofil® PP bottle-top filters for solvent filtration are a revolutionary new way to purify solvents for analytical applications to obtain sterilized or purified extracts.
The primary function of solvent-compatible bottle-top filters in the general lab space is pre-filtration of solvents used in HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). HPLC is an analytical technique used to separate, quantify, and identify the components of a mixture. HPLC is used in countless industries, but is most notable in pharmaceutical, biochemical, biological, medical, and research areas. Common uses include drug testing, medical testing, drug purity testing in production, analysis of components of biological or chemical samples.
All HPLC processing relies upon a “mobile phase” composed of solvent—this mobile phase is mixed with the sample being analyzed, and used to deliver it through the HPLC machine, allowing it to be separated into parts and analyzed. This solvent, or mobile phase, must be completely free of contaminants or particulates. Particulate matter can damage the inner workings of HPLC machines, requiring very costly repairs, and potentially throwing off analytical accuracy. Biological contaminants in the mobile phase lead to risk of growth inside the solvent intake lines, which can lead to similar (again, costly) issues.
To avoid these harmful situations, many labs will pre-filter their HPLC solvents. This generally involves the use of side-arm Erlenmeyer vacuum flasks, rubber stoppers, glass Buchner funnels, die-cut membranes, and other expensive, breakable, movable parts. Any glassware will require cleaning, and risks shattering. The filtration requires supervision due to the risk of tipping over, and also requires pouring the solvent into another vessel as a final step, since the Erlenmeyer flask is hardly a good storage vessel for volatile solvents. The alternative to this pre-filtration is to buy HPLC-grade solvents, which can be expensive.
Another use for the Autofil® PP bottle-top filters is Cannabis extraction. Cannabis extraction is a process that utilizes a solvent to extract THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids, as well as terpenes, from cannabis plant matter. THC is the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, while CBD provides various health effects, and terpenes provide flavor and other health benefits. The three major solvent types used in cannabinoid extraction are CO2, hydrocarbon (butane or propane), and ethanol.
Ethanol is the cheapest and simplest extraction method, but requires more “cleanup” of the extract to achieve a pure product. Hydrocarbons are often faster, and produce a purer product, but require more expensive equipment. They also present issues of risk related to the use of flammable solvent, and of incomplete removal of these harmful solvents from the final product. CO2 is generally the most expensive and highest-quality process, yielding a product that is guaranteed free of solvent. CO2 extraction requires very high-cost assemblies, and is generally only used in higher-end labs.
In all three extraction methods, the initial extraction step produces a crude product, generally contaminated with waxes, oils, lipids, and pigments. Each solvent leads to varying incidences of these impurities—ethanol yields more pigments, hydrocarbons yield mostly waxes, etc. All three methods require a step referred to as winterization. In the case of non-ethanol extractions, the product will usually be re-dissolved in ethanol, so ethanol is the standard here. In short, winterization involves chilling the sample to sub-zero temperature, waiting for oils and lipids to precipitate out of solution, and then quickly filtering the ethanol to strain out these oils and lipids. From here, the sample is either stripped of solvent via rotary evaporation (creating a final product), or put through the process of pigment removal.
Pigment removal is intended mostly for ethanol extractions, but may apply to others. Pigments like chlorophyll lower purity of product and alter color. For these reasons, they are often removed by the addition of activated carbon. The carbon absorbs the pigments, and can then be filtered out of the mixture, yielding a purer extract to be treated by rotary evaporation as above. Again, this step requires filtration.
In either case, filtration is generally very crude. End users often use simple setups with coffee filters and the like—more refined setups use side-arm Erlenmeyer flasks and Buchner Funnels. These filtration's involve costly parts, require supervision, run slowly and inefficiently, risk breakage of glassware, and are prone to incomplete or ineffective filtration.
Autofill PP filters come in three membrane types.
PES: Exhibits very low protein binding and extractables. Faster than Cellulose Acetate and Nylon membrane.
Nylon: Naturally hydrophilic and has greater chemical compatibility than other membranes. Extremely low extractables. Best used with solutions containing little or no protein.
PTFE: Naturally hydrophobic. Great chemical compatibility, making it exceptional for filtering aggressive solvents.
Click here for the complete line of Autofil PP products.
Mar 4, 2017 9:49:02 PM
Temperature and time are two of the most important variables in any experiment. The accuracy and reproducibility of these variables is critical in the validation of your results. This is why we offer Traceable® timers and thermometers manufactured by the Control Company.
What is Traceable® and who requires a calibrated and certified product. Traceability is the property of a measurement result in which the result can be related to a national measurement reference through a documented unbroken chain of calibrations. National measurement standards are maintained by national measurement institutions (NMIs) such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States. Using products that are documented to meet these measurement standards is a requirement of Government labs, labs maintaining certification programs, military suppliers and any company wanting to maintain ISO-certification.
Each Traceable® thermometer and timer is individually serialized, calibrated and certified. An individually serialized Traceable® Calibration Certificate provides assurance that an independent auditor has checked the methods, procedures, testing, technique, and record-keeping practices of the calibration testing laboratory. The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) is widely recognized internationally through its participation in the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Agreement (ILAC MRA). There is no need to have the units calibrated locally before use as all European governing bodies fully accept and recognize the Traceable® certificate of calibration.
The Traceable® Certificate provided with each thermometer and timer is traceable to standards provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a U.S. Government agency within the Commerce Department. The Traceable® Certificate complies with ANSI/NCSL Z540-1.
A Traceable® Certificate includes all of the information to meet today’s stringent accreditation demands, CLIA requirements, government specifications, and ISO 9000 certifications.
The Traceable® line of thermometers and timers are invaluable in assuring that your lab results are accurate and meet the requirements set by regulatory agencies.
Traceable® is a registered trademark of Control Company.
Dec 24, 2016 2:08:43 PM
At Southern Labware we are always on the lookout for new products that can improve the process and efficiency of procedures in the lab. Over the years there have not been many improvements in the membrane filtration technique. A vacuum pump, filter holder and filtering flask is the typical set up. The WaterVac 100 is a brand new product from the worldwide leader in vacuum filtration apparatuses, Rocker Scientific.
The WaterVac 100 can be used for the membrane filter technique for analyzing aqueous-based fluids for microbial contamination. Simply add a 47mm filter holder and you have a vacuum filtration system that takes up 70% less space on the lab bench.
The WaterVac 100 is a unique vacuum filtration system which can generate sufficient vacuum for filtration through built-in air/water pump and drain the waste liquid directly. Compared with traditional filtration equipment, WaterVac 100 does not need additional suction flasks or bottles to collect the waste liquid. This space saving feature makes it ideal for working in tight spaces like a laminar flow cabinet.
The following specifications of the WaterVac 100 make it versatile enough for many general filtration applications as well as meeting the Membrane Filter (MF) Technique filtration parameters described in U.S. EPA, ISO and ASTM standards .
- Max. vacuum : 540 mmHg
- Max. flowrate (air) : 2.2 LPM
- Max. flowrate (clean water) : 0.5 LPM
- Weight : 1.16 Kg
- Power : DC 12 V, 1.5A,
- Transformer : 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz
- Max. ambient temperature : 5 - 40 °C
- Dimension : 170 x 120 x 96 mm (LxWxH)
- Housing material - stainless steel with powder painting
- Valve plate - EPDM(Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
- Diaphragm - EPDM(Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
- Fluid Path inlet / outlet port - Stainless steel # 316
- O-ring - FKM
- Fluid path hose - silicone tube
- Draining hose - silicone , Ø4 / Ø8mm, 2 meter.
The WaterVac 100 is a versatile product that will save you space, time and money. If you have any application questions please contact us at 844-522-9273 or see the product online at https://www.southernlabware.com/vacuum-filtration/vacuum-pumps/watervac-100-vacuum-filtration-system.html
Oct 12, 2016 9:21:10 PM
pH – MORE THAN AT A GLANCE
pH is a measure of the alkalinity or acidity of a nutrient solution. A neutral solution is numerically equal pH 7; as the solution gets more acidic, the numbers decrease and increase as it becomes more alkaline or basic. Pure water is neither alkaline nor acidic, rather it is neutral.
This sounds quite simple until we begin to evaluate which meter we should use because this evaluation requires close scrutiny not only of the product we choose, but also we must make our selection of the meter select based on:
ACCURACY – typically from pH +/-0.1 to pH+/-0.01
ATC – AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION – When there is an increase or decrease in the temperature of a solution, the pH of the solution can change. With ATC, the meter signals the sensor and corrects the pH reading for changes in the electrodes sensitivity at that temperature. (Oakton pH meters – www.southernlabware.com)
CALIBRATION – Your pH meter is calibrated using buffers of a known pH by immersing the electrode and adjusting the meter accordingly. The electrode should always be rinsed with distilled water after each calibration point is established. For example, in some cases a 5-point calibration may be recommended. (pH Buffers – https://www.southernlabware.com/ph-buffer-pouch-assortment-5-each-of-ph-4-01-7-00-10-00-rinse-water-20-pouches-box.html)
ELECTRODE – A solution is like a battery and can generate an amount of voltage depending on the concentration of Hydrogen (H+) ion present. pH electrodes measure the voltage or potential difference of the solution in which it is dipped. Glass electrodes are the most popular and successful electrochemical sensors. It consists of a glass bulb membrane, hence its name, and a tubular body which separates an internal solution and a silver/silver chloride electrode from the tested solution. This is hooked up to a pH meter which is in reality a voltmeter which measures the potential difference and its changes across the glass membrane. There are single junction and double junction electrodes as well as stainless steel, single junction and double junction electrodes that may be replaceable or non-replaceable. (Electrodes available at https://www.southernlabware.com/ph-meters-and-testers.html).
RESOLUTION – This term should not be confused with ACCURACY. The resolution is the smallest value that is shown on the instruments display. Thus an instrument that has a 0.01 pH means that it will read to the nearest 0.01 pH; for example 8.06 pH. The better the resolution, the better is the measurement display capability of the meter. This may not mean that this is a more accurate pH meter, however it does usually indicate a superior instrument. (Waterproof, double-junction pH Testr 30 by Oakton at (https://www.southernlabware.com/ph-meters-and-testers.html).
When choosing which pH meter is best for your application, price may be a factor and a meter that costs twice what another one costs does not always mean it will deliver results that are twice as good. Always compare specifications to get the best value and, important too, compare the replacement costs of the electrodes or other probes for your meter. Remember, first determine your application needs, then compare these factors: ACCURACY, ATC, CALIBRATION, ELECTRODES, RESOLUTION.
Aug 26, 2016 11:47:29 PM
What is one of the most important laboratory products in today's research laboratory? Without a doubt it is laboratory plasticware. Laboratory plastics such as centrifuge tubes, microcentrifuge tubes, culture tubes and pipettes are an essential tool for cell biologists, molecular biologists and biochemists. Plasticware offers researchers accuracy in volume measurement, sterility, reduction of cross contamination, but most importantly convenience and disposability. Unfortunately, disposability and convenience comes at a price. What happens to all the discarded pipette tips, tip boxes and centrifuge tubes? Are they simply thrown away with the other laboratory waste that ends up in a landfill? There must be a better way to disgard this waste.
TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box™ platform allows you to recycle many of those hard to recycle items used in your lab. The Zero Waste Box program helps give your lab the opportunity to go zero waste, sending nothing to landfills or incineration. TerraCycle uses only circular methods (reuse, upcycling or recycling) for repurposing the waste collected through the Zero Waste Box™ platform. TerraCycle will never landfill or incinerate your waste.
So how is all the waste collected in Zero Waste Box™ processed?
Reuse (using something for its original purpose) is always the best option as it leverages all of the energy and materials that were needed to make the original product.
The key difference between upcycling and reusing waste is that with upcycling the original intention of the object changes. TerraCycle works with many of the world's best companies to bring upcycling solutions to many forms of waste.
TerraCycle's goal is to focus on hard-to-recycle materials, developing circular solutions for otherwise linear systems. Today we recycle millions of pounds of such material on a weekly basis, diverting it from our landfills and incinerators.
The science of recycling is focused on recovering the materials that an object is made of. For example, recycling a used pen involves shredding it, separating the materials that it was made from, then melting those materials into raw materials that can be then used to make new recycled products. By volume, TerraCycle recycles over 97% of the waste that is collected.
When looking at a new waste stream we first focus on moving it from a linear disposal system to a circular one, and then over time to a platform that is as closed loop as technically possible.
The Zero Waste Box™ platform collects waste that is very consistent in composition and volume. The material collected is consistent with low lot-to-lot variability. The in-house R&D department and laboratories at TerraCycle have the capability to customize materials to meet almost any specific requirements of their production partners. The goal is to provide materials to a company that can be used as a sustainable alternative to virgin materials; using less crude oil and instead utilizing a material that would normally be sent to landfill.
R&D teams at TerraCycle work closely with their partners to develop closed-loop solutions for various waste materials. These closed loop solutions can range from making secondary applications like displays or pallets from a waste material to be used by the same company to primary applications that involve turning the waste back into the same product that it began as.
So how does it work?
Simply choose a Zero Waste Box™
- Centrifuge Tubes & Rigid Lab Plastics Zero Waste Box™
- Glassware Zero Waste Box™
- Laboratory Gloves Zero Waste Box™
It's that easy.
It's not everyday you find a new and exciting solution to a very real problem. TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box™ creates a streamlined process for collecting and recycling laboratory waste. Help reduce your labs carbon footprint with a Zero Waste Box™.
For more information about TerraCycle and their collection and recycling process please visit https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/
Aug 6, 2016 7:48:31 PM
Volumetric glassware is designed to measure a predefined volume of liquid or to measure the volume of a delivered liquid. Volumetric glassware includes, volumetric flasks, volumetric pipettes, burettes, serological pipettes, mohr pipettes, graduated cylinders and graduated mixing cylinders. Since many labs are regulated by different agencies, it is important to understand the different types of calibration, classification and certifications in order to choose the correct piece of glassware for your laboratory.
Burettes and pipettes are calibrated TD "To Deliver" which means the delivered quantity of liquid corresponds to the capacity listed on the glassware. Volumetric flasks and graduated cylinders are calibrated TC "To Contain" which means the contained quantity of liquid corresponds to the capacity listed on the glassware.
Our Class A volumetric glassware is available with a Batch Certificate or an Individual Certificate. Batch Certificates list the mean value contained, standard deviation and batch number of the glassware. Individually Certified glassware have an individual serial #, mean value, standard deviation, measured uncertainty, as well as the batch number listed on the certificate. All Class A glassware is manufactured to ASTM standards using state-of-the-art manufacturing and calibration equipment. The calibration laboratory is NABL accredited in accordance with ISO 17025:2005 standards. Results of calibration are guaranteed for precision as per DIN, ISO, USP and ASTM Standards.
Our Class B volumetric glassware feature tolerances that are about twice that of comparable glass A glassware. Class B glassware is used in labs for basic measurements of liquids.
When you are trying to decide the level of calibration needed in your lab keep in mind that our Class A Individually Certified volumetric glassware is accepted in calibration laboratories worldwide. Compare our prices to other leading glassware manufacturers and the choice will be clear.
Aug 6, 2016 1:07:50 PM
The EZwaste® Solvent Waste System from Foxx Life Science solves the problem of exposure to harmful chemical vapors created from the waste generated in HPLC laboratories. The Solvent Waste System provides a closed-loop system where tubing from the HPLC is directly attached to the manifold on the container. Vapors then pass through the EZ Waste filter where the hazardous elements are removed and the treated air is released into the environment.
If your laboratory is collecting chemical waste as it exits the HPLC in bottles or other open containers then you may be unaware of the vapors you are exposed to. There are numerous chemicals that are odorless and cannot be perceived by laboratory personnel. This means that workers may be unaware of the chemicals that they are inhaling. The best solution to avoid inhaling these vapors is to create a closed-loop system where the vapors are contained in a receptacle that has the proper chemical compatibility with the solvents. The EZwaste® system is such a system.
The patented VersaCap® technology is designed to fit with a variety of tubing types used with HPLC systems. If you cannot find the correct configuration for your HPLC setup, please contact us at 844-522-9273 for assistance.
Aug 5, 2016 6:00:08 PM
Choosing a vaccine thermometer
Temperature monitoring is critical in the storage and handling of VFC vaccines. Choosing the correct vaccine thermometer to monitor your vaccine supply is equally important. The CDC lists their vaccine monitoring requirements and recommendations in the CDC Storage and Handling Toolkit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf
Below is a list of the CDC requirements and recommendations for a vaccine monitoring thermometer as well as the product specification that fulfills both.
*Calibration Report Included
*Annual Recalibration by ILAC/MRA accredited laboratory available
*Traceable® Certificate supplied
- Fulfilled by Traceable® Certificate: Multi-point calibration on an individually-numbered Traceable® Certificate which assures accuracy from an ISO/ IEC 17025:2005 (1750.01) calibration laboratory accredited by A2LA. It indicates traceability of measurements to the SI units through NIST or other recognized national measurement institutes (NMI) that are signatories to the CIPM Mutual Recognition Agreement.
Glycol encased probe
- Sealed bottle sensor is insulated from rapid temperature changes when refrigerator door is opened (Patented)
Certificate of Calibration includes methods and procedure documentation
- Fulfilled by provided Traceable® Certificate
Certificate of Calibration includes stated uncertainties
- Fulfilled by provided Traceable® Certificate
Certificate of Calibration includes measurement results
- Fulfilled by provided Traceable® Certificate
Data Logger with Continuous Monitoring and Active Display
- Datalogging capabilities hard-wired into unit
Data Logger with user programmable logging intervals
- User-defined datalogging interval of one observation/minute to one observation/24 hours
Data Logger capable of storing 4,000 readings that will not overwrite when full
- Maintains most recent 525,600 temperature observations (Excursion-Trac™)
- Unit has Minimum/Maximum Memory
Capable of displaying current temperature and minimum/maximum memories
- Unit displays simultaneously, current temperature and Minimum/Maximum readings
Minimum/Maximum Memory reset
- Memory may be cleared (data may be downloaded to a USB drive) (Excursion-Trac™)
±0.5°C (±1°F) Accuracy
- ±0.25°C (–50 to 70°C)
Read storage unit temperatures without opening the door
- 10 foot micro-thin cable is easy for refrigerator door to close and seal
The below chart will help you determine the best vaccine thermometer for your needs.
|Current Traceable® Refrigerator/Freezer Digital Thermometers that fulfil the current CDC/VFC requirements.||Basic Monitoring||Digital Dataloggers (DDL)|
|Traceable® Certificate supplied (Traceable to NIST)||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Calibration Report Included||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Annual Recalibration by ILAC/MRA accredited laboratory available||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Glycol encased buffered probe||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Certificate of Calibration includes methods and procedure documentation||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Certificate of Calibration includes stated uncertainties||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Certificate of Calibration includes measurement results||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Capable of displaying current temperature and minimum/maximum memories||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Minimum/Maximum Memory reset||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Adjustable High/Low Alarm||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Read storage unit temperatures without opening the door||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|±0.5°C (±1°F) Accuracy||±1°C||±0.5°C||±0.3°C||±0.1°C||±0.25°C||±0.25°C||±0.25°C|
|Low battery indicator||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Temperature Excursion data||✔||✔||✔||✔||✔|
|Data Logger with Continuous Monitoring and Active Display||✔||✔||✔|
|Data Logger with user programmable logging intervals||✔||✔||✔|
|Data Logger capable of storing 4,000 readings that will not overwrite when full||✔||✔|
ISO/IEC 17025 A2LA Accredited • ISO Guide 34 Certified Reference Material Producer
All of Control Company’s Traceable® digital thermometers fulfill the current CDC/VFC requirements.
Each individual state/local health department immunization program may have specific requirements—Consult your immunization program for more information
Data represented above is accurate as of 06/15/2016. Recommendations and requirements are subject to change without prior notice.
As of January 1, 2017, the following recommendation will be a requirement for all VFC providers.
All VFC providers must have certified calibrated digital data loggers for continuous temperature monitoring for each VFC storage unit and back-up thermometer.