July 2016 Volume 11 Number 6

LabManager.com

Big Datas Role

in Drug Discovery
Intellectual
Property Rights
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Ingeniously Practical
 contents
July 2016

LabManager.com

10 26

34

30

feature leadership & staffing

10 The Optimized Lab 26 Running an Effective Meeting
Planning labs with a full array of decision makers and users enables Understanding negative behaviors in meetings and how
architects to optimize lab operations during design. to deal with them can help you turn around potentially
Marvin Kemp disastrous situations.
Ronald B. Pickett
business management
20 Transporting Pre-Owned technology
Lab Equipment 30 Preventing Power Failure
Once the decision to purchase pre-owned equipment has The importance of post-installation equipment monitoring
been made, one important consideration remains: How will and preventive maintenance.
it get to the laboratory? Raymond L. Hecker
Ryan Ackerman
health & safety
22 Intellectual Property Rights 34 Keeping Your Distance
Greater secrecy is preempting patenting as the IP tool Improper storage of chemicals accounts for nearly 25 percent of
of choice. all chemical accidents. Sadly, all of these are entirely preventable,
F. Key Kidder yet they continue to occur despite the easy availability of excellent
resources.
Vince McLeod

4 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com

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 July 2016

laboratory product reports

LabManager.com

A LAB MANAGER SUMMER DEPARTMENTS

TRADITION CONTINUES
industry insights laboratory
Next month, well continue an August tradition as
we release the latest version of our Product Resource
38 Big Datas Role in Drug Discovery 60 Engineered Safety in Centrifuges
Guide. Featuring roughly 35 main product catego- New tools and applications move beyond a From rotor sensing to vibration reduction,
one target-one drug approach. new platforms designed to protect you.
ries, youll get mini Q&As to help guide you through
Karyn Hede Mike May
the buying process for numerous lab products. The
guide will also be more integrated with our website 42 Next-Gen Sequencing for Forensics 61 Laboratory Casework
than ever before, including links to the Product Pages, Criminologists can now use even tiny traces Greater flexibility increases experimental
of genetic evidence. scope and capabilities.
Product Finders, and our new lab product buying
Mike May Ryan Ackerman
videos on LabManager.com. Last years massive
Directory of Manufacturers is also back, listing all analytical 62 Balances Survey
the key manufacturers of our main product categories Learn the most popular types and more from
48 Ask the Expert our latest results.
as well as numerous subcategories, along with those
A discussion of trends in analytical Ryan Ackerman
companies contact information. Look for the guide method validation.
to hit mailboxes and inboxes in mid-August for all the Rachel Muenz 63 Microwave Digesters Survey
lab product buying help you need. Find out how readers use this technology
50 ICP-MS and more from the latest results.
Finding the right instrument for the job. Ryan Ackerman
Karyn Hede
Lab Manager (ISSN: 1931-3810) is published 11 times per year; in every issue
monthly with combined issues in January/February, by LabX, P.O. 53 Thermal Analyzers Survey
Box 216, 478 Bay Street, Midland, ON Canada L4R 1K9. USPS Find out our readers top ten uses and more
16 Labs Less Ordinary
024-188 Periodical Postage Paid at Fulton, MO 65251 and at an from our latest survey results. Green Relief: Where the landscape, archi-
additional mailing office. A requester publication, Lab Manager, is tecture, and fish waste combine to produce
Ryan Ackerman
distributed to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified subscription rates medical marijuana Rachel Muenz
in the U.S. and Canada: $120 per year. All other countries: $180
per year, payable in U.S. funds. Back issues may be purchased at
life science 46 Infographic
a cost of $15 each in the U.S. and $20 elsewhere. While every
54 Ask the Expert CO2 Incubators: Cell Cultures Most Unwanted
attempt is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained
herein, the publisher and its employees cannot accept responsibility A discussion of trends in next-generation 70 How it Works
for the correctness of information supplied, advertisements or opin- sequencing.
Quickly Clean Up Unidentified Spills
ions expressed. 2013 Lab Manager by Geocalm Inc. All rights Tanuja Koppal
reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without
permission from the publisher. 56 Small-Volume Liquid Handling 71 How it Works
New Generation Rotary Evaporators
WDS Canadian return: 478 Bay Street, Suite A213, Midland, ON How low you go depends on the
application.
Canada L4R 1K9. 64 Technology News The latest equipment,
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Mike May instruments, and system introductions to the
Lab Manager, PO Box 2015, Skokie, Il 60076.
laboratory market.
58 Electrophoresis Survey
Learn readers purchasing plans and more
73 Pre-owned Equipment Marketplace
from our latest results.
73 Advertisers Index
Ryan Ackerman
74 Lab Manager Online

6 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com

HUSTLE.

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 editors note

laboratory planning
op-ti-mize: tr.v. To make the best or most effective use of (a situation,
opportunity, or resource).
In this months cover story, author Marvin Kemp tells us that optimizing
laboratory processes is at the heart of lab planning. And making the most
effective use of laboratory resources (materials and consumables, securi-
ty protocols, mechanical system maintenance, and technology) requires
meaningful discussions with a full spectrum of shareholders. Planning
labs with a complete team of people who are connected to the facility
and its use enables designers to deliver a fully optimized facility.
As lab managers certainly know, doing anything in the lab without partic-
ipation and buy-in from other members of the organization is generally
ill-advised. Example: Running a meeting.
In our Leadership and Staffing article this month, author Ron Pickett
addresses the specific issue of team members whose negative attitudes
often derail even the best-planned meeting. In the situation where
various professionals, such as scientists, technologists, and administrative
staff are involved, he recommends that managers First, take on the role
of a facilitator rather than a controller. Second, structure the meeting
so that contributions from everyone are considered the norm and are
expected, and that full participation is encouraged. We might call that
the optimized meeting.
And when it comes to making the best or most effective use of a
resource, turn to page 16 to learn how Green Relief Inc., Canadas first
facility to use aquaponics to grow medical cannabis, uses solid waste
produced by its 7,000 fish as food for the plants.
For a thoughtful examination of issues surrounding patents and intellec-
tual property rights, turn to this months Business Management article,
where author Key Kidder tells us, Nowhere is IP so controversial or are
stakeholders more restive than within the research-intensive pharma-
ceutical and biotech sectors that jointly account for the lions share of
Americas patent activity. Turn to page 22 to learn more.
Our experts this month share their insights into validating analytical
methods (page 48) and trends in next-generation sequencing (page
54), the latter of which includes a deeper look at the promise of
single-cell sequencing.
Next-gen sequencing as it is applied in forensics research is also the focus
of our Industry Insights article on page 42. Our second Industry Insights
article examines the role of big data in drug discovery (page 38).
Product focus articles this month cover ICP-MS, small-volume liquid
handling, centrifuges, and laboratory casework, the latter of which looks
at the MaRS Discovery Districts uniquely flexible research facility in
Toronto, Ontario.
For the latest in our newly launched infographics series, turn to page 46
for an amusing, yet informative take on cell culture contamination threats.
As always, we hope what weve covered this month helps you optimize
any variety of processes in your lab.
Happy summer.
Pamela Ahlberg
Editor-in-Chief

editor-in-chief art director & production manager advertising account managers Published by LabX Media Group
Pamela Ahlberg Greg Brewer June Kafato president
pam@labmanager.com gregb@labmanager.com Canada / Key Accounts Bob Kafato
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Sara Goudarzi labmanager@theygsgroup.com
Tanuja Koppal, PhD 800.290.5460
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Bernard Tulsi labmanager@halldata.com P.O. Box 216, 478 Bay Street,
Mike May, PhD Midland, ON, Canada L4R 1K9

8 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com

 Buying
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 the optimized lab
P
lanning labs with a full array of decision makers
and users enables architects to optimize lab opera-
tions during design.
The scientists, students, maintenance people, and
administrators that use and manage college and univer-
sity science laboratories are integral to not only planning
what is needed and wanted, but also why.
Providing the architects with sufficient information
requires meaningful planning discussions with a full
spectrum of institutional people.
Often, the lab manager will rank as
a key decision maker, but input from Optimizing processes
principal investigators, operational
and maintenance teams, and the ad- is at the heart of lab
ministrators responsible for allocat-
ing resources is indispensable. planning.
Their combined input can ensure
that a facility is both optimized for
controlling laboratory processes and set up for effective
operational control of building systems. Heres how.
Optimizing processes foundational step
Optimizing processes is at the heart of lab plan-
ning. For example, sequencing DNA in a lab requires a
definitive workflow that extends from sample extraction
through the prep room, into the sequencing room, and
then into a local or remote bulk storage system. The
precise protocols followed at each of these steps ensure
the purity of the sample and the integrity of the data
obtained from the process.
10 Lab Manager July 2016
Lab design enables (or disables) processes such as DNA
sequencing. Designers must understand the way the
different spaces interact with each other as they are passed
through along the research material pathway. Design-
ers must also understand the mechanical and electrical
requirements of each of the spaces as well as the design
principles related to the efficient operation of each.
Then there are bulk sample storage areas. These can
reside in less desirableor less expensivespaces, but it
remains important to plan ways that
samples can travel efficiently through
the buildingfrom receiving to stor-
age to lab and back to storage.
Laboratory space comes in two
basic kinds or zones. First, there is
research space where researchers
feel comfortable and productive.
These are the best spaces in the
building, perhaps with lots of glass to provide views and
plenty of natural light, plus HVAC systems designed to
meet human and scientific needs.
Colleges and universities can select from a number of
different trends in laboratory design today. At a concep-
tual level these trends typically involve determining how
bench and lab space relate to lab support space, and how
support space relates to office space.
These decisions must be made early, during the plan-
ning phase. As with many planning decisions, the culture
of the institution will provide a major influence on the
adjacencies of the three different kinds of space. Two key
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 the optimized lab
considerations here are the particular science to be prac-
ticed in the building and what the institution wants the
building to do for the campus or institutional reputation.
With these thoughts in mind, key planning consider-
ations include materials and consumables, security pro-
tocols, mechanical system maintenance, and technology.
Planning space for materials and consumables
Laboratories usually provide for the handling of mate-
rials and consumables in one of two ways.
First, each research group would be responsible for its
own needs. Each would order, purchase, accept deliv-
ery, store, and handle for itself. Then you could provide
separate storage areas for each of the individual research
groups. This can make for an inefficient use of space.
In a second scenario, the institution might decide to
12 Lab Manager July 2016
3.
1.
4.
1. Planning labs with a complete team of people
2. who are connected to the facility and its use en-
ables designers to deliver a fully optimized facility.
Photo credit: Alan Karchmer. 2. Designers must
understand the changing mechanical and electrical
requirements of each of the spaces as well as the
design principles related to the efficient operation
of each. Photo credit: Tom Holdsworth. 3. Research
spaces are often the best in the building, perhaps
with lots of glass to provide views as well as plenty
of natural light plus HVAC systems designed to
meet human and scientific needs. Photo credit: Tom
Holdsworth. 4. Laboratory security has four basic
goals: identifying areas of public access where
anyone may go; controlling access to space and
rooms where researchers work; protecting intellec-
tual property and controlling access to hazardous
materials. Photo credit: Tom Holdsworth.
centralize some of the basic gases and basic consumables
and then charge a per diem or some kind of storage rate
to the research groups. With this plan, all the purchas-
ing, delivering, and storage could be centralized in the
building and make more efficient use of space. On the
downside, it might cost the institution a bit more because
additional personnel have to come on board to manage
the central purchasing and storage areas, but those costs
can be factored into per diem charges.
Another consumables decision to consider during
early planning involves glass-washing facilities. Some lab
designs include a fully staffed centralized glass-washing,
sterilization, and packaging facility. Researchers dont
have to concern themselves with this chore.
On the flip side, some designs provide glass-washing
facilities for each research group. Spreading glass washing
LabManager.com

throughout the facility can be less efficient in terms of
space and costs for energy, water, and equipment.
Planning to accommodate security protocols
Closely interconnected with materials and consum-
ables is security in the planning process. Laboratory
security has four basic goals: identifying areas of
public access where anyone may go; controlling
access to spaces and rooms where researchers work;
protecting intellectual property; and controlling
access to hazardous materials.
Clarity is the key starting point for effective security
planning, and it begins with a red pen and a diagram of
the lab. Use the pen to outline security areas and access
doorsand do so with the entire building committee as
well as the campus public safety and security directors.
Where is the general public permitted and where is it
not? Areas closed to the public need secured doors con-
trolled with readers and access cards or other security
devices stronger than traditional keys.
the optimized lab
For spaces requiring high security, two-factor access
control can be used. One-factor security requires one
method of identification defined as something you
havean access control card, a PIN, or perhaps a bio-
metric such as a fingerprint.
The culture of the institution will
provide a major influence on the
adjacencies of the three different
kinds of space.
Two-factor security adds a second factor. For in-
stance, one two-factor system might require presenting
an access control card to a reader and then touching a
fingerprint reader.
the optimized lab

As more factors are added, security becomes tighter
and tighter.
The appropriate level of security for a lab depends on
the sensitivity of the research being done there and the
nature of the materials being used.
Finally, it is important to discuss a lab security plan with
the fire marshal or other building official responsible for
inspecting and certifying egress paths for the building.
Planning mechanical systems and maintenance
As noted in the discussion of security, science labora-
tories often contain spaces that work with sensitive intel-
lectual property and hazardous materialsspaces where
the general public is not permitted due to confidentiality
or public safety concerns.
With that in mind, some universities view school or
privately employed maintenance and repair crews as
members of the public who may not have free access to
all laboratory spaces.
As a result, many lab designs incorporate mechanical,
plumbing, and electrical systems outside of the labora-
tory proper. Three designs can accommodate this need.
Key planning considerations include
materials and consumables, security
protocols, mechanical system
maintenance, and technology.
For low buildings with relatively small floor plates, all
the building systems may be located in the penthouse or
basement and serviced there.
Larger facilities with more than two floors preclude
the penthouse strategy. These buildings can incorporate
an interstitial design where there is another floor for

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 Mills, Grinders &
Sieve Shakers
mechanical equipment and maintenance
personnel can access only that floor. However,
this scheme approaches twice the cost of a
traditional building. A hybrid approach is us-
ing an interstitial corridor that intermixes the
mechanical spaces with the laboratory spaces.
This concept is similar to the sterile and dirty
corridors of hospitals and surgical suites.

Life-cycle costs
The foregoing are basic laboratory plan- If you are looking for
ning issues. The planning committee should
a complete line of
consider each of these issues in light of
life-cycle building costs. products for sample
Life-cycle building costs include the cost preparation and
of design, materials, labor, and maintenance, particle analysis,
and replacement costs over the 50- to 100-
look no further than
year life of the building.
Planners can direct designers and archi- RETSCH.
tects to optwhenever possible or advis-
ablefor the lowest life-cycle costs by
specifying building components that will last n Mills and grinders
for the planned life of the building or at least for all solid sample
provide the lowest maintenance and replace- types
ment costs. n Widest range of
That, of course, will raise the first cost of
sieve shakers in the
the building. The architects can also produce
market
an analysis that will compare the first-cost
premium with the lifetime costs for mainte- n Fast, reproducible
nance and replacements for higher first-cost results every time
and lower first-cost building systems.
Such a cost comparison is the reason
for planning at this level of detail. It will
produce a better building that will, over its
lifetime, save a great deal of money for the
college or university.
Planning labs with a complete team of
people who are connected to the facility and NEW
its use enables designers to deliver a fully
optimized facility.

Marvin Kemp, AIA, CSI, CDT, is a principal in

the Baltimore office of Design Collective, Inc. (DCI).
He can be reached at mkemp@designcollective.com.

1-866-473-8724
www.retsch.com
 labs less ordinary
1.

GREEN RELIEF
WHERE THE LANDSCAPE,
ARCHITECTURE, AND FISH
WASTE COMBINE TO PRODUCE
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Rachel Muenz

W
ith the medical marijuana industry continu- 1. Green Relief grows fresh crops of vegetables to start,
ing to grow, labs that produce or test canna- getting ready for the future medicinal harvest.

bis arent exactly rare. However, one licensed
producer of medical cannabis based in Flamborough,
Ontario, Canada, certainly has a unique method of
growing its plants.
Green Relief Inc. is Canadas first facility to use aqua-
ponics to grow medical cannabis, and once it adds its sec-
ond building of 210,000 square feet, it will be one of the
largest aquaponics facilities in North America. Basically,
the facility uses solid waste produced by its 7,000 fish as
food for the plants.
The finished product from
my system Im calling better
than organic because there are
no inputs in our system, says Tissue culturing will be
Warren Bravo, who recently
founded Green Relief with necessary for us because
his business partner, Steve
LeBlanc. An aquaponics
we will need about 7,000
system eventually matures into
a balanced ecosystem where
clones a week.
the addition of nutrients and
chemicals is simply not re-
quired, resulting in a very natural product.
The company became a Health Canada licensed
producer of medical marijuana through the Medical
Marijuana Producers Regulations (MMPR) in February
and is currently in the cultivation only stage of the
process. That means Green Relief cant sell its product
until it completes independent testing on its first batch of
All images courtesy of Green Relief
product and passes a Health Canada inspection, expected
to take place at the end of May at the time of writing.
Weve just been authorized by Health Canada to be
able to import wholesale product from other licensed
producers in Canada and then retail it out to our
patients, Bravo adds. So before my plants are ready
for testing, which will be approximately seven to eight
weeks from now, Ill hopefully
be able to get other peoples
product in and start getting a
revenue stream.
Once the second building is
complete, Green Relief will
add 50,000 tilapia fish to the
aquaponics system, which will
occupy around 50,000 square
feet of the new building. The
company will also be focusing
on developing different types
of aquaculture farm products, including freshwater
prawns and potentially other types of fish, such as barra-
mundi, Bravo explains.
In addition, the new building will have 9,000 square feet
dedicated to research and development, including a plant
tissue culture lab to improve propagation production and
develop different proprietary strains of cannabis.

16 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com

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CENT-1789ADV06.16
 labs less ordinary
4.
2. A Green Relief staff member perfects the
companys growing technique on practice crops.
3. A closed-loop agricultural system of growing,
aided by low-impact LED grow lights. 4. The
fish and plants create a mutually beneficial cycle,
resulting in better than organic medicinal plants.
Tissue culturing will be necessary for us because
we will need about 7,000 clones a week to support the
growth that well have in our second building, Bravo
says. If we had to propagate from cuttings from mother
plants, we would need far too many mother plants. He
adds that the tissue culture lab will also help maintain
product consistency.
We want to make sure our THC [tetrahydrocannab-
inol] and CBD [cannabidiol] analyses are consistent
from batch to batch with very little fluctuation, Bravo
says. We are striving to produce pharmaceutical-grade
products from our facility.
18 Lab Manager July 2016
2.
3.
The other unique aspect of the facility is its design,
which was developed by Bravos wife, Lyn, a University
of Guelph landscape architecture graduate. Using the
rolling hills on the Green Relief property to earth-shel-
ter the buildings, green roofs, spray-foam insulation,
and a few million dollars of HVAC equipment, Green
Relief has created a highly controlled growing environ-
ment for its plants.
We can control the indoor environment perfectly
every day, no matter if its +30C or -30C outside, it
makes no difference to us, Bravo says, adding that the
aquaponics system isnt limited to growing just cannabis,
LabManager.com
 labs less ordinary

but can grow anything from lettuce to banana We can assist communities by repurposing buildings, install-
trees. Theres nothing I cant grow in this sys- ing indoor growing environments using aquaponics, and training
tem and grow prolifically. people to work with the aquaponics systems, Bravo says. Pro-
Inside, the facility is using 100 percent LED ducing a much higher yield per acre and utilizing 90 percent less
lighting with blue, white, and red spectrums of water than traditional agriculture, aquaponics may well be the
light to grow the plants. This lighting system gives perfect solution to providing fresh organic fish and produce to
Green Relief staff the ability to create light reci- urban communities year-round.
pes for better plant production, health, and yields.
Coming from the concrete construction Rachel Muenz, associate editor for Lab Manager, can be reached at
business, Bravo and LeBlanc have gone through rachelm@labmanager.com or by phone at 888-781-0328 x233.
many learning curves in starting Green Relief.
Steve and I are not aquaculture people and
we dont have a science background, so every-
thing weve learned has been from the school
of hard knocks, Bravo says, adding that he and
LeBlanc have taken a number of courses to
broaden their knowledge and have brought in
experienced staff for the growing side of things.
However, the aquaculture side was more of a
challenge, as there are few companies doing
aquaponics on such a large commercial scale.
You learn pretty quickly because you have
living creatures that you have to deal with, and
we certainly take that very seriously, Bravo
says. In our system, water quality is paramount
because happy fish will make happy plants.
The facilitys aquaponics system comes from
a Wisconsin company called Nelson and Pade,
run by Rebecca Nelson and John Pade, who
have been a huge resource for Green Relief,
providing training as well as scientific and
production advice along the way. Theyve also
brought in aquaponics experts Dr. Nick Savi-
dov of Lethbridge University and Dr. Charlie
Schultz of the Virgin Islands.
Theyve both been to the facility, giving us a
lot of positive information on how to deal with
oxygenation, stocking density, organic beneficial
bacteria, and many other issues, Bravo explains.
We are also working with University of Guelph
researchers who are going to be conducting re-
search at our aquaponics facility on aquaponics
and LED lighting in growing environments.
For the future, the Green Relief team just
wants to keep advancing aquaponics, medical
cannabis, and sustainable agriculture. As a phil-
anthropic goal, they plan on bringing aquapon-
ics systems to communities that cant grow or
obtain fresh vegetables.
 business management
TRANSPORTING
PRE-OWNED
LAB EQUIPMENT
KNOW HOW YOUR SENSITIVE LABORATORY
EQUIPMENT WILL BE HANDLED IN TRANSIT
By Ryan Ackerman
W
hen planning to acquire pre-owned labora-
tory equipment, some purchasing details are
more obvious than othersa comprehensive
extended warranty, aftermarket support for setup and repair,
on-site training for staff, if available, and most important,
an attractive price point. These factors lend insight into why
many laboratories look to pre-owned vendors when outfit-
ting their spaces. Once the decision to purchase pre-owned
equipment has been made, one important consideration
remains: How will it get to the laboratory?
The range of laboratory equipment is diversefrom
rudimentary pieces like the Pasteur pipette to complex
analytical instruments such as mass spectrometers.
However, laboratory instruments all share one thing in
commonthey require great care and a gentle hand to
perform properly. Accordingly, using proper shipment
methods will ensure that your new purchase is handled
properly and arrives in good working order.
Some equipment and analytical instrumentssuch as
high-performance liquid chromatography, spectrometers,
and ultra-low temperature freezers (ULTs)require great
care during transport. Reputable companies will take extra
measures to ensure these units are kept safe when they are
being shipped, such as utilizing moisture barriers to prevent
contamination from liquids or dust, ensuring loads are prop-
erly balanced, and using a transport method with minimal
vibration (such as air-ride-equipped trucks). These options
can ensure the instruments are delivered without concern.
For instruments that require a significant amount of time
to reach operating temperaturesuch as ULTssome ship-
pers offer specialized solutions. As Shea Blackerby Russell
of VIP Transport, Inc. (Corona, CA), explains, We do cli-
mate control, which is useful for shipping items [that] need
to [be] kept at a certain temperature. We also have another
20 Lab Manager July 2016
type of truck on the roada generator truck[that] can
offer power in transit. There is no downtime.
Geographic location is another important factor when
shipping lab equipment, as equipment may need to travel
over one or more borders to reach its destination. Com-
municating this information with the vendor and shipping
company can prevent any delays and possible fines asso-
ciated with running afoul of shipping regulations. The
restrictions are more or less on the paperwork for inter-
national shipping. Any small mess-ups on paperwork can
be costly and time consuming with the associated delays,
explains Randy Troyer of GenTech Scientific (Arcade,
NY). For packaging when shipping overseas, typically we
will vacuum seal the paperwork in Mylar bags. These are
sealed with desiccant, as well, so they wont be damaged.
Insurance on the equipment being shipped is another
consideration that should not be overlooked. Having a com-
prehensive insurance policy on the instrument, and knowing
what factors it covers, is a responsible purchasing decision.
While the situation is rare, purchasing an expensive and
critical piece of equipment only to have it arrive damaged or
broken with no coverage would be detrimental. Our claims
ratio is about 1 percent, Blackerby Russell says, however,
if you are shipping a one-of-a-kind or expensive machine, I
think its beneficial to have that extra valuation.
The research required in deciding to purchase pre-
owned lab equipment is an immense undertaking in and
of itself. Through the use of proper methods to trans-
port newly purchased pre-owned equipment, one can be
assured that all the time and effort put into acquiring the
equipment will not go to waste.
Ryan Ackerman, assistant technology editor for Lab Manager,
can be reached at rackerman@labmanager.com or by phone at
888-781-0328 x297.
LabManager.com
 BUY & SELL PRE-OWNED
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 business management
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
RIGHTS
GREATER SECRECY IS PREEMPTING
PATENTING AS THE IP TOOL OF CHOICE
By F. Key Kidder
R
emember Martin Shkreli? In the fall of 2015, the
32-year-old CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals took
a turn as the most hated man in America after
unapologetically increasing the price of an anti-parasite
medication from $7.50 to $350 overnight.
Blasted for profiteering, the cocky Shkreli pleaded
altruism. This is a disease where there hasnt been one
pharmaceutical company focused on it for 70 years, he
offered as a defense. Were now a company dedicated
to the treatment and cure of toxoplasmosis. And with
these new profits, we can spend that upside on these new
patients who sorely need a new drug, in my opinion.
Shkreli wont be the last talking head to take cover be-
hind subsidized research as justification for higher costs.
But his price-gouging resonated too deeply to be filed
away as just another manifestation of modern greed. It
wasnt just front-page newsthe Internet was ablaze
with condemnations and fulminations. Were all at the
mercy of medical entrepreneurs like Shkreli, and there
are more where he came from.
The greater issue brought to bear was Americas
broken health care system, largely because of the cost
of medications. Which inexorably leads to intellectu-
al property rights expressly created to incentivize the
discovery and development of products that benefit the
public good. Affordable medications are high on that list.
Patents make a good whipping boy. Pharmaceuticals
enjoy a 20-year monopoly, piggybacking on taxpay-
er-funded academic research.
A funny thing happened on the way to the future of
ideas, which economists call a non-rival good since an
idea can be possessed or occupied by multiple users. As
soon as the next great thing comes along, rivals claiming
ownership lawyer up and commence legal proceedings
22 Lab Manager July 2016
that block or delay innovations from serving mankind.
The driving role that patents played in the march of
science is indisputable. Researchers bow to the wealth
of specific information patents contain, including prior
art, meaning all drawings, books, documents, photo-
graphs, reports, etc., that relate to that specific invention.
Patents are a proven means of staying up to speed on the
state of the arts and whos doing what. Innovation, after
all, is a largely incremental process that builds on previ-
ous discoveries often best detailed in patent literature.
But in todays uncertain and hyper-litigious climate,
greater secrecy is beginning to preempt patenting as the
intellectual property (IP) tool of choice among segments
of the scientific community, particularly those intent on
commercializing their inventive genius. What do secrecy
and innovation have in common? Absolutely nothing.
Fuzzy boundaries
Aside from meeting the basic requirements that govern
all patentsi.e., useful, nonobvious, and novela good
patent hits the sweet spot between being so broad that it
invites litigation or encourages competitors to encroach
or so narrow that the idea is hardly worth pursuing.
The optimal scope and duration of IP protection is
always contentious, but Jim Bessen, an authoritative pat-
ent innovator and scholar who studies the economics of
patents and innovation, saw a different kind of trouble
starting during the software boom in the mid-1990s.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which
decrees and manages Americas intellectual capital, had
begun to relax its standards, says Bessen.
The agency allowed large numbers of patents with
very fuzzy boundaries. . . . Part of that fuzziness came
from . . . abstract software ideas or abstract descriptions
LabManager.com
of business methods, he ex-
plains in an Industrial Research
Institute white paper.
The by-product of an IP
regime operating under newly
relaxed patent laws was predict-
able. The subsequent decline of
patent quality stoked uncertainties
that inclined inventors to call their
lawyers. Litigation exploded as
a deluge of IP parties began to
work the system. When legal costs
impeded the R&D efforts of mul-
tinationals and independents alike, I need a knowledgeable plastic
venture capitalists took to reading
patent documents as a means of
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Patent reform arrived in 2011
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But these entities, commonly has been a global leader in product protection with
called trolls, continue to drain
Americas inventive juice. Patent in-house custom molding capabilities and more than
troll litigation and litigation in 12,000 standard parts in stock and ready to ship the
general is on the upswing. Trolls
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The melding of science
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 business management
AIA had already put lab managers and researchers on
the spot. An Industrial Research Institute study con-
cluded that the new patent provisions compelled R&D
personnel to maintain greater secrecy and think more
strategically, proactively evaluating an innovations com-
mercial potential in its early-stage development.
Downstream development
Patent problems are popping up everywhere today.
The customary court claimants from the high-tech and
health care industries have been joined by trade groups
representing a decidedly low-tech cast that includes
supermarkets, restaurant chains, casinos, and the printing
and insurance industries, all seeking relief from litiga-
tion. Agricultural interests now find they have more to
worry about than the size of their Farm Bill subsidies as
more crops are subjected to genetic manipulation.
But nowhere is IP so controversial or are stakeholders
more restive than within the research-intensive pharma-
ceutical and biotech sectors that jointly account for the
lions share of Americas patent
activity, according to National
Science Foundation data. Were all at the mercy of
Biotech is still recovering
from the Supreme Courts sem- medical entrepreneurs like
inal 2013 decision against Myri-
ad Genetics that rearranged the Shkreli, and there are more
landscape of biotech patenting.
With human genes off the where he came from.
table as products of nature, the
industry is redrawing its map to
navigate the post-Myriad world.
Drug development is dicey and costlyfor every
10,000 drugs developed, only 100 reach human trials and
maybe ten hit the market. So the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980
gave colleges and universities legal rights to intellectu-
al property developed with federal funding, which has
since positioned Americas academic institutions as the
nations predominant R&D incubators. They make it,
and industry takes it and runs with it. Licensing agree-
ments generally satisfy all partners, except when they
dont get that far because patent issues derail or delay the
innovation from reaching the marketplace.
Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley, are
locked in an epic legal IP donnybrook over ownership of
a patent for the CRISPR-Cas9 technology that is believed
likely to create industries worth billions when it hits the
market. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspersed short
palindromic repeats)likened to molecular scissors that
24 Lab Manager July 2016
slice and dice genes with exquisite precisionis expected
to revolutionize the study of organisms and create ther-
apies to treat human diseases. But until the courts decide
the winner, that research cannot proceed.
These delays retard subsequent downstream devel-
opment of more innovations that researchers spin off
from focal patents like CRISPR. A definitive empiri-
cal study of patents and cumulative innovation (2014,
Galasso and Schankerman) found that patent rights
block downstream innovation in computers, electronics,
and medical instruments, but not in drugs, chemicals, or
medical technologies, including biotech. This effect, say
the authors, is entirely driven by invalidation of patents
owned by large patentees that triggers more follow-on
innovation by small firms.
The study contains three major findings. First, patent
invalidation generates a 50 percent increase in subse-
quent citations to the focal patent, beginning about two
years after the court decision. Second, when blockage
does occur, it is concentrated in sectors characterized
by complex technologies and
high fragmentation of owner-
ship. And third, the extent of
follow-on innovation depends
on the ability of the transacting
parties to avoid a bargaining
failure in licensing, since small
firms are more apt to litigate
when unable to resolve disputes.
Count Galasso and Schanker-
man in the chorus of academics
and scholars concerned that patent rights are them-
selves becoming an impediment, not an incentive, to
innovation. The increasing proliferation of patents and
fragmentation of ownership between firms are believed
to raise transaction costs, constrain freedom of action
to conduct R&D, and expose firms to ex-post holdup
through patent litigation.
Since the 1980s, says Bessen, R&D managers
reportthat patents havent been the most important
way they earn return on their investment, excepting
pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
Considering the premium that scientists still put on
patents, its a surprising fall from grace. Testimonials still
abound. According to the European Unions patent office,
patents are the only source for 80 percent of current ex-
isting technical knowledge. Cost estimates of duplication
suggest that 30 percent of R&D budgets are squandered
by redeveloping existing inventions. Advocates maintain
LabManager.com
 business management

that patents are unsurpassed for monitoring competitors
and gathering business intelligence.
But others question whether researchers actually both-
er to read patent disclosures, or whether theyre put off
by the prospect of wading through pages of legalese or
entering into licensing agreements, or worried that mis-
interpreting contractual language could invite litigation
over willful infringement.
Empirical data about how researchers regard and use
patents is scant. Scientists share many of the garden-va-
riety patent problems that plague othersthe looming
backlog of patent applications at the USPTO, inter-
preting regulatory imperatives, and ongoing costs of
maintaining patent rights. But thats nothing compared
with the worst that can happen after an invention enters
the public domain, much of which requires more of the
services of more lawyerstheft or misappropriation
of IP, serial and complex litigation, or mishandling IP
transactions that thwart business goals.
Researchers may dream of the day when a preponder-
ance of scientists heed the call of open science and pub-
licly post their work. But patent attorney David Kline
concluded that is highly unlikely to ever happen.
Kline maintains that a whole slew of studies (he cites
13) on the real-world impact of patenting on innovation
and economic growth all found that patents foster ex
ante innovationmeaning they induce people to invent
because of the prospect of reward.
There you have itfame and fortune, unfailingly. Inven-
tion seems to be less influenced by serendipity or the joy of
discovery and more driven by markets and profit projec-
tions. So until something better comes along, the IP crowd
will do its slow dance with patents and trade secrets, right in
step with Abbas hit The Winner Takes It All.
F. Key Kidder left journalism to pursue a career in government
relations, politics, and PR, but he still likes to keep his hand in writ-
ing. He can be reached at k2@keykidder.com or 410-963-4426.

The prospect of reward

And its ever more apparent that patent rights can act
as innovation dampers. After studying the 1,600 genes
sequenced by the privately held firm Celera compared with RDM Industrial PRODUCTS, Inc.
genes sequenced elsewhere and made public, MIT econo-
mist Heidi Williams found that the public genes were sub-
sequently cited at nearly twice the rate of Celeras. Gaps
like this can persist permanently, depriving the world of the
full benefits of private research in a timely manner.

The Obama administration touts the Trans-Pacific
Partnership, a trade agreement between America and 11
other nations, as one of its signature accomplishments.
But in a surprising turn of events, the agreement was
jeopardized by participating nations that insisted on

criminalizing trade secret violations, a more muscular

response to the epidemic of IP gamesmanship. (The last
issue still to be settled, reported The New York Times on
June 2, was over provisions reducing American pharma-
SINCE 1977
ceutical companies monopoly control [of] biologics.) www.labspacesolutions.com
While it remains to be seen whether this represents 877-777-9130
a global drift toward greater secrecy, it nonetheless
troubles researchers, since trade secrets require zero
disclosure. The 2016 Defend Trade Secrets Act, passed
by Congress in April 2015, is another indication that
secrecy is emerging as a strategically superior alterna-
tive to patents, a surer means of achieving competitive
advantage in the quicksilver global marketplace. One
national business monthly hailed the act as the biggest
IP development in years. QUALITY SERVICE TIMING
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 leadership & staffing
RUNNING AN
EFFECTIVE MEETING
UNDERSTANDING AND COMBATING NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR
By Ronald B. Pickett
Are you part of the solution or part of the problem?
Do you complain in public about meetings?
Do you make comments that are really intended to obfuscate
the current issue?
Do you bring up old subjects that have already been resolved?
Do you belittle other participants and their opinions?
Do you arrive late and leave early? Physically or mentally?
Do you respond to emails, read documents, etc. during the meeting?
Occasionally, a group member's negative behavior can
derail a meeting. Reasons for negative behavior may include
a meeting climate that avoids confrontation, personal style,
or even the "rush" that such actions cause. Understanding
these negative behaviors and how to deal with them can
help you turn around potentially disastrous situations.
Dominance
Some people need the spotlight all the time. They attract
attention with nonverbal behavior as well as with words.
They have a comment on everything, relevant or not, and
always try to have the last word. Meeting managers need to
have a private chat with such people and let them know that
their behavior gets in the way of the group's progress. It may
take several discussions to get their behavior under control.
Solution: Develop a code or a signal between the manager
and the dominator so that the latter knows when to stop.
Tunnel vision
Positing ideas as if there are no alternatives tends to
polarize issues between opposing viewpoints. An either/
or attitude hardens positions and closes out alternatives.
In reality, alternatives, concessions, compromises, and
new directions almost always exist.
Solution: If you see polarization happening, begin em-
phasizing alternatives to these more extreme positions.
Solicit new ideas from group members.
26 Lab Manager July 2016
Silence
It is possible to exert considerable influence through
silence. Some people use silence to try to attract atten-
tion; others use this technique to disrupt the meeting flow.
Watch particularly for people who are strong contributors,
then suddenly become quiet. Silence is difficult to spot
because it is what many meeting managers really want, but
it can be a strong clue that things are not going well.
Solution: Periodically ask everyone, individually, for input,
observations, and thoughts.
Subgroups or cliques
Sometimes group members find people who are unaligned
or undecided and try to recruit them. Done in a positive
manner, this alignment can be helpful. Too often, however,
the result is counterproductive and simply hardens positions.
Solution: Publicly question the instigator about his or her
concerns and then try to bring the instigator and his or
her subgroup members back into the group.
Hidden agendas
The intent of hidden agendas may be to increase
personal power, or decrease the power of the meeting
leader. At other times, the goal is to get the group to
agree to something that is beyond its scope, counter to its
real purpose, or a reversal of a previous decision.
Solution: Test comments and pronouncements against the
published agenda by asking, "Is this what we are meeting
about today?"
Agreement: too much, too soon
When everyone agrees too quickly and with too little
discussion, it can be a problem. Individuals start to act as
if each knows what everyone else thinks, and they can
fall into the habit of being "yes men and women.
Solution: Encourage discussion of issues, particularly
when agreement seems to be too easy.
LabManager.com
 leadership & staffing

Finding the right roles and the right style
To successfully manage meetings, scientists need to
learn a "dance" that begins with control and direction,
proceeds to opening the meeting and encouraging partici-
pation, and closes with a soft consensus-building style.
During the meeting, the role of the manager will
change many times. At the beginning, you probably will
be in control of the agenda. Later your role may be facil-
itating a discussion. Even later, your role may be one of
encouraging discussion. Still later, your role may be one
of seeking consensus. Your role may shift again to that
of clarifier, or parliamentarian, or back to controller.
The key to good meeting management is to recognize
when each role is appropriate, to feel comfortable in shifting
into your various roles, and to understand that role changing
does not imply you are indecisive, insecure, or manipulative.
Flexible thinking and knowing when to put on which hat is
the key to being an effective meeting manager.
One final comment for scientists: in general, it is sometimes
difficult to manage meetings in which there are various pro-
fessionals with different areas of expertise, such as scientists,
technologists, and administrative staff. The perceived status
differences can be a serious obstacle. Furthermore, the
independent way that scientists have been taught to think and
work sometimes makes it difficult to create an atmosphere
in which people feel free to participate fully. Two approach-
es are recommended: First, take on the role of a facilitator
rather than a controller. Second, structure the meeting so that
contributions from everyone are considered the norm and are
expected, and that full participation is encouraged.
Productive participation
Even scientists who do not manage meetings can contrib-
ute to the advancement and success of their organization by
becoming skilled participants. Being a productive meeting
participant has other rewards besides helping a meeting run
efficiently. The benefits include: (1) less time spent in the
meeting; (2) increased influence, and thus the likelihood
of your opinions being heard and your positions being
accepted; (3) increased skills in meeting management; and
(4) decreased boredom. The following are some tips for
improving your meeting participation skills:

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Clarify points
One of the most important roles that meeting partici-
pants can perform is helping others make their points in
a clear and concise manner. Some people have difficulty
speaking clearly to a group. It is also difficult for some to
see how their ideas can benefit or influence others or how
others will be affected by issues under discussion. You
will discover that when you help clarify someone's points,
it improves your understanding of the issue as well. You
may also gain new respect for the other person's point of
view, especially important in areas where you disagree or
your reaction is more emotional than logical.
Restate the issue
How many times have you wondered, "How did we get
here? This discussion has nothing to do with our original di-
rection." When things are not going well, restate the issues
on the table. This helps people refocus, defuse an emotional
moment, or take the pressure off a group member who has
elicited an unwarranted hostile response from the group.
Ask probing questions
The use of well thought-out serious questions can
questions for enlightenment or clarification, not as
battering rams. Meetings are not (or should not be)
adversarial games of one-upmanship.
Act as a mediator
When the group is stuck and no one will concede a
point, it is time for action, preferably by a nonaligned
personsomeone not in any camp. Offer suggestions
such as accepting a previously stated idea, or introduce
a new idea. Sometimes a previously stated idea will
be a combination of ideas, a composite super idea. If
all else fails, suggest the issue be put off until another
meeting or referred to a committee.
Facilitate
Consider these useful comments to get people to
agree. "What I think you are saying is..." or "What I see
happening is...." or "What I feel is..." or "I wish you would
tell us more about that..." or "It seems to me that we have
these two positions..." are some useful phrases to clarify
or diffuse a situation. Sometimes these comments are
aimed at the proceedings (What is going on?), sometimes
they are aimed at the participants (What are we doing?),
and sometimes they are self-directed (What do I feel, see,
think, believe?). Whatever the motivation, the effect of fa-
cilitation or intervention is that things begin to flow again.
The best facilitator has a genuine interest in other people
in the group and its goals, and grows in personal influence.

Express support
Even when you disagree with what someone is
saying or if you dislike the speaker, you can still
support the person's right to an opinion and the
importance of his or her being heard.
Invite participation
Non-participation can be one of the most
manipulative techniques. For example, for three
meetings Jack has just been sitting there. He has not
said a word, has not gone to sleep, has not shown a
strong emotional reaction. He merely sits. Even-
tually everyone starts to watch him, trying to elicit
some response, trying to read the mind behind the
great "stone" face. Bingo! Jack has achieved exactly
what he wanted: undue influence.
Too often in organizations, we assume that no
response is a "yes" response. Check frequently
to ensure that everyone has been heard or has
been invited to comment. A good team member
is genuinely interested in the other members'
opinions on the issues.
Check for consensus
The group has reached consensus when you
have found a solution that everyone can live with.
Consensus is not complete agreement; it is not a
majority opinion; it is not a plurality. Consensus
might arrive before you expect it to or it might
never occur. That is why good meeting partici-
pants check from time to time to see where every-
one stands. It is senseless to waste time "beating a
dead horse."
Appeal to higher goals
Petty differences, minor power plays, hidden
agendas and personality issues can fade when
participants rediscover the real reason for a
group's existence. It is a wise and powerful group
member who can refocus a meeting by judi-
ciously emphasizing the group's higher goals and
thereby the members' areas of agreement.
Conclusion
Changing the state of meetings takes time,
dedication, and focus. Begin by considering what is
causing your meetings to be less efficient than you
want, then review these techniques and select the
ones that will help your meetings.
If you try some of the techniques we have
described, you may walk out of your next meeting
leadership & staffing
shaking your head and thinking Hey, that went really well! We've
got a great group of people! Everyone had something to contribute
today!
For additional information, the author suggests the
following sources:
1. http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/RunningMeetings.htm
2. http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml
3. http://www.inc.com/kristine-kern/effective-efficient-meet-
ings.html
4. Fisher R, Ury W. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement With-
out Giving In. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1981.
5. Mosvick RK, Nelson RB. We've Got to Start Meeting Like
This! Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Co, 1987.
Ronald B. Pickett is an organization effectiveness consultant in Es-
condido, CA. He can be reached at ronp70000@aol.com or by phone at
760-738-8638.
This article is Part II of an article published in November 2015,
Manage Meetings Better. A link to that can be found at: http://www.
labmanager.com/leadership-and-staffing/2015/11/manage-meet-
ings-better#.V0WerPkrLIU
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 technology
PREVENTING
POWER FAILURE
THE IMPORTANCE OF POST-INSTALLATION
EQUIPMENT MONITORING AND PREVENTIVE
MAINTENANCE By Raymond L. Hecker
I
n a March 2013 Lab Manager article, Prepared for
Power Failure?, the concept of using a pre-instal-
lation checklist to plan for your successful, on-bud-
get, on-schedule installation of your new laboratory
equipment was presented and emphasized.
With that and many other such lab systems now in-
stalled, you, the lab manager, and your staff complet-
ed benchmarking protocols; the labs operating pro-
cedures were also well documented. Your lab and the
equipment have been operating successfully for many
years before you experience a catastrophic power
failure. Your instrumentation and/or key supporting
equipment go down and you find yourself in a bind to
complete your testing and deliver promised report-
able results. How or why did this happen? You had every-
thing under control and the equipment was perform-
ing flawlessly, including the supporting instrument
power protection system (IPPS) you had installed
to specifically avoid this type of inconvenience. You
have preventive maintenance (PM) contracts in place
for the key instrumentation/equipment, and you had
periodic software and/or hardware updates installed
to meet the latest specifications. You had everything
completely coveredor did you?
As you consult with colleagues, other laboratory
managers, and/or operators in your academic/busi-
ness network, you find that your circumstance is not
unique, but it was 100 percent avoidable.
You learn from your experienced colleagues that
there was a small, but critical, oversight in the labs
operational plan, which did not include providing PM
checks for every piece of equipment or instrumenta-
tion that draws electrical power. With newly gained
operational insight, your lab team develops and
30 Lab Manager July 2016
performs a secondary review that now includes com-
puters, servers, chillers, gas generators, hoods, refrig-
erators, freezers, lab automation (robotics), and more,
not to mention that generally unnoticed, tucked-away
IPPS you had installed to prevent such a loss of pro-
ductivity. It now becomes obvious to all in the lab that
anything that has a fan and a computer controlling it
should be inspected and cleaned annually or, at a min-
imum, at least once in a 24-month operational period.
Cleaning the cooling fans is a routine task in hospi-
tal labs and a definite post-installation checklist item
in labs that have rigorous operating procedures for
critical system inspection and maintenance. Equip-
ment, such as the IPPS, performs its function because
it has a power reservoir (battery set) to allow it to
store energy to operate key equipment to which it is
connected during a power failure. When the electrical
mains (utilities) fail in the laboratory, the IPPS uses
its battery sets reserve power to keep the electrical
equipment running flawlessly until the emergency
generator (genset) comes online. The reason for the
periodic PM inspection is to ensure that the fans are
providing sufficient cooling to keep control circuit
boards and microprocessors from overheating and to
ensure that backup battery sets are also sufficient-
ly cooled. Heat is the nemesis of any electronically
controlled device. Additionally, due to vibrations
in the labs floor, the electrical connections to any
device that has battery backup needs to be checked
for electrical connection integrity/security. These
PM inspections include reviews of signs of arcing due
to loose connections. When electrical power connec-
tions are bolted, their tightness should be checked to
specified torque values. Most lab power equipment
LabManager.com
 Get Lab Manager on the go.
Download a pdf at labmanager.com
 technology
Figure 1. Battery state of charge. (Courtesy of The Stack.)
incorporates maintenance free batteries, but that
doesnt mean you can ignore them in terms of low/
high (under/over) line supply voltage, duty cycle,
time and temperature in service, loose connections,
frayed wiring, weak battery jar/block performance,
and a host of other items that are verified during a
thorough and rigorous PM inspection.
Figure 1 is a simplified depiction of how a second-
ary (rechargeable) battery performs in power mitiga-
tion service, such as we find in a laboratorys backup
power system. Batteries are generally happy with a
residual power capacity above 25 percent and become
totally abused when deep discharged to 10 percent or
less. If a nominal 12-volt (Vdc) battery is discharged
to below 10 Vdcs, it has been compromised and will
have reduced service life. If a battery is overcharged
(>14 Vdcs), it will vent built-up internal gases and
will also be compromised. Over-discharging and over-
charging will destroy a maintenance-free battery and
will make it a prime candidate for failure at a critical
timewhen you need it the most!
Certified IPPSs incorporate superior battery
management technology, including sophisticated
charging and monitoring systems that yield up to 60
months of continuous service. The typical battery
set used in power mitigation products is a sealed
lead acid design of the highest quality, which fea-
tures high rate output/duty cycle capability. Battery
reliability and performance are critical in a laboratory
application. These types of standby power batteries
are also known as valve-regulated absorbed glass
mats, gel-cells (silica-bound electrolytes), or simply
maintenance-free (no water addition) types that can
be mounted in any orientation. Again, the mainte-
nance-free labeling doesnt mean set in place and forget
about them.
32 Lab Manager July 2016
Figure 2. Example of
a swollen and failed
(broken seal integrity)
battery case due to
overcharging/heating.
(Courtesy of Panasonic.)
Over time, any world-class high-performance and
quality battery ages due to constant chemical reac-
tions cycling with progressive anode/cathode sul-
fating between charged and discharged states. Under
such cyclic conditions, the battery loses its capacity
and becomes worn (depleted) beyond service limits.
A certified IPPS compensates for aging by specify-
ing a reliable and conservative autonomous backup
time in its original specifications. All products have a
design service life, and the IPPS battery is designed
for approximately 60 months in controlled labora-
tory service and duty cycle. Typically, batteries are
specified for up to 500 discharge cycles before they
are depleted and require replacement. Batteries are
generally warranted for 12 months by their original
manufacturers. Certified IPPSs and their batteries are
warranted for up to 36 months, with extended warran-
ties for up to 60 months available. In a typical year of
laboratory service, the IPPS is continually running for
over 8,760 hours. Five years of continual service is ap-
proximately 44,000 hours. Operating an IPPS or any
battery over 45,000 hours is an invitation for future
catastrophic battery failure, loss of productivity in the
laboratory, and an unplanned and generally unbud-
geted expensive repair.
Case study:
A well-known and very highly respected Northern
California research university recently experienced
a failure of its instrumentation system after nearly
48,700 hours (~5.6 years) of continuous service. Its
IPPS, original equipment at the time of the instru-
mentation systems commissioning, was unable to
provide electrical reserve power during a mandatory
gens-Set cycle test. The battery set was depleted and
LabManager.com
 technology

954=
938=
938=
938=

938=

938=
938=
912=
912=

912=
912=
912=
912=
912=

912=
912=
912=
912=
912=
912=
JAR# MHOS VOLTS 200
J1 212 12.941
J2 212 12.917
J3 218 12.941
150
J4 224 12.955
J5 218 12.929
J6 212 12.958
J7 218 12.951 100
J8 212 12.957
J9 212 12.954
J10 218 12.943 50
J11 212 12.967
J12 212 12.954
J13 218 12.954
J14 218 12.946 0
J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J8 J9 J10 J11 J12 J13 J14 J15 J16 J17 J18 J19 J20
J15 212 12.947
J16 212 12.945
Figure 3a. Matched battery set20-element battery conductance test: Mho vs. battery
J17 212 12.942
J18 212 12.948
jar/block. (Courtesy of Precision Power International, Inc.)
J19 212 12.947 Figure 3b. Matched battery set20-element battery conductance test: Mhos and Vdcs vs.
J20 212 12.955 battery jar/block. (Courtesy of Precision Power International, Inc.)

damaged similar to those illustrated in Figure 2. The
expected and specified in-service replacement time
for the batteries was between 48 and 60 months of
operation (35,000-44,000 hours). The equipment the
IPPS supports is valued at $750,000. The instrumen-
tation system sustained a hard crash (unintentional
immediate shutdown) because the soft-shutdown pro-
tocol between the IPPS and the instrumentation could
not be activated, due to the battery failure coincident
with a mains failure. A standing IPPS PM service con-
tract was not in place for this laboratory. The rapid
response time to bring this system back online was
delayed more than a week due to the approval process
and release of a purchase order.
Summary
The lab case study above is typical when advanced
planning is not in play. It is an illustration of an
avoidable shutdown and loss of laboratory operational
and personnel time. The on-site PM inspection and
remedial service performed at the university was less
than four hours in duration, with the main battery set
and both main cooling fans replaced. The IPPS unit
was completely inspected per standard field service
inspection and PM protocols. All batteries were re-
placed and tested in a matched set (see figures 3a and
3b). The IPPS was brought back online, with the next
PM service interval set for 24 months. The extended
life of the IPPS is anticipated to be another 35,000+
hours, or approximately ten years of total time in
continuous service.
All lab managers strive to maximize their equip-
ment utilization and minimize downtime associated
with an outage. Preplanned PM cycles allow the lab
to run efficiently and economically. Unplanned outag-
es that take the lab off-line are costly and avoidable.
Consider coordinating periodic and planned equip-
ment PMs with IPPS PMs. Both equipment elements
are off-line at the same time and generally are not
considered an a-priori event, which are dependent
upon one another.
The bottom line is that your lab can now produce
consistent results with the lowest cost per reportable result,
in a timely manner, within budget. After all, that is what
business performance and continuity are all about
consistent performance and results with high custom-
er satisfaction. Your colleagues will be impressed by
how your lab operates at near perfection with minimal
interruptions and how you made the right choice in
picking the best instrument power protection system
and service provider.
Raymond L. Hecker, consultant, power protection solutions
for the laboratory and life sciences industry, can be reached
by email at rlhecker@precisionpowerinternational.com or by
phone at 949-951-6784.

July 2016 Lab Manager 33

 health & safety
KEEPING YOUR
DISTANCE
SOLVING CHEMICAL
INCOMPATIBILITY ISSUES
by Vince McLeod
D
o you realize that improper storage of chemicals
accounts for nearly 25 percent of all chemical acci-
dents?1 Sadly, all of these are entirely preventable,
yet they continue to occur despite the easy availability of
excellent resources just a few mouse clicks away.
Example of a recent incident:
Oxidizer Solvent Explosion
A corrosive storage cabinet under a chemical hood in a
university undergraduate laboratory was the site of an
early morning explosion. Luckily, no one was standing in
front of the hood when the explosion occurred. We believe
the explosion resulted from nitric acid (an oxidizer) and
an organic solvent being mixed in a closed container.2
Most lab professionals understand that nitric acid
reacts violently with organics, producing heat and gas in
exothermic reactions. Placed in a sealed container, we
know that pressures would build, perhaps beyond the
breaking point of the container. Not a good scenario.
But how many of us would have stopped before
adding the acid waste to a clean container to check or
verify the state of the receiving container?
And here is another example to make our point:
Glass Waste Bottle Ruptures, Possible Reaction of Incompatible
Chemical Wastes
A graduate student sitting at a lab computer was sur-
prised by a chemical waste bottle that burst and sprayed
nitric acid and shards of glass all over the lab.
Approximately 2L of nitric acid waste had been
accumulated in a chemical waste bottle that originally
contained methanol. Over the course of 12-16 hours,
34 Lab Manager July 2016
it is likely that some residual methanol reacted with the
nitric acid waste and created enough carbon dioxide
to over-pressurize the container. Two other waste con-
tainers in the hood were severely damaged and several
others were cracked or leaking.
Fortunately, the laboratory worker was not injured.2
These two incidents demonstrate common errors in
handling incompatible chemicals. They serve as exam-
ples for our topic of this months Safety Guys article
the lack of proper segregation or separation of incom-
patible materials.
Proper chemical storage is paramount
In the good old days, before things got so complicated,
we considered acceptable chemical storage in the lab as
having a fume hood with two cabinets belowone for
corrosives and the other for solventsand everything
else was placed on shelves throughout the lab or out on
the work benches. If we were lucky, a flammable storage
cabinet might have been included, and possibly a refrig-
erator for samples and small containers.
But storing hazardous chemicals is a little more complex
than that and depends on a number of factors. Of primary
importance is the nature of chemical operations or research
focus of the laboratory. Research labs are quite different
from production labs, and analytical labs differ from synthe-
sis labs. Another important factor is the level of employee
expertise. We lab managers must always keep this in mind
and ensure that our people are competent and well-trained.
Defining incompatible chemicals and proper segregation
Lets focus on incompatible chemical storage and
proper segregation of these materials. What does in-
compatible mean anyway? Simply, certain chemicals, if
LabManager.com
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Thursday July 14, 2016 | 1:00 - 2:00 pm EDT
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 health & safety
mixed or allowed to come into contact with each other,
produce reactions. The uncontrolled mixing or contact
usually happens in circumstances such as spills, leaking
containers, or incompletely closed containers, and results
in reactions that produce hazards. Chemicals that react
to produce heat, pressure, fire, explosion, or violent re-
actions when mixed together are termed incompatible.
To prevent uncontrolled mixing, we need to segregate
incompatible materials.
Distance, partitions, cabinets,
and containment devices are all
acceptable measures.
What defines adequate separation? Distance, par-
titions, cabinets, and containment devices are all ac-
ceptable measures to use. In actuality, there are very
few strict written guidelines. When we store solids and
liquids, physical separation becomes a judgment call
and depends on the quantities stored and the type of
storage used. The Safety Guys prefer physical barriers or
separate cabinets for incompatible groups when possible.
Containment devices are acceptable and work well if
space is limited. These can be as simple as plastic tubs to
keep acids and bases separated in a shared cabinet. Just
make sure the device is big enough to hold the entire
volume of the largest container being stored.
Determining storage based on chemical
compatibility
The surest way to check incompatibility is to refer to
the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each chemical. The SDS
will give the chemical family for the material and list in-
compatible substances in the reactivity data section. How-
ever, this could prove tedious, especially if there are a lot
of different chemicals used in the lab. So, we usually refer
to chemical compatibility matrices or lists that separate
chemicals based on generic hazard groups. For example,
major groups that are used most frequently include:
Flammable/combustible liquids (and organic acids)
Flammable solids
Mineral acids
Caustics (bases)
36 Lab Manager July 2016
Oxidizers
Perchloric acid
Compressed gases
Many compatibility charts and lists are published online,
and we have provided links to a few in the resources below.
We recommend you find one that suits your needs and refer
to it when storing chemicals. Using your favorite compat-
ibility reference and the labs chemical inventory, you can
quickly determine how many different groups (and thus,
storage spaces) are needed to segregate your chemicals.
Beware the exception
No matter how complete your list seems or how
complex the compatibility matrix appears, there is always
the exception chemical, the one that falls into two (or
more) groups. Seek expert advice when you are unsure
about safe storage. If you are in seismically active regions,
additional precautions (and probably regulations) might
apply. In these areas, you should have lipped shelving and
secured storage units at a minimum. Below we provide
bulleted brief guidelines for safe chemical segregation:
Separate chemicals into their organic and inorganic
families and then compatible groups.
Provide a definite storage place for each chemical and
return the chemical to that location after each use.
Store volatile toxics and odiferous chemicals in a ven-
tilated cabinet or hood.
Store flammable liquids in approved flammable storage
cabinets or safety cans.
Ensure shelving materials are appropriate and com-
patible with the chemicals stored on them (e.g., do not
store oxidizers on wooden shelves).
Do not store chemicals alphabetically as a general
group. Separate into compatible groups first.
Do not store chemicals on high shelves or in high cabi-
nets. A good rule is to store them at eye level or below.
Do not store chemicals on bench tops or in hoods,
except for those being used currently.
Do not store incompatible materials one over the other on
shelving in the lab. Prevent any chance of accidental mixing.
As always, safety first.
Comments or questions are always welcome. Contact
thesafetyguys@labx.com.
LabManager.com
 health & safety

References CRC Handbook of Laboratory Safety, 5th edition. CRC

1. Hazard Investigation: Improving Reactive Hazard Manage-
ment. U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation
Board. Report No. 2001-01-H, NTIS No. PB2002-
108795, 2002.
2. Lab Safety Explosion Incidents, American Industrial Hy-
giene Association, Falls Church, VA. https://www.aiha.
org/get-involved/VolunteerGroups/LabHSCommit-
tee/Incident%20Pages/Lab-Safety-Explosions-Inci-
dents.aspx.
Additional resources
Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of
Chemicals. National Research Council. National Academy
Press. Washington, D.C. Latest edition.
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. National Institute
of Occupational Safety and Health. Publication 2005-
149. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/
Press, LLC, Boca Raton, FL. 2000. Compatibility chart
online at http://rehs.rutgers.edu/pdf_files/Chemical_
Comp_Chart.pdf
A Method for Determining the Compatibility of Chem-
ical Mixtures. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Cincinnati, OH. EPA-600/2-80-076. 1980. Compatibility
chart online at http://rehs.rutgers.edu/pdf_files/Chemi-
cal_compatibility.html
Vince McLeod is an American Board of Industrial Hy-
giene-certified industrial hygienist (IH) and the senior IH with
Ascend Environmental. He has more than 35 years experience
in industrial hygiene and environmental engineering services,
including 28 years with the University of Floridas Environ-
mental Health & Safety Division. His consulting project expe-
rience includes comprehensive IH assessments for major power
generation, manufacturing, production, and distribution facilities.

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 industry insights: drug discovery
BIG DATAS ROLE IN
DRUG DISCOVERY
NEW TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS MOVE BEYOND A
ONE TARGET-ONE DRUG APPROACH by Karyn Hede
J
ust how big is biomedical data? Well, genomic data
alone could soon swamp YouTube and Twitter
as the worlds largest data generator. Projecting over
the next decade, scientists at the University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign, suggested in a commentary pub-
lished in the journal PLOS Biology in 2015 that these data
could end up swamping all currently available storage,
based on the expected 100 million to 2 billion human
genomes that could be sequenced by 2025. And their
estimate didnt take into account transcriptome, epig-
enome, or proteome data, let alone the massive storage
requirements of medical images.
Making sense of all this data has
become big business, with more An investment in data
than 200 data analytics companies
vying for the attention of those analytics is expected to
engaged in biomedical research.
Many others are working on open usher in the next wave
source big data solutions.
Some are even making a star turn, of drug discovery.
like the Scripps Translational Sci-
ence Institute, which recently hired
Paul DePodesta, baseball data analytics guru canonized in
the movie Moneyball. DePodesta is lionized for his ability
to pull hidden relationships from baseball statistics that
lead to a winning formula. Similarly, the expectation is
that advanced analytics can turn up novel relationships
in biological data that are impenetrable through ordinary
statistical means, like time-honored logistic regression
analysis. An investment in data analytics is expected to
usher in the next wave of drug discovery, providing more
solid drug candidate leads and helping treat previously in-
tractable diseases such as Parkinsons, Alzheimers disease,
and other complex neurological disorders.
BUT JUST HOW WOULD
THIS WORK?
The multi-institutional, multidisciplinary Big Data for
Discovery Science (BDDS) Center is on the front lines
38 Lab Manager July 2016
of this new data-intensive frontier. The research team
includes computational scientists used to dealing with
the massive data processing needs of Argonne National
Laboratory, operated by the University of Chicago for
the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as members of
the Institute of Neuroimaging and Informatics and the
Information Sciences Institute, University of Southern
California, and the Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle.
You are dealing with many hundreds of terabytes of
data, says Arthur W. Toga, PhD, director of Laboratory
of Neuro Imaging (LONI), Keck School of Medicine,
University of Southern California,
and co-principal investigator of
BDDS. Hosting that locally is a
serious investment, and you need
to be committed to doing that.
Only some companies or organi-
zations have the resources to do
it. You can use centralized cloud-
based services, but if the compu-
tational complexity of whatever
you are doing is high, there has to
be a proximity between the processing resources and the
storage resources because you cant move it around very
effectively.It just doesnt work.
The BDDS has more than six petabytes of storage
and 6,000 processors to facilitate exploration of its
collections, which include neuroimaging, genomic,
and microscopy data. The BDDS team is working on
a user-friendly system to manage and manipulate big
datasets. To meaningfully integrate biomedical data,
algorithms have to handle and integrate disparate data
sources, says Toga. The validity of underlying analytic
algorithms is critical to big data analysis.
You can find relationships in variables that are totally
nonsense, says Toga. Big data necessitates big re-
sponsibility as well. People need to employ appropriate
statistical controls for random effects to prevent spurious
findings from making you go in the wrong direction.
LabManager.com
 industry insights: drug discovery

He also points out that incompletely described data
has little value. Any data repository should insist on
only accepting materials with full descriptions of
specific aims and instruction on how it might be used in
other areas of research.
The knowledge of chemistry is
very important for putting the
data in context when dealing
with biochemical assays.
While an ever-expanding array of data portals and
data-as-a-service and software-as-a-service cloud-based
providers proliferate, these services raise issues of data
governance and reproducibility.
Todays discussion around big data is mainly hype
around the potential for discovering new and better
medicines in the long term. It may be more instructive to
look at how investigators are putting big data to work for
them right now to build biologically relevant models and
reevaluate the usefulness of potentially promising drugs
already under development.
BUILDING A VIRTUAL
ANIMAL MODEL
One of the most critical steps in evaluating any po-
tential medical treatment involves testing its toxicity in
animal models. Too often drugs that look promising in
animal models prove otherwise when tested in humans,
resulting in costly setbacks in drug development. Substi-
tutes to animal testing, such as human cell culture and in
vitro assays, have not been validated as alternatives. Yet
big data technology offers the possibility of providing
validated alternatives to some outmoded animal tests.

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industry insights: drug discovery
Investigators in the National Institute of Environmen-
tal Health Sciences (NIEHS) are using data analytics
and machine-learning techniques that combine datasets
from disparate chemical and biological assays to show
that a virtual model can in some cases better predict
toxicity than traditional animal testing. An early test case
involved combining data from several in vitro tests for
measuring estrogen receptor bioactivity. This strategy,
led by scientists at NIEHS NTP Interagency Center for
the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods
(NICEATM), and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Office of Research and Development, has been
accepted as an alternative to three existing Tier 1 tests in
the EPAs Endocrine Disrup-
tor Screening Program. The
NICEATM computational
toxicology program, led by New tools are available
deputy director Nicole Klein-
streuer, PhD, is now focusing
now that have proven useful
on combining in chemico and
in silico datasets to evaluate
in integrating datasets for
non-animal alternatives for
skin sensitization testing, a
hypothesis generation.
critical step in evaluating
ingredients used in dermatology and cosmetics.
The NICEATM group uses a data pipeline tool
called KNIME, an open source data analytics platform,
along with open-source programming languages R and
Python. Kleinstreuers group uses machine-learning
techniques to build biological models with defined end
points to help ensure biological relevance, and impor-
tantly, runs both test sets and validation sets to ensure
reproducibility. They also build probabilistic models
using a Bayesian network approach, which can assign
likelihoods to predictions.
The NICEATM group has specialists in both bioinfor-
matics and chemistry informatics, says Kleinstreuer. The
knowledge of chemistry is very important for putting
the data in context when dealing with biochemical
assays, she says. For instance, one cell-free assay used in
their lab gave beautiful dose-response curves, but further
investigation showed that the surfactant added to the
assay was denaturing the protein of interest, thereby
generating results that were an artifact.
Energysaving alternative
www.vacuu-lan.com
1-888-882-6730
to central vacuum systems
The group recently published their research in Na-
ture Biotechnology demonstrating that computational
approaches could provide accurate predictions of skin
sensitivity using human primary cells. They found that
batteries of in vitro tests, combined with machine-learn-
ing computational models, could outperform animal
testing approaches to skin toxicity testing.
NEW LIFE FOR AN OLD DRUG
For big data to make a big impact in drug discovery,
pharmaceutical companies have to break out of the one
target-one drug approach that remains the dominant
paradigm, says Lei Xie, PhD, a structural systems phar-
macologist at Hunter College,
City College of New York.
Xie develops algorithms that
use machine learning to build
biologically relevant network
models that combine data from
in vitro and in vivo tests and,
importantly, can predict future
outcomes as well as incor-
porate new information in a
continuous learning loop.
We can use big data as a constraint to limit our search
space, and build a model that recapitulates the under-
lying mechanisms to understand how drugs work and
develop better drugs, he says.
As a case study published in 2016 in the journal Scientific
Reports, Xies group developed a network analysis that
combined structural, functional, and genomic interaction
data to identify biologically relevant targets for metformin,
a decades-old diabetes drug now being investigated for
its anti-cancer properties. The algorithms used publicly
available datasets to produce a network model of met-
formins biological activity. Crucially, the research team
validated the computational approach by verifying the
interaction between metformin and most of the targets.
Xie points out that their approach could be used with any
compound with at least one protein receptor for which a
crystal structure is available and for which a genome-wide
gene expression analysis has been performed.
VACUULAN
Local Vacuum Networks
by VACUUBRAND
 industry insights: drug discovery

GETTING MORE OUT OF The tool has already assisted investigator Georgia Touras-
si, PhD, director of ORNL's Health Data Sciences Institute,
YOUR CURRENT DATA in his research investigating the link between environmental
For labs interested in making more productive use exposures and lung cancer.
of the data they already have at hand, new tools are All of us have those moments of epiphany when certain
available now that have proven useful in integrating thoughts click into our head and we move on to explore hypoth-
datasets for hypothesis generation. Based on the eses deeper, Tourassi says. This tool enables that serendipity.
premise that a picture is worth a thousand words,
or in this case, a million data points, the data visu- Karyn Hede is a science writer living in Chapel Hill, NC.
alization firm Tableau has seen explosive growth
among life sciences and pharmaceutical clients.
The company, formed by Pat Hanrahan, founding
member of the movie animation company Pixar,
and one of his graduate students at Stanford, offers
a myriad of visualization options. Users with no
formal training in data science can import and
combine data from multiple sources and display it
in a visually intuitive dashboard.

GETTING MORE OUT OF

THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE
Even though it is publicly available, published
research found in MEDLINE, the ubiquitous
search engine used by virtually everyone in bio-
medicine, isnt being utilized to its fullest because
the tools available to plumb its depths are based
on simplistic Boolean operators that return lists
of publications. Using three converging technol-
ogiesdata analytics, advanced visualization, and
the Semantic Web, a data sharing framework
scientists have developed a search algorithm that
presents results in an interactive graph of words
that visually connects key relationships. The
software, called Oak Ridge Graph Analytics for
Medical Innovation (ORiGAMI), is the result of
a collaboration between the National Library of POWER TO THE PUMP.
Medicine and Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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data scientist Sreenivas Rangan Sukumar, PhD.
Humans limited bandwidth constrains the Choice of manual, programmable, and PC control
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available medical information, Sukumar stated
Operational range from atmosphere to 1.5 torr
in the announcement of the new search feature.
By design, ORiGAMI can reason with the Easy-to-use, intuitive interface
knowledge of every published medical paper
For automatic vapor pressure sensing and control,
every time a clinical researcher uses the tool.
combine with a N 920 G pump.
This helps researchers find unexplored con-
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do better at answering health-related questions.
 industry insights: forensics
NEXT-GEN SEQUENCING
FOR FORENSICS
CRIMINOLOGISTS CAN NOW USE EVEN TINY TRACES
OF GENETIC EVIDENCE by Mike May, PhD
I
n forensic work, the smallest detail can make the
difference in solving a crime. Those details can come
from genetic evidence, such as DNA. Collecting the
DNA is one thing, analyzing it is another. The genetic
fingerprint in DNA lies in the arrangement of its com-
ponentsits sequence, which arises from the order of
four nucleotides. The human genome consists of billions
of nucleotides. So when forensic scientists need to de-
termine the sequence of a DNA sample, they need a fast
technique like next-generation sequencing (NGS).
As Cydne Holt, associate director, forensic genomics at
San Diego-based Illumina, explains, Targeted NGS over-
comes limitations in forensic genomics by adding modern
capabilities to human identification using nuclear DNA
or mitochondrial DNA. She adds, Applications include
criminal casework and databasing, missing person investi-
gations, and analysis of unidentified human remains.
When asked about the key applications of NGS to
forensics, Rich Guerrieri, the identity management
forensic DNA research leader at Battelle in Columbus,
Ohio, says that they are the analysis of a wider range
of genetic markers coupled to an increased resolution
at each marker. He adds, This expanded scope allows
for other kinds of markers, such as those that can predict
the ancestral and physical characteristics of an individ-
ual, to be gleaned from a small sample left at a crime
scene. Although a DNA sequence can point a finger at a
criminal, The expanded data is also valuable for exclud-
ing individuals as potential contributors of DNA found
in a sample, Guerrieri notes. So DNA sequencing can
implicate or exonerate suspects.
When compared with other sequencing methods, NGS
is all about moremore data, more details. Theres
much more information in each sample than is current-
ly recovered with established techniques, says Keith
42 Lab Manager July 2016
Elliott, senior manager of global marketing human iden-
tification and forensics at QIAGEN (Hilden, Germany).
Its not so easy to analyze a sample from more than
one contributor, such as a cigarette butt smoked by two
people. Separating the two DNA profiles is challenging,
but NGS gives higher levels of discrimination, making it
much easier. That means more mixtures of samples can
be resolved, which means more crimes can be solved.
MAKING IT STICK
Still, some hurdles must be surmounted. The current
capillary-electrophoresis workflow has been optimized
for criminal justice over 20 years, says Elliott. So
moving to NGS requires reoptimizing the entire process,
developing new standards and new approaches to inter-
pretation. He adds, Some countries dont even have a
legal framework for applying NGS.
And thats just the start of making the transition.
There are several operational challenges for individual
crime labs that seek to implement NGS, Holt explains.
Labs needing accreditation must perform internal
validation to understand the typing method, become
acquainted with its limitations, and finalize their pro-
cedures. On top of that, she notes, Labs must train
their staff, implement quality assurance programs, and
integrate updated workflows into routine operations.
The application of NGS to forensics crosses areas of
expertisemolecular biology, criminology, and law. Conse-
quently, says Holt, Finding the resources in the individual
labs to implement NGS along with partners across the great-
er criminal justice system is a key challenge to its widespread
adoption. She adds, These challenges have been met before
when mainstream technologies have been applied to forensic
analyses, and are overcome, especially when efficiencies are
realized and public safety is positively impacted.
LabManager.com
PRESENTING PLATFORMS
Increasing the use of NGS in forensics also depends
on platforms made for the task. As Holt says, The
MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System was devel-
oped to specifically address needs of forensic labo-
ratories that analyze genomic DNA. Illumina also
makes the polymerase chain reaction-based ForenSeq
DNA Signature Prep Kit, which, Holt says, improves
forensic DNA typing by combining multiple types
of forensic polymorphisms into a single analysis,
provides more information about precise alleles via
nucleotide identification instead of only fragment
length, targets small amplicons for success with
degraded samples, and produces investigative leads
through visible traitssuch as eye and hair color and
biogeographical ancestrywhen theres no known
suspect and no database hit.
Other companies also design workflows for NGS-
based forensics. With dedicated forensic sample prep,
library prep, and other preanalytical components,
forensic NGS assays, and bioinformatics, QIAGEN
develops sample-to-insight workflows for forensic
scientists, Elliott explains. As an example, QIAGEN
develops NGS assays aimed at single nucleotide poly-
morphisms (SNPs) and short tandem repeats (STRs),
which consist of a repeating series of two13 nucle-
otides. The QIAseq Investigator SNP ID Panel, for
instance, is designed to target SNPs that can be used for

Dedicated NGS platforms, like the MiSeq FGx Forensic

Genomics System, make this technology accessible to an expanding
base of users. (Image courtesy of Illumina.)
 industry insights: forensics
human identification, Elliott says. SNPs are not currently
routinely used in forensics, and a panel containing only
SNPs is a simpler and more practical option for forensic ex-
perts to start familiarizing themselves with NGS. He adds,
QIAseq Investigator SNP ID can complement and be used
in parallel with capillary electrophoresisbased work.
Next-generation sequencing can unravel crimes by analyz-
ingpiece by piecegenetic information from a crime. (Image
courtesy of QIAGEN.)
As the use of NGS in forensics increases, the num-
ber of dedicated platforms will expand as well. Ther-
mo Fisher Scientific (Waltham, MA) just released its
Applied Biosystems Precision ID NGS System, which
was designed specifically for human identification. It
includes automated sample preparation for next-gen-
eration sequencing using our Ion Chef System to
streamline sample preparation with minimal hands-on
time, says Sheri Olson, director of product manage-
ment. The Precision ID NGS System also provides
the flexibility to allow labs to choose forensically
relevant content so users can pick the right content to
solve the crime and meet their regional legal needs.
The Precision ID NGS Systems workflow starts like
traditional forensic capillary electrophoresis: collect a
sample, extract the DNA, quantify it, and clean it up
for downstream fluorescent detection. The Ion Chef
automates the use of Ion AmpliSeqtargeted panel NGS
chemistry to tag the genomic DNA with primers for
the region of interest, Olson explains, and then these
44 Lab Manager July 2016
tags can be sequenced and analyzed at the base level
using the Ion S5 or S5XL system. She adds, The NGS
workflow is similar to what forensic scientists already use
in fragment analysis, but by supplementing traditional
[capillary-electrophoresis] methods with NGS tech-
nology, it allows users to see a greater depth of possible
investigative lead information per casework sample such
as phenotype, ancestry, and identityall depending on
the tags that they use.
With NGS, more is better, but more is also more com-
plicated. As Guerrieri explains, The sheer amount of
data that is generated during an NGS run, which can be
orders of magnitude greater than that generated using
current technologies, is one key challenge. To deal with
data, forensic scientists using NGS must build effective
techniques to store, retrieve, and keep data secure. Guer-
rieri also points out other challenges with NGS, including
separating the voluminous signal from the background
noise, effectively maximizing the utility of the data, and
ensuring consistent interpretation of the data.
Analyzing so much data requires specialized software.
As an example, Illumina developed its ForenSeq Univer-
sal Analysis Software, which Holt says is built specif-
ically for forensic genomics and in collaboration with
forensic experts around the world. Likewise, QIAGEN
also offers a range of software solutions. The Biomed-
ical Genomics Workbench is used for both SNP and
mitochondrial DNA analyses by human identity labs,
according to Elliott.
MORE ON MISSING PERSONS
As mentioned above, a cell contains DNA in the nucle-
us and mitochondria. When it comes to mitochondrial
DNA, says Guerrieri, only about 4 percent is captured
in most analyses. Nonetheless, he and his colleagues can
capture genetic information from the entire human
mitochondrial DNA genome, and this allows the entire
genome to be analyzed and compared in a case, provid-
ing a considerable advancement over the existing capa-
bilities. He adds, This capability can be applied to the
analysis of human skeletal remains, potentially leading
to the identification of missing persons.
Illuminas MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System
could also be used in missing person cases. At Kings
College in London, the Forensic Genetics Group has
used this platform to analyze relatedness of people
through DNA sequences. In one comparison of two
people, David Ballard, a postdoctoral scientist in the
LabManager.com
 industry insights: forensics

group, says, We were able to prove that they were relat-
ed as parent and child, thanks to the breadth of markers
within the ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit. He adds,
Without the MiSeq FGx System, proving that would
have been very complex, if not impossible. This capa-
bility of proving relatedness could be used in missing
person cases and in identifying disaster victims.
In some legal cases, NGS can also be used for paternity
testing. Elliott mentions that a paternity lab in Sweden
came to QIAGEN to find a way to discriminate between
very closely related individuals. Capillary electropho-
resis does not always produce enough information,
he says. The paternity lab worked with QIAGEN to
develop an SNP panel, and the lab is implementing it in
its paternity workflow. He adds, Because NGS is such a
new and complex workflow, customers want a partner to
help them simplify it.
In this complex world of forensic technology, even
terminology must be adapted. In the January 21, 2016,
issue of Forensic Science International: Genetics, for example,
an international team of scientists wrote about the need
for at least minimal nomenclature requirements when
applying NGS to the forensics of STRs. The scientists
wrote: When an STR contains a complex arrangement
of repeat motifs, the level of genetic polymorphism
revealed by the sequence data can increase substantially.
The complexity of an STR makes capillary electro-
phoresis insufficient for capturing all the detail, so NGS
must be used. In making that forensic transition, the
authors point out the need for nomenclature of STR
sequence data.
So bringing NGS to forensics demands advances in
technology through terminology. The results could un-
ravel even once-unsolvable crimes.
Mike May is a freelance writer and editor living in Ohio. You
may reach him at mikemay1959@gmail.com.

Are You in the Market for a New BSC?

Join Linda the lab manager in this video as she explores some of the main factors that must be considered
when purchasing a biological safety cabinet (BSC), including: a safety risk assessment, determining what
class of cabinet you need, the chemicals youll use, customization options, ergonomics, and cost.

LabManager.com/BSC-video
 cell cultures most unwanted

9m

8m

7m

6m
1. Mycop lasma 3. Bacteria
that lack a cell wall,
Simple bacteria
2. Yeast Owing to their ubiqu
ity, size, and rapid
ly
mycoplasma are consid
ered the smallest Yeast particles can qui g the most common
ckly contaminate
cultures and their relativ growth rates, amon minants.
epl ica ting organism. red co nta
5m
sel f-r ely large size enc ou nte
makes them easy to iden
tify.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM

CELL CULTURE CONTAMINATION
Select the Right Equipment Practice Good Housekeeping

Use Good Aseptic Technique Routinely Monitor for Contamination

Keep Your Incubator Clean Use Antibiotics Sparingly

46 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com

 cell cultures most unwanted

Anyone who has ever worked in a cell culture lab has experienced itcontamination. Ranging from minor annoyances to
major catastrophes, contamination causes loss of time, money, and effort spent in developing cultures and setting up
experiments, and can lead to inaccurate results and loss of credibility.

4. Mold
Molds are eukaryotic microorg
grow as multicellular filaments
anisms that
called 6. virus , viruses can be
hyphae. Spor es can surv ive very inho spitable 5. Protozoa Not particularly common
ect and may pose threats to
me reac tivat ed when Although rare, amoeba difficult to det
conditions to beco are occasionally en infe cting human or
suitable conditions emerge. identified as cell cultur
e contaminants. laboratory staff wh
primate cell lines.

July 2016 Lab Manager 47

 ask the expert

ASK THE EXPERT

VALIDATION OF ANALYTICAL METHODS
by Rachel Muenz
Joy McElroy is co-owner of Maynard Consulting Company. She offers 14 years of experience
as a consultant and over 20 years total experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries
in quality control, clinical settings, and good manufacturing practice (GMP) auditing as well
as validation engineering. McElroy specializes in equipment qualification, cleaning validation,
sterilization, environmental monitoring, GMP compliance auditing, good documentation
practices, and GMP and good laboratory practice training. She has written and executed
Joy McElroy equipment qualification and validation protocols for numerous companies, such as Mallinckrodt,
Wyeth Lederle, Merck, BioMrieux, Catalent, Phillips-Medisize, Xcelience, and Novartis.

Q: What are some of the latest
changes or trends in analytical
method validation?
A: With analytical method valida-
tion, theres something thats really big
called use of integrated life cycle.
Its basically looking at the method and
monitoring that method through its
life cycle. [It involves] trending of all
your method parameters . . . because
you want to be sure that youre evalu-
ating the performance of your method
through time. Were validating because
we want to prove that the method is
consistent and repeatable and that we
get a consistent result, but you want
to also do trending to make sure that
there are no changes that are needed or
that have occurred in your testing. You
want to demonstrate whether it needs
to be optimized or revalidated and, of
course, that will depend too on your
product, the needs of your product, and
the testing that requires. The analytical
method validation, as far as looking at
the life cycle, provides evidence that
your method is suitable and you want to
be sure that it is always performed for
its intended purpose. It also allows you
to continuously review your SOPs as
far as your equipment and your method.
You have to make sure there is a need
for revalidation and, if there is, what
changes are implemented and what type
of revalidation is needed. Thats a big
thing that Im seeing as far as trends.
Also for analytical method validation,
the requirements are for very robust
testing and very specific parameters, be-
cause in the past there hasnt been much
robustness in the method validation. So
theyre looking at the requirements and
pushing for more robust testing.
Staying on top of your
method validation takes
review and time.
Q: How are these changes
impacting labs?
A: One thing is that labs, when theyre
looking at implementing more robust
testing in their method validation and
theyre looking at their revalidation
needs and their trending, theres also
a need to conduct risk assessment for
system suitability or actual system
suitability testing. You have to submit
your method development data. Its not
only this is the validation or this is
the PQ (process qualification) process
validation, but anything that goes into
developing that data needs to be in that
packet with your protocol. The big-
gest thing is doing risk assessment and
grouping your analytical equipment,
and grouping your methods as well,
and figuring out what your highest-risk
methods are. That takes a little bit of
time and labs tend to be very busy with
their day-to-day testing.
Q: What are the key benefits
of these changes to analytical
method validation?
A: With the life cycle management that
is being instituted, it provides a frame-
work for defining the criteria and for the
development of your actual analytical
procedure. It also provides greater
assurance that the quality attributes
of the tested product can be and are
reliably measured, because thats our
goalto measure the quality attribute
[so that] it provides us more accurate,
reliable testing and were sure that these
quality parameters have been tested.
Q: What are the major challeng-
es lab managers are facing with
method validation because of
these changes?
A: A lot of times what Im hearing and
what Im seeing [are that] the actual
staffing that is available to train and to
actually design the experiment or carry
out the initial design for the method val-
idation and the actual validation [can be
a challenge]. You have your regular pro-
duction or your manufacturing activities,
and now you need people to have time
to evaluate methods, to look at trending,

48 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com

 ask the expert

and to develop the method even further. Then that requires writing protocols
and getting your testing just right for your analytical method to make sure
that it is suitable for what you are doing. So, just the staffing and the time it
takes to implement this life cycle management are the main [challenges].

Q: What are some of the things labs can do to handle

those challenges?
A: I think the most effective thing that you can do for analytical method
development is have strict, solid SOPs in place and strict schedules for re-
view and evaluation. Staying on top of your method validation takes review
and time. Internal audits are also importanthaving someone come in and
audit your lab or your method development SOPs if you dont have time
for your staff to do it. Then [the auditor] can point out any deficiencies
and you can work to put a team together to effectively handle those and get
your methods up to date and anything else that needs to be done.

Q: What other changes do you expect to see in the future in

analytical method validation?
A: I expect to see more specific requirements for testing, more of a push to
build quality into the analytical method development with stricter docu-
mentation guidelines and stricter revalidation requirements.

Q: What advice would you have for lab managers who are
not familiar with analytical method development but are just
starting to get involved in it?
A: Theres lots of information and [there are] reference guides that they Aligning precision and
can read on the Internet. Theres the U.S. FDA [Food and Drug Administra- performance, the Eclipse is
tion] Guidance for Industry on Analytical Procedures and Method Validation. It was
published in August 2000 and its a very good guide. It takes you through
Adam Equipments newest
the life cycle management; its very detailed in telling you whats expected range of laboratory balances.
for analytical equipment validation. ISO 17025 general requirements for the The Eclipse features an
competence of testing and calibration laboratoriesthats another good advanced capacitive touch
guide that they can read. And just referring to [the FDAs] 21 CFR Part keypad and one of the
11 is also useful. The ICH [International Council on Harmonisation of
Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human
largest LCD readouts in the
Use] Q2(R1) is a section on validation of analytical methods. All these are industry. Illuminate your lab
very good references. Also, there are always webinars and seminars. I have a work with the Eclipse.
webinar that I give myself on analytical equipment validation and we also
do some on method validation. There are also different articles that are
published. For example, I get an email every month from the FDA that has
For more information:
good information on the latest changes as far as analytical method valida-
tion. So just keeping current on all the requirements and with these guides sales@adamequipment.com
that I just suggested is very good. Thats where I would start. Also, research- www.adamequipment.com
ing and working with other labs, asking whats going on, and networking
with other managers [are] very helpful.

Rachel Muenz, associate editor for Lab Manager, can be reached at

rachelm@labmanager.com or by phone at 888-781-0328 x233.

Adam Equipment Inc. All rights reserved. NA-6023

 product focus | ICP-MS
FINDING THE RIGHT INSTRUMENT FOR THE JOB
ICP-MS
by Karyn Hede
T
he recent controversy surrounding lead
contamination of the municipal drinking water
in Flint, Michigan, has shone a light on the
necessity of routine testing for toxic metal contamination
not only of water but also of food, drugs, and other
consumables. Lead contamination of the water supply in
Flint was uncovered by the method of choice for detection
of elemental metals: inductively coupled plasma mass
spectrometry (ICP-MS), which can detect many trace
elements at concentrations as low as one part in 1015.
ICP-MS-based analytical techniques cross
disciplines and are used in the food, pharmaceutical,
environmental, geochemical, nuclear, and medical
fields to monitor test samples for trace elements and
their isotopes. Samples are ionized by application of
an argon torch and electromagnetic field, followed by
mass/charge ratio separation via the spectrometer.
A basic ICP-MS unit with a quadrupole mass filter is
sufficient for testing municipal water supplies, but as
sample complexity and required sensitivity increase,
system requirements quickly get complicated.
For example, the semiconductor and medical industries
have special requirements.
Analysis of impurities in ultra-high-grade chemicals
used for the semiconductor industry requires an ICP-
MS with a high purity sample introduction system
and very low detection limits, says Fadi Abou-
Shakra, product manager for ICP-MS at PerkinElmer
(Waltham, MA). Similarly, detection of low levels of
elements such as chromium and titanium in biological
fluids would require an instrument with a reaction cell.
Food and pharmaceutical samples often contain trace
amounts of elements such as oxygen and nitrogen,
which can react with elements of interest to create
interfering polyatomic species that have the same mass
as species of interest. Samples with the potential to
form interfering species typically require the addition
of a collision cell to the reaction chamber. Simply
put, the collision cell contains an inert gas, usually
helium, to slow the rate of movement of the larger
interfering species, which can then be removed by a
filter before entering the spectrometer. First introduced
50 Lab Manager July 2016
by PerkinElmer, the collision/reaction cell, known by
the trade name dynamic reaction cell, uses a mixture
of gases to help remove interfering ions prior to
detection, both through collisions and through chemical
reactions. A similar solution, introduced by Agilent
Technologies (Santa Clara, CA), uses an octopole
collision cell containing helium or hydrogen in the
reaction chamber itself. For most applications, the inert
helium mode removes potential interfering species,
allowing it to be used on samples with unknown
elements, as the collisions dont introduce new reactive
species. However, for industries requiring detection
of extremely low concentration species, removal of
interferences by both collision and reaction using a
mixture of helium and hydrogen may be required.
For certain environmental applications or food
applications, you might need to differentiate the
different oxidation states of different metals, says
Dan Davis, ICP-MS product manager at Shimadzu
Scientific Instruments (Columbia, MD). For example,
the toxicity of arsenic and chromium is related to
their oxidation states, so being able to separate out
the oxidation states prior to analysis can allow you to
speciate and quantify.
For these applications, ICP-MS is often combined with
high-performance liquid chromatography.
Laboratories that expect to combine analytical
techniques should consider the ease of combining
ICP-MS with other instruments and the reporting of
results from multiple pieces of equipment, says Davis.
Some manufacturers have developed software platforms
to streamline data analysis and reporting from up to five
or six other pieces of equipment. In addition, Shimadzu
has introduced a software assistant that helps users set
up their protocols based on their sample profiles to
improve the reproducibility of data and reduce the
need for frequent calibration, he says.
The United States Pharmacopeial Convention, which
sets standards for medicines, food ingredients, and
dietary supplement ingredients, is implementing new
standards in 2018 limiting elemental impurities in
these ingredients and specifying ICP-MS analytical
techniques for testing that are likely to increase the need
for new equipment and training in these industries, says
LabManager.com
 Brains + Brawn

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 product focus | ICP-MS
Ryan Brennan, PhD, US marketing manager for
Glass Expansion, Inc. (Pocasset, MA), maker of
DOES AN ICP-MS glassware and sample introduction systems for all
MAKE BUSINESS the major ICP-MS manufacturers.
SENSE FOR
YOUR LAB? Run time and consumables
Factors to consider when choosing an ICP-MS
system include cost savings that can be accrued by
LabManager.com/ being able to control the run time of the equipment
ICP-MS-economics and the flow rate and purity requirements of
the noble gases within the system, as well as
how frequently consumables like glassware and
sampling cones need to be replaced. Add-ons such
as autosamplers can greatly increase the throughput
rate but increase the cost of the systems, so users
in, for example, the environmental field, should
do a cost-benefit analysis of their expected
sample volume before choosing an autosampler,
says Brennan. In many fields, labs are paid by
Learn the key
the sample. If you can run the same number of
factors that can samples in half the time, the value of those samples
affect the cost is much higher and the consumable costs on your
instrument are a lot less.
of operation,
and more.
Maintenance considerations
For additional resources Among ICP-MS customers, the issue of
equipment maintenance is often a topic of
on ICP-MS , including conversation, says Paul Gaines, PhD, CEO of
useful articles and a list Inorganic Ventures (Christiansburg, VA), maker
of manufacturers, visit of ICP-MS calibration standards and a heavy
user of the technology itself. Laboratories
LabManager.com/MS interested in purchasing an ICP-MS system
52 Lab Manager July 2016
should seek out current users in their geographic
area and ask about the cost of maintenance, as
well as how long it takes to get a service engineer
out to fix problems with the system that go
beyond routine maintenance. One of the biggest
complaints Gaines hears about is significant
downtime due to a delay in getting a technician
in to repair a system.
For routine maintenance, be sure to find out how
easy it is to gain access to skimmer cones and
sampling cones, says Davis. Keeping in mind
that these are basically the interface between
something that is 10,000 degrees Celsius and
ambient pressure to something that is at ambient
temperature but very low pressure, you want to
be able to access the interfaces without having
to break the vacuum because that vacuum takes
a lot to restore. Things like shutter mechanisms
that allow you to access the skimmer cone and
sampling cone while still maintaining your
vacuum [are] very advantageous.
One of the biggest maintenance items with ICP-
MS, if you throw a challenging sample in there, is
the time to clean the cones, adds Brennan.
Most important, though, Gaines says, may be
making sure that ICP-MS is the right tool for
the job. Ask for a demo with a sample from
your own lab, he says. Detecting rare earth
elements with a molecular weight less than zinc
is more challenging. Make sure the instrument is
compatible with your needs.
Karyn Hede is a science writer living in Chapel Hill, NC
LabManager.com
 survey says

ARE YOU IN THE MARKET FOR A...

THERMAL ANALYZER?
Thermal analysis is the broad category of at least 20 techniques that measure some fundamental
property of matter as a result of adding heat. For example, dilatometry measures volume changes upon
Types of materials requiring thermal analysis used by
heating, thermomechanical analysis quantifies the change in dimension of a sample as a function of
survey respondents:
temperature, and thermo-optical analysis detects changes in optical properties upon heating or cooling.
Organics such as lubricants, pharmaceuticals,
50%
paints, adhesives, etc.
Polymers
Minerals, inorganic chemicals, and other inorganics
44%
35%
TOP 6 QUESTIONS
You Should Ask When Buying a Thermal Analyzer
Ceramic / glass / building materials 18%
1. If you are going to be analyzing x,y,z properties, ask if the company has any customers conducting the same type of
Metals / alloys 12%
work and if you can talk to them.
Other 15%
2. Ask if you can submit a sample for a demo using specified conditions and, if so, how long this will take and whether a
Physical state of materials being measured by thermal analysis: report will be provided.

Powder 76% 3. What type of post-sale application and technical support does the company offer, and how much will it cost you?
Liquid 50%
4. What features distinguish the companys instrument from their competitors?
Thin film 32%
Paste 29% 5. What can the company tell you about the quality of the product, i.e., how it was manufactured and tested? This will
help you determine the typical lifespan.
Fiber 26%
Gel 26% 6. What can the vendor tell you about the total cost of ownership, including expected consumables, software upgrades,
service, and warranty costs?
Foam 21%
Other 15%

Over 34% of respondents are engaged in purchasing

a new thermal analyzer. The reasons for these
TOP 10 FEATURES/FACTORS
Respondents Look for When Purchasing a Thermal Analyzer
purchases are as follows:
Replacement of aging system 31% RELIABILITY 89%
New application requiring different instrument 31% 890=
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity 20%
EASE OF USE 76%

Setting up a new lab 9%

760=
SAFETY 73%
Other 9%

730=
LOW MAINTENANCE/EASY TO CLEAN 69%
690=
SERVICE AND SUPPORT 69%
690=
LOW OPERATING COST 57%
570=
PRICE 54%
540=
WARRANTY 52%
520=
VERSATILITY 38%
380=
EASE OF INSTALLATION 23%
230=

NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THERMAL ANALYSIS? For more information on thermal analyzers,
Here are some key questions to ask and examples of current technology. including useful articles and a list of manufacturers,
LabManager.com/thermal-analyzers-ask visit www.labmanager.com/thermal-analyzers

July 2016 Lab Manager 53

 ask the expert
Nicholas Navin, PhD
Q: What are some of the
differences between single-cell
sequencing and standard next-
generation sequencing [NGS]?
A: In single-cell sequencing, the first step
is isolating the cells. There are a number
of different technologies, like flow sorting,
laser capture microdissection, microma-
nipulation, and droplet technology, and
choosing which one to use depends on
whether the cell you are trying to isolate is
very rare or whether you are trying to ran-
domly sample a large number of cells from
a population. Some techniques, like flow
sorting, are well established. Others, like
laser capture microdissection, are in active
development, as the laser can fragment
the DNA or RNA in the cell. The second
step is amplifying the DNA or RNA using
either whole genome amplification or
whole transcriptome amplification. The
third step is the sequencing reaction, which
involves standard NGS platforms. Howev-
er, the analysis of the data is much more
challenging in single-cell sequencing when
compared with standard NGS because
there are lots of technical errorsvaria-
tions in the coverage performance, in the
variant calling, and in post-processing.
Q: What are some of the
challenges with using single-cell
sequencing?
A: For single-cell RNA sequencing, we
can generate thousands and thousands of
profiles on single cells in a very rapid time
frame on various systems, but the challenge
lies in analyzing the data [that] tend to be
noisy due to the amplification artifacts and
the transcriptomes. For single-cell DNA
sequencing, the challenge lies in trying to
54 Lab Manager July 2016
ASK THE EXPERT
THE PROMISE OF SINGLE-CELL SEQUENCING
by Tanuja Koppal, PhD
Nicholas Navin, PhD, associate professor at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, elaborates on the
promise of single-cell sequencing as an innovative, noninvasive tool for research and clinical use.
scale it up, because there arent good tech-
niques or protocols to sequence thousands
of single-cell DNA profiles at a low cost
[and] in a short time frame.
Q: When do you use single-cell
versus standard sequencing?
A: I think it completely depends on the
[situation], and in many cases single-cell
sequencing isnt really needed. With
single-cell sequencing, you can profile
only a limited number of cells, but when
sequencing bulk tissue, you are profiling
millions of cells. If you want to know
whether a mutation exists broadly across
lots of cells, then you might prefer using
a deep sequencing approach. However, if
you want to know what combination of
mutations are present in every cell, then
you are not going to get that information
from bulk sequencing. The main appli-
cations for single-cell sequencing are
for resolving complex sub-populations,
such as intra-tumor heterogeneity. The
other major application is to study rare
sub-populations that are responsible for
disease progression. For instance, with
cancer stem cells or circulating tumor
cells, where you can isolate only a few
cells, single-cell sequencing becomes
very important for genomic profiling.
Q: Can you elaborate on some
of the emerging applications of
single-cell sequencing?
A: We are really interested in connecting
genotypes and phenotypes. By isolating
the DNA and RNA from the same cell,
you can see how a mutation affects the
overall transcriptional profile or cell state.
Another area of interest is connecting
imaging data from single cells, such as
morphology measurements, to genomic
data. With imaging, you can see how a cell
migrates or interacts with other cells, and
genomic analysis helps you understand
the mutations or expression changes that
are causing such behaviors. Multimodal
measurements, which involve profiling the
DNA, RNA, or epigenome from the same
cell in a way that is accurate and reliable,
is also gaining interest. There are a lot of
translational applications for single-cell
sequencing in developmental biology,
neurobiology, and microbiology as well.
One important application is for prenatal
genetic diagnosis, especially for in vitro
fertilization. If parents are disease carriers,
you can screen one or two cells from the
blastocyst and use the ones for implanta-
tion that do not carry the risk alleles.
Q: Do you see single-cell
sequencing being used as a
routine clinical or diagnostic tool
in the near future?
A: We are working on getting single-cell
sequencing tools to be accurate, reproduc-
ible, cost effective and have high through-
put so we can get them into the clinic. We
are interested in applying it for noninva-
sive monitoring of circulating tumor cells
in blood samples, trying to replace tumor
biopsies that are invasive. You can take
lots of blood samples over the course of a
therapy and the genomic information from
the circulating tumor cells can be used to
monitor how patients are responding and
determine which mutations are sensitive
and which are resistant. We are also using
single-cell sequencing to diagnose clinical
samples and measure tumor heterogeneity
to help predict certain properties of the
tumor, such as tumor resistance to therapy
and metastasis. A lot of these applica-
tions will be used in the clinic very soon,
hopefully within the next one or two years.
In terms of costs, single-cell sequencing
is still a bit expensive. However, the costs
are coming down very rapidly, especially
with single-cell RNA sequencing, where
you can now sequence a cell for about $1.
With DNA sequencing, it is still a bit more
expensive, about $30$40 a cell.
LabManager.com

Shrikant Mane, PhD
Q: For what types of
applications are you using next-
generation sequencing (NGS)?
A: The majority of our projects
involve exome sequencing. We also do
RNA transcriptome analysis and other
genomic DNA analyses. We do very
little whole genome sequencing. We
were the pioneers in developing exome
sequencing technologies and, given the
cost advantage, exome sequencing is
definitely better than whole genome
sequencing, at least until the costs come
down. We work in Mendelian genomics,
and there the DNA variants are mostly
in the coding regions and hence, exome
sequencing makes more sense.
Q: What are the limitations of
next-generation sequencing?
A: The biggest challenge in sequencing,
especially with short-read sequencing, is
that it doesnt work well in regions with
high GC content. Detecting structur-
al and copy number variations is also
a challenge with some of the existing
sequencing technologies. There are new
sequencing systems that are in develop-
ment [that] will hopefully address these
issues. Although costs of sequencing have
significantly reduced in the [p]ast
five years, large-scale whole genome
projects are still a challenge. If one has
to identify genes for common disorders,
we still have to sequence nearly a million
samples. At $1,500$1,600, whole genome
sequencing is still not affordable and
feasible for such applications.
Tanuja Koppal, PhD, is a freelance science writer and consultant based in Randolph, New Jersey. She can be reached at tkoppal@gmail.com
TRENDS IN NEXT-GENERATION
SEQUENCING
Shrikant Mane, PhD, director of the Yale Center for Genome Analysis and Keck Proteomics
Laboratory at Yale University School of Medicine, discusses the opportunities and challenges
in next-generation sequencing. With the development of single-cell sequencing techniques,
improvement in data informatics, and falling costs of analysis, he shares much optimism
about the continued demand and growing applications for sequencing in the coming years.
Q: In terms of its applications,
where do you see sequencing
making the biggest impact?
A: The applications of sequencing are
mostly around identifying the disease-caus-
ing genes, and thats where its biggest impact
is likely to be. The other application is tran-
scriptome analysis, where people are trying
to find out how alternative splicing takes
place and how RNA and proteins interact.
That being said, all applications of sequenc-
ing that help us understand the biology of
the disease are important.
Q: What do you think of single-
cell sequencing and the impact it
is likely to have?
A: In terms of its applications, single-cell
sequencing is definitely going to be a big
player. However, there are limitations.
Sometimes its very difficult to access the
quality of the original RNA that is isolat-
ed from the cell. Also, with a single cell,
many rounds of amplification are needed
to get the right amount of DNA, and that
may cause the data to be skewed. These
are my two main concerns. However, from
a biological point of view, single-cell
sequencing makes perfect sense, especially
if you are looking to capture the hetero-
geneity in a system.
Q: Do you see any other
technology replacing sequencing
in the near future?
A: I dont see any other technology
replacing NGS. From a precision medi-
cine standpoint, we are still discovering
ask the expert
biomarkers and looking at disease-caus-
ing DNA variants, and for that, sequenc-
ing at a whole genome level is very
essential. Once that is done, we may
use microarrays to identify panels of
genes. Microarrays are definitely cheap,
but NGS is also getting cheaper. With
new sequencing platforms and develop-
ments in single-cell technology, NGS
is going to be less than $500 in the near
future. Once that happens, sequencing
will become a more routine tool in the
clinical laboratory. At the end of the
day, sequencing is the gold standard for
genomics and the demand for NGS will
continue.
Q: What would you advise
people who are new to the
field or looking to make new
investments in sequencing?
A: For those who are already in the field,
I would ask them to constantly keep up
to date with the new products and proto-
cols that are rapidly becoming available.
They should watch out for updates to
the existing sequencing technologies and
for new technologies that are in devel-
opment. For those starting a new lab, the
field is a lot easier now, as sequencing is
fairly standardized. Sequencing works
beautifully and seamlessly, but now the
challenge has shifted to analyzing the
sequencing data. People have to figure
out what works best for them in terms of
IT support and data storage.
July 2016 Lab Manager 55
 product focus | small-volume liquid handling

HOW LOW YOU GO DEPENDS ON THE APPLICATION

SMALL-VOLUME
LIQUID HANDLING
by Mike May, PhD According to Edwards, Drug discovery and
compound screening can be in the pico- to

T
he evolution of liquid handling involves
various parameters, and one of them is
volume. Scientists often try to protect
hard-to-get samples by working with smaller
amounts of them. What is considered small,
though, varies. As Stefan Overkamp, field
marketing manager, automation and genomics,
at Beckman Coulter (Indianapolis, IN) says,
what is small kind of depends on the actual
application you are looking at. He adds, A low
volume in DNA extraction from blood is not
necessarily considered a low volume in ultra-
high throughput screening, but in general, low
volume in liquid handling refers to volumes
below 1 microliter.
As scientists need to
nanoliter ranges and require special types of
liquid handlers, such as acoustic dispensers for
ultra-low-volume dispenses. He adds, A recent
trend we have also seen is the need to dispense
very small volumes that contain only single cells
for genomics analysis.
Transfer tech tips
Classic liquid handlingaspiration and
dispensecan work down to volumes of a few
hundred nanoliters, but that requires heavy
optimization, Overkamp explains. The key to
success is a combination of ultra-precise pipetting
heads, high-quality pipette tips, and software
that allows the control of the pipetting action in
ultimate detail and precision.

work with even smaller As scientists need to work with even smaller
volumes, that requires more advanced technology.

volumes, that requires If you go below this volume range, say to the
single- or two-digit nanoliter area, or even down to

more advanced technology.

picoliters, other technologies need to be applied,
Overkamp says. These can be simple pin tools,
acoustic impulse techniques, piezo technologies,
or pressure systems with precise valves. He adds,
At the University of Texas at Austins Institute
for Cellular and Molecular Biology, for
example, Arthur F. Monzingo, manager of the
macromolecular crystallography facility, uses the
Crystal Phoenix from Art Robbins Instruments
(Sunnyvale, CA) in preparing crystallization
experiments. The smallest volumes that he uses
are 0.1 microliters. When asked about the key
challenges in using liquid handling to transfer such
small volumes, he says that they are the accuracy
of the volume, accuracy of the location of the
transfer, and speed.

For an overview of dispensing sizes, David J.

Edwards, senior director, mass spectrometry
marketing, life sciences, and applied group, at
Agilent Technologies (Santa Clara, CA), says,
Lipidomics and metabolomics studies generally
work in the milliliter range, while proteomics
research can focus primarily in the microliter
range. Other areas use even smaller samples.

56 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com


None of these technologies allow for classic
liquid handling though, so often a combination
with classic liquid handlers is needed.
Beckman Coulter focuses on classic liquid
handling. With the companys hardware, pipette
tips, and control software, says Overkamp,
customers have been able to get good pipetting
results down to several hundred nanoliters. Plus,
he adds, If lower volumes are required in an
assay, we can offer complete automated solutions
by integrating dedicated low-volume devices into
our Biomek workstations.
Fine-tuning transfers
The characteristics of the liquid must also be
considered, because the type of liquid being
moved can dramatically influence the accuracy
of the liquid transfer at different transfer
volumes, Edwards explains. For example,
nanoliter transfers of glycerol wont be
handled as easily or as accurately as water-
based reagents.
Hudson Robotics (Springfield, NJ) concentrates
on technology that transfers volumes down
to low microliter quantities. At all volumes
of liquid transfer, though, how it gets done
affects the outcome. We have found that
slight differences in technique can make all the
difference, says Alan H. Katz, chief scientific
officer at Hudson. For example, many people
use a pre-aspiration of air followed by a blow-
off to maximize accuracy, but at low volumes,
this can be a problem. He adds, When there is
air in your system and you press your plunger,
you are competing between releasing liquid and
compressing air. All sorts of factors come into
accountfor example, the exact geometry of a
particular tip, how wet or dry it is, how deeply it
sits in the liquidand the results can randomly
vary, and are often not what you are looking for.
Other factors impact the results as well. We
have also found that precision of low-volume
pipetting is improved by over-aspirating and
returning some of the liquid to the source before
going to your destination. This minimizes effects
from backlash, Katz explains. Our SOLO
automated pipettor is designed to take these
factors into account.
product focus | small-volume liquid handling
Low volume, high throughput
Scientists and technicians dont only go to low HOW TO
volumes to save sample, because sometimes
they use such volumes to quickly process many FIND THE
samples. Some researchers work in the world of RIGHT LIQUID
96-well microplates, which hold up to roughly
300 microliters of liquid, says Katz. When HANDLER
they add small quantities of reagents, they are
usually talking about single-digit microliters.
FOR YOUR
He adds, High-throughput screening groups APPLICATION
that use high-density microplates, like 1,536
wells and beyond, can barely fit a microliter into
a well, so they focus on nanoliter volumes.
To work with such small volumes, two statistical
LabManager.com/
factors become extremely important. The first
is precision, and a lab manager should know Find-ALH
a devices coefficient of variance. Accuracy
transferring the intended volumeis also key. As
Katz points out, You can be very precise but have
lousy accuracylike trying to hit the bulls-eye
and always missing in exactly the same spot, like
hitting dead center of the 20 on a dart board.
To get precision and accuracy, a scientist
must rely on the liquid-handling supplier. Its
important to make sure your equipment is By asking you
well calibrated so precision and accuracy are
optimized, Katz recommends.
a few simple
questions, our
Automated Liquid
The characteristics of Handling Product
Finder helps you
the liquid must also be narrow down which
considered. instruments best
suit your needs.
Also, you might want a platform that provides
lots of flexibility. As an example, Edwards says,
Our Bravo is a versatile and flexible platform
for a wide range of tip heads that can handle
single to 384 tips with transfer volumes of 500 For additional resources
nanoliters to 250 microliters. on liquid handling,
With the right liquid-handling platform thats including useful
running in top form, you can transfer lots of low articles and a list of
volumes at high levels of performance.
manufacturers, visit
Mike May is a freelance writer and editor living in LabManager.com/
Ohio. You may reach him at mikemay1959@gmail.com. liquid-handling
July 2016 Lab Manager 57
 survey says

ARE YOU IN THE MARKET FOR AN...

Types of electrophoresis systems used by survey respondents:
Horizontal electrophoresis system
Vertical electrophoresis system
Electrophoretic blotting system
Other
Electrophoresis components being used by survey
respondents:
Electrophoresis gel apparatus
Reagents: Gel staining chemicals, premade
gel or gel chemicals, buffers, etc.
General lab equipment: pH meter, pipettors,
scale, stir plates, etc.
Power supply
Digital camera/gel documentation systems
White light/UV light box
Cooling apparatus
Other
ELECTROPHORESIS SYSTEM?
Electrophoresis relies on a basic processparticles moving in an electric field. Known for more
than 200 years, this phenomenon still drives fundamental techniques in many labs and its long
history plays a role in the widespread use of the technology. Current interest lies in making the
technology faster, more accurate, and more sensitive.
72%
68%
44% TOP 9 QUESTIONS
You Should Ask When Buying Electrophoresis Equipment and Supplies
9%
1. How many gels per experiment can you run at once in a single electrophoresis cell?
2. Can you run hand cast and precast gels with the same electrophoresis equipment?
92% 3. Can you blot in the same tank as you run the gels?
89% 4. How fast can you run a set of gels with optimal performance?
5. How fast can you visualize your proteins in the gel?
88%
6. Do you need any special buffers or sample buffer to run your gel?
82%
7. Does a precast gel give you the same separation as a hand cast gel?
72%
63% 8. How fast can you transfer proteins from your gel to a membrane?
19%
9. How efficiently can you transfer your high molecular weight proteins from your gel to a membrane?
2%

Nearly 60% of respondents are engaged in TOP 10 FEATURES/FACTORS

purchasing new electrophoresis equipment. Respondents Look for When Purchasing Electrophoresis Equipment
The reasons for these purchases are as follows:
DURABILITY OF PRODUCT 71%
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity 40%
Replacement of aging system 39%
710=
EASE OF USE 69%
First time purchase 8%
Setting up a new lab 3%
690=
AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLIES AND ACCESSORIES 64%
Other 10%

640=
PRICE 57%
570=
FAST TIME TO RESULTS 56%
560=
LOW OPERATING COSTS 55%
550=
DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTS 52%
520=
LOW MAINTENANCE/EASY TO CLEAN 49%
490=
MANY SEPARATION OPTIONS WITH HIGH PRECISION, ACCURACY, AND ROBUSTNESS 48%
480=
SAFETY AND HEALTH FEATURES 44%
440=

DO YOU WANT TO GET ACCURATE AND EFFICIENT SEPARATIONS? For more information on electrophoresis, including
Here are some ideas on where to start with getting the best electrophoresis equipment. useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit
LabManager.com/electrophoresis-start www.labmanager.com/electrophoresis

58 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com

 products in action

TO MINIMIZE CENTRIFUGE DOWNTIME, GIVE STAFF A HEADS-UP

Refer them to Principles of Centrifugation Training Materials
As a lab manager, you have plenty to worry about. For instance, if youve ever had a new staff member fail to tighten the rotor lids properly or
forget to balance the tubes before using your centrifuge(s), youve seen what can happen. Do you feel like you constantly need to do the same
new user training over and over?

Beckman Coulter can help. Weve created some Centrifuge 101 Resources (www.beckman.com/centrifugation/principles) that provide an
overview of basic operating principles for you and your staff, whenever you need them.

So much is in the balance Balanced Load

B
One of many important topics you can read Top View of
Partially-Filled Rotor Even if all tubes are
about focuses on properly balancing the filled equally, the rotor
rotor. In order for a rotor to run smoothly and on the left is improperly
safely at its operating speed, the load it car- loaded because none
Center of rotation
ries must be balanced. (Examples of correct of the bucket loads are
and incorrect loading are shown below.) A C
balanced with respect
A rotor can be properly balanced by to their pivotal axes.
following some simple rules: The rotor load on
the right, however, is
1. A rotor must never be run with buckets Pivotal axis
of bucket C properly balanced. All
missing, though opposing buckets may
D buckets are balanced
be left empty.
across the center of
2. All opposing loads must balance within Unbalanced Load rotation and each
B
a certain weight as specified by the centrifuge Top View of
bucket is balanced
Partially-Filled Rotor
manufacturers instruction manual. with respect to its
3. If opposing buckets are run with a partial pivotal axis.
load of tubes, they must be arranged sym- Center of rotation
metrically, both with respect to the pivotal
A C
axis of each bucket and across the center
of rotation (see below).

Pivotal axis
of bucket C
D

In addition to guidance on balancing the rotor, Centrifuge 101 topics include:

The centrifuge Density separations

Centrifugal force Replicating published protocols

Relative centrifugal field Rotor types

Particle separation Centrifuge maintenance and care

Whether youre a new centrifuge user or just need a refresher course,

www.beckman.com/centrifugation/principles can, on balance, be one of your best resources.

Centrifuge 101 Resources are not intended to replace the User Manual for a Beckman Coulter centrifuge. Always consult the
User Manual for additional safety information, complete instructions for use, and directions for routine care and maintenance.

2016 Beckman Coulter, Inc. All rights reserved. Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo, and the Beckman Coulter product and
service marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

CENT-1811ADV06.16 800.742.2345
www.beckman.com
 product focus | centrifuges

FROM ROTOR SENSING TO VIBRATION

CENTRIFUGES
REDUCTION, NEW PLATFORMS PROTECT YOU

by Mike May, PhD Beckman Coulter developed Aerosolve canisters.

A
n online search for centrifuge accidents
turns up some images that look like war
scenes. In large part, centrifuge problems
arise from user error rather than from instrument
failure. Typically, rotor incidents involve errors in
connecting and tightening down the centrifuge rotors
on the drive shafts, or creating an imbalance condition
by improperly balancing rotors, or allowing old and
corroded rotors to be used beyond their lifetimes,
says Hugh Tansey, global product director, centrifuges,
at Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham, MA). Users
can also experience tube failure due to over-speed or
overuse. Many of todays devices help users avoid
these problems.
To be safe, says Anthony Locatelli, product manager at
NuAire (Plymouth, MN), todays centrifuges provide
several features, such as rotor recognition. With this
safety feature, the centrifuge knows which rotor is
installed, and it will check that the rotors maximum
speed is not exceeded by the program, he explains.
The centrifuge can also monitor other aspects of the
rotor during operation. For example, explains Tansey,
Integrated rotor imbalance sensors and system-
shutdown software are modern means to quickly detect
and reduce the problems of improper rotor balancing
by shutting the system down before it reaches a critical
imbalance condition.
Theyre clear from top to bottom so you can see through
them, Lockner explains. When you take it out of the
centrifuge bucket and carry it to the hood, you can see if
there was a leak or if a tube broke. And you can see this
before opening it. Similarly, Thermo Fisher Scientific
developed its ClickSeal biocontainment lids. These
offer one-handed sample protection, Tansey says.
They offer simple operation for all laboratory users,
eliminating multi-turn screw caps and complicated high-
pressure clips.
Shopping for safety
If a quarter-century-old centrifuge in your lab
needs replacing, a couple of tips might simplify your
shopping list. For one thing, make sure to buy one
with the appropriate safety certifications, like UL/
CSA. These indicate the centrifuge has been designed,
tested, and manufactured to rigorous technical and
safety standards, Tansey explains. Additionally,
biocontainment lids should be certified by an
independent body, such as Public Health England in
Porton Down, UK.
So when you go centrifuge shopping, make sure that the
vendor can prove that the safety features do the job.
Mike May is a freelance writer and editor living in Ohio. You
may reach him at mikemay1959@gmail.com.

Key constraints
When spinning something at high speeds, vibrations KEY FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN
become the enemy. We walk into labs where people are
still using centrifuges that are 20 or 25 years old, and they
CHOOSING A CENTRIFUGE
are loud and vibrate when they start, Locatelli says. They
shake the entire bench, and that could certainly cause
safety issues.
New centrifuges fix that problem. NuAire, for example,
adds shock-absorbing features. There is very little or
no vibration, Locatelli says.
Other important safety features can depend on the
intended use. In some instances, for example, the
samples being centrifuged really need to be kept away
from the scientists. This arises in work like vaccine
development, where dangerous organisms or components
are used. Safety is not just about the centrifuge, says
LabManager.com/centrifuge-video
Randall Lockner, global strategic marketing manager
for centrifugation at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences For additional resources on centrifuges, including useful articles
(Indianapolis, IN), but also about the labware. So and a list of manufacturers, visit LabManager.com/centrifuges

60 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com


GREATER FLEXIBILITY INCREASES EXPERIMENTAL
SCOPE AND CAPABILITIES
by Ryan Ackerman
H
istorically, when designing
a laboratory the process was
driven by the end research
goal. Identifying the needs of the lab
whether it be biological, chemical, or
any other typewas the first step. From
this idea, a specialized facility focusing
on a linear method to achieve success,
typically in a single area of research,
would be born. Wet laboratories are an
WHAT example of this: centralized, repetitive
ABOUT LAB wet benches with a perimeter of fume
hoods firmly bolted to the floor, allowing
SEATING AND the space to be used for performing
standard procedures.
FLOORING? Presently, innovations across scientific
disciplines have sparked inquiry into
whether this laboratory design remains
effective. Every day the lines separating
LabManager.com/ scientific disciplines continually blur as
lab-furnishing-tips researchers collaborate with one another
to complete research projects. Further,
to keep up with growing competition in
their markets, laboratories are constantly
increasing their scope and experimental
capabilities. To accommodate these
needs, many laboratories have begun to
adopt flexible designs.
While the initial setup is expensive, a
flexible lab allows areas of the facility
Here are some
to be customized to suit any need.
buying tips for Designing a flexible space can be more
those other key costly up front, but the downstream costs
of having to reconfigure are much, much
lab furnishings. lower, explains Dr. Richard Bozzato,
senior advisor for health sciences at MaRS
Discovery District (Toronto, ON). The
versatility of being able to move objects
For additional such as benches, fume hoods, or even the
walls themselves can allow researchers to
resources on quickly adapt to any change in process,
laboratory casework, while avoiding the costly downtime
including useful associated with renovations. Specialty
laboratory furniture manufacturers, such
articles, visit as Mott Manufacturing (Brantford, ON)
and PSA Laboratory Furniture LLC
LabManager.com/ (New Berlin, WI), specialize in creating
casework flexible systems for any laboratory.
product focus | laboratory casework
LABORATORY CASEWORK
For those who desire flexibility and the
ability to collaborate with other researchers,
there exists the incubator-style laboratory.
Innovation hubssuch as the MaRS
Discovery Districthave paved the way
for such facilities. Incubators can house
multiple research teams across different
disciplines in modular spaces, fostering a
collaborative culture. For example, one
company may be developing a bioprocess
to produce ethanol or another renewable,
and it could be next door to a company
that is creating an expression system for
therapeutic proteins. While different, they
are similar in the sense that they have
similar scientific needs and requirements,
says Bozzato. Being immersed in a
collaborative setting goes a long way toward
helping individual companies prosper.
Beyond the ability to quickly update
procedures and collaborate with others,
incubator-style laboratories also provide
access to a wide range of laboratory
equipmentor help acquire unique
instruments. For those that require
nonroutine instrumentation, we assess
equipment needs on an individual basis
and work with them to either source the
necessary equipment or help introduce
them to the appropriate vendors,
explains Melinda Richter, head of
Johnson & Johnson InnovationJLABS
(San Francisco, CA). We continually
assess our resident companies equipment
and instrumentation needs.
With a rapidly changing landscape of
scientific research, laboratories and
researchers will need to adapt or die in
order to maintain their place. By using
a flexible lab designand collaborating
with other researchersthey are assured
of being able to quickly tackle any
challenge and keep up with the evolving
culture of innovation.
Ryan Ackerman, assistant technology
editor for Lab Manager, can be reached at
rackerman@labmanager.com or by phone at
888-781-0328 x297.
July 2016 Lab Manager 61
 survey says

ARE YOU IN THE MARKET FOR A...

LABORATORY BALANCE?
Types of laboratory balance used by survey respondents: Choosing the correct balance for your application, or a series of balances that suit all of your
application needs, is the first step in good lab weighing practices. If you choose the correct
Analytical balance 89%
balance, calibrate it regularlyincluding any time the balance is moved to a new location
Precision balance 70%
and keep it clean, your balance will reward you with many years of accurate operation.
Micro balance 23%
Ultra-microbalance 3%
Other 5% TOP 6 QUESTIONS
You Should Ask When Buying a Laboratory Balance
Other laboratory balance-related components used by survey
1. What are the heaviest and lightest samples you will weigh (including container weight)?
respondents:
Balance enclosure 41% 2. What is the required +/- tolerance of your lightest sample?
Routine test weights 23%
3. How many decimal places in grams do you require for the displayed weight?
Weighting table 12%
Vibration isolation table 8% 4. What type of samples will you be weighing and do you need to take into consideration the size of the weighing
surface or the securing of a tare container?
Moisture analyzer 5%
Software 3% 5. Is on-site service available from a factory-trained service technician?

Balance printer 2% 6. Do you need to interface the balance to another device such as a computer, printer, bar code reader, etc.?
Barcode scanner 1%
Keyboard 1%
Other 5%
TOP 10 FEATURES/FACTORS
Respondents Look for When Purchasing a Laboratory Balance
Over 60% of respondents are engaged in purchasing
a new laboratory balance. The reasons for these RELIABILITY 90%
purchases are as follows:
Replacement of aging system 66%
900=
DURABILITY 75%
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity 24% 750=
Setting up a new lab 2% HIGH PRECISION 70%
First time purchase 1% 700=
Other 7% EASY CLEANING 58%
580=
LOW MAINTENANCE 56%
560=
PRICE 52%
520=
PAST EXPERIENCE 52%
520=
MANUFACTURERS REPUTATION 49%
490=
AUTO CALIBRATION 43%
430=
WARRANTY 35%
350=

HOW DOES READABILITY INFLUENCE WHICH BALANCE IS IDEAL? For more information on laboratory balances,
Use the Lab Manager Product Finder to find the perfect balance for your needs. including useful articles and a list of manufacturers,
LabManager.com/ProductFinder/Balances visit www.labmanager.com/balances

62 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com

 survey says

ARE YOU IN THE MARKET FOR A...

MICROWAVE DIGESTER?
Microwave-acid digestion is a common sample preparation step for atomic absorption, atomic
Acid types used by survey respondents for microwave
emission, or inductively coupled plasma analysis of metals. Microwave digestion takes minutes,
digestion:
compared with hours for conventional hot plate digestion.
Nitric acid 87%
Hydrochloric acid 75%
TOP 5 QUESTIONS Sulfuric acid 40%
You Should Ask When Buying a Microwave Digester Hydrofluoric acid 37%
Perchloric acid 15%
1. What is the systems maximum microwave power output? Microwave energy heats substances quickly to high
temperatures. The higher the temperature, the faster and more completely substances are digested. Extractions also Phosphoric acid 12%
need sufficient power, as some solvents can act as a heat sink and are difficult to heat. Borofluoric acid 5%
Other 5%
2. Can the system monitor and control every vessel? Temperature and pressure monitoring and control are extremely
important. Inadequate safeguards can result in damaged vessels and equipment, and a lack of temperature and
Microwave digestion applications as reported by survey
pressure control can pose a safety hazard to lab personnel.
respondents:
3. How many samples can be processed per run? Though the number of samples processed is dependent upon your Trace metal analysis 38%
laboratorys needs, planning for growth is always a good idea. Analyzing metals 26%
4. Does the company offer free applications support? Do they offer dedicated, direct service support and local factory- trained field Material analysis 13%
service technicians? Dependable applications and service support are essential since you never know what may go wrong. Biological sample analysis 10%
Soil analysis 3%
5. How user-friendly is the system? As with many instruments, if a system is very complicated to operate, it generally
becomes either a glorified shelf to store things on or a headache to those having to operate it. The easier a microwave Agri-waste analysis 3%
system is to use, the better off you will be. Also make sure the vessels are easy to handle and set up. Oil and lubricant analysis 3%
Other 5%

TOP 10 FEATURES/FACTORS Over 30% of respondents are engaged in purchasing

a new microwave digester. The reasons for these
Respondents Look for When Purchasing a Microwave Digester purchases are as follows:
HIGH DURABILITY 78% First time purchase 32%
780= Replacement of aging system 31%
SERVICE AND SUPPORT 63% Addition to existing systems, increase capacity 22%
630= Setting up a new lab 9%
LOW MAINTENANCE 61% Replacement of a damaged system 3%
610= Other 3%
INTUITIVE CONTROLS AND SOFTWARE 54%
540=
VENDOR REPUTATION 47%
470=
PRICE 46%
460=
SPEED OF HEATING 42%
420=
LARGE CAPACITY 34%
340=
HIGH SAMPLE WEIGHT CAPACITY 32%
320=
SHORT COOL DOWN TIME 30%
300=
NEED TO CHANGE YOUR DIGESTION PARAMETERS ON THE FLY? For more information on microwave digesters,
Here are some examples of important upgrades in microwave digestion technology. including useful articles and a list of manufacturers,
LabManager.com/microwave-upgrade visit www.labmanager.com/microwave-digesters

July 2016 Lab Manager 63

 TECHNOLOGYNEWS
This month we highlight companies that will be exhibiting at the American Association for Clinical Chemistrys (AACC) 68th Scientific
Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo as well as the 252nd American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting & Exposition. AACC 2016,
which takes place July 31-August 4 in Philadelphia, PA, showcases the cutting edge science and technology shaping the future of clinical testing and patient
care. The theme of ACS 252nd meeting is Chemistry of the People by the People, for the People. Also taking place in Philadelphia, it runs August 21-25.

XRF Analyzers
ANALYTICAL X-MET8000
Booth 1217
ICP-OES Can be used for the rapid testing
of metal plumbing components in
5110 existing and new water installations
Booth 1613 (AACC 2016) Analyzer can also be used for
Booth 311 (ACS 2016) materials incoming inspection,
Includes a fully integrated advanced valve system with unique manufacturing quality control, and
hardware and software technologies that enable ultra-high to ensure the correct
throughput with excellent precision and ease of use components are being selected in the warehouse prior to an installation or repair
Features IntelliQuant measurement for rapid sample screening and simple method development Deliver the high speed and superior performance needed for the measurement of trace
New diagnostic capabilities maximize instrument uptime and simplify troubleshooting alloying elements
Agilent www.agilent.com
Oxford Instruments www.oxford-instruments.com

AA Spectrometer
contra 800 Liquid Chromatography Columns
This high-resolution continuum source AA Universal
spectrometer features a space-saving design Booth 1020 (PerkinElmer Informatics)
Redesigned high-performance optical system Easily fit to most HPLC or UHPLC systems across a wide range of manufacturers
provides improved stability and lowest noise, Allow labs to standardize through one supplier for all of their LC instruments
resulting in excellent detection limits and accuracy Help address the current situation many labs face in having a broad range of column types
New lamp design further reduces consumables costs on hand from several different manufacturers
Sample preparation and dilutions are reduced to a minimum because the system is able and suppliers, often at varying price points
to adapt itself to any analyte concentration present in the samples
PerkinElmer www.perkinelmer.com
Analytik Jena www.analytik-jena.com

Raman Imaging Microscope LC Column Protection System

SENTERRA II
Booth 1313
Features various acquisition modes to optimize speed or spatial resolution
Provides Raman imaging and wavelength calibration
with SURE_CAL technology
Components like motorized lasers, gratings, filters,
and apertures allow fully automated parameter setting
Automated test routines for operational and performance
qualification (OQ/PQ) are standard
Fully compliant with GLP, GMP, and 21CFRp11 regulations
Trident
Gives users the power to select the right level of protection
for their analyses (filter only, guard cartridge only, or filter
and guard cartridge)
This newly redesigned protection system features an improved,
reusable direct connect holder, which is machined from specialized
materials that create a seal that will withstand rigorous repeat use
Features an economical, leak-free design
Restek www.restek.com/trident

Bruker www.bruker.com
ICP-MS Spectrometer
Thermal Desorption Instruments iCAP RQ
xr Series Booth 2334 (AACC 2016)
Pre-concentrate organic vapors sampled using sorbent Booth 1326 & 1327 (ACS 2016)
tubes, canisters, and on-line air streams Designed for maximum uptime and ease of use
Incorporate powerful new advances that extend the Features intelligent workflows, universal interference
capabilities of analytical laboratories analyzing volatile removal, and automated sample handling accessories,
and semi-volatile organic compounds in air and materials all within a small footprint
Options for automation available Instrument can perform 24/7 unattended sample analysis
Includes a new water-management module for on-line to maximize sample throughput and overall productivity
monitoring of humid air streams, and redesigned instrument control software in the laboratory
Markes International www.markes.com Thermo Fisher Scientific www.thermofisher.com

64 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com


YOUR THUMBS RECOMMEND AUTOMATED GENOMICS SAMPLE PREP
Regardless of lab size, automation can be a better choice
High variability and the potential for a host of
errors (e.g., sample transfer mix-ups, sample
normalization errors and incorrect pipette vol-
ume settings) are just some of the drawbacks
of manual genomics sample prep. Not to
mention the time it requires, and the ongoing
wear-and-tear on your thumbs.
Ask a dozen directors of small- or medium-size
genomics labs why automating sample prepa-
ration is not an option for them and youll likely
hear variations of the same three reasons:
Our lab is too small and our
throughput is too low.
If your lab is small, it likely follows that your
resources are, too. Automating sample
prep workflows can help your lab increase
productivity and reach its fullest potential by
freeing staff from routine processes such as
pipetting samples maximizing the value of
limited personnel. Whats more, it can provide
more accurate and reproducible sample data
regardless of the number of samples you run,
and it can be scalable to match your labs
evolving throughput needs.
Our budgets are limited.
Whose budgets arent? This is where auto-
mation truly shines. It has the ability reduce to
labor costs, eliminate costly re-work caused
by human errors, and decrease consumable
usage by enabling more efficient handling of
labware and pipette tips. Add all these up
and factor in potential growth in demand from
your lab in the coming yearsand a strong
business case for automating NGS sample
prep will likely appear.
products in action
We dont have the expertise to help you create your own customized methods.
operate and maintain laboratory
Biomek systems are open, so they can easily
automation.
be integrated with additional components,
Heres another area in which automation such as orbital shakers and temperature con-
excels. Not only does the robotic hardware trol units including an on-deck thermocycler,
replace repetitive manual steps, software
packages can reduce a lot of thinking that
has to be done. In addition, the availability of
ready-to-run methods with straight-forward user
interfaces can altogether eliminate the need
for programming.
For example, you dont need to be a pro-
grammer or an engineer to use Biomek Auto-
mated Workstations. They feature intuitive,
drag-and-drop functions that make it easy
to set up and operatefor experienced and
novice users alike. The systems can be sup-
plied with a menu of ready-to-run methods for
genomic sample prep applications, such as
nucleic acid extraction and purification, NGS
library construction, PCR and qPCR. They
even feature a training mode that walks new
Open Biomek platforms allow for on-deck inte-
users, step-by-step, through a model workflow.
gration of orbital shakers (pictured) and various
As often as necessary.
other devices to help increase walk-away time.
Finally, certified technical support special-
ists can help you maintain your automated for true walk-away efficiency.
workstationideally to prevent rather than
These are a few of the many reasons why
fix problemsso you can count on maximum
automating genomics sample prep can make
uptime.
sense for labs of any size.
Thumbs up for the Biomek 4000
Achieving higher efficiency at lower costs is
Automated Workstation
within your reach. Its no longer an advantage
Another good reason to consider automating available to only high-throughput labs.
your lower-throughput genomics sample prep
is the Biomek 4000 Automated Workstation.
2016 Beckman Coulter, Inc. All rights reserved. Beckman
Its sized just right for smaller labs. The system
Coulter, the stylized logo, and the Beckman Coulter product
includes a menu of ready-to-run methods for and service marks used herein are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. in the United States and
common reagent kits, including our own SPRI-
other countries.
based reagent kits. A knowledgeable support
team from Beckman Coulter Life Sciences can
tailor these methods based on your needs, or
The Biomek 4000 Automated Workstation
can help low- to medium-throughput labs ac-
celerate their workflows while reducing costs. 800.742.2345
http://info.beckmancoulter.com/Biomeks4SmallLabs
July 2016 Lab Manager 65
 technology news
Micro-Raman System
alpha300 access
This microscope is an entry-level system for micro-Raman
single-spot analysis and Raman mapping
Specifically engineered for budget-conscious customers
with high demands on instrument performance
Features excellent spectral quality, optical throughput,
and signal sensitivity
Fully upgradable and expandable with additional functions
WITec
BASIC LAB
Compact Balances
EK-EP Series
Includes three models with capacities of
300 g, 3000 g, and 12 kg
Factory Mutual (FM) approved for both
US and Canada for Zone 0 or Division 1
atmospheres where vapors are constantly
present and could be accidently ignited
Powered by four AA batteries, rather than
AC electrical mains, so they do not require
installation by a qualified electrician
A & D Weighing www.andweighing.com/ek-ep
Vertical Laminar Flow Cabinets
Purair
Include three models, all providing a nominal filter
face velocity of 0-45 m/s (90 fpm)
Manufactured with rear wall perforations which
remove a small amount of air at the rear of the
cabinet to minimize any turbulence
ULPA filter is mounted above the work surface,
providing a larger work space, both taller and deeper
Available in 36", 48," and 72" widths
Air Science
Continuous Flow Analyzer
Futura 3
Can simultaneously run multiple
parameters with up to 16 consoles
in parallel (up to 16 parameters)
Allows users to fully automate the most
complex chemistries : dialysis, distillation,
UV digestion, injection, dilution, mixing,
incubation, and liquid/liquid extraction
Includes a new three-speed high precision
peristaltic pump and independent electronic and detector modules
AMS Alliance
66 Lab Manager July 2016
Multi-Vial Decontamination/
Conditioning Device
ETC (EasyTraceCleaner)
Fully automatic device fulfills the
need in labs of getting very low and
reproducible blanks
Suitable for multi-vials, vessels,
tubes, microwave liners, pipettes,
and tips of different materials
www.witec.de Rinses and dries vials without an operator through the entire cycle
Features multi-program options to easily set to users needs
Available in three versions
Analab www.analab.fr
Elemental Analyzers
ELEMENTRAC
Offers optimized functionalities and a fresh new design
Include models for ONH-p, CS-i, and CS-d
ONH-p analyzer features high precision and improved
reproducibility of measurement results as well as a
considerable lower consumption of carrier gas
The CS-i is equipped with an induction furnace and
highly sensitive IR detectors
The CS-d includes two furnaces for analysis of organic
as well as inorganic sample materials
Eltra www.eltra.com
Scanning Electron Microscope
Apreo
Offers high performance, broad versatility, and easy
operation over a wide range of applications
Capable of resolution down to 1.0 nm at 1 kV without
the need for beam deceleration
Provides backscatter detection at the lowest beam
currents, at any tilt angle, on sensitive samples and at
TV-rate imaging, so materials contrast is strong
FEI www.fei.com/apreo
www.airscience.com
Fume Hoods
LE AireStream
U.L. 1805 classified hoods are available in
3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 widths
Incorporates a unitized superstructure, with
non-metallic dual wall construction for total
chemical resistance, strength, and durability
VaraFlow baffle system with vector airflow
slots directs the air through the fume chamber
and through the exhaust outlet with minimum
turbulence and maximum airflow efficiency
www.amsalliance.com HEMCO www.hemcocorp.com/lefh.html
LabManager.com
 technology news

Portable pH Meters Premium Mechanical Pipettes

550 and 570 Tacta
Can be used in the field to perform accurate Booth 1861
measurements, removing the need to take Easy, safe, and comfortable to use
samples back to the laboratory Available in a range of volumes from
Designed to withstand a diverse range of 0.1 to 10,000 l in single channel models,
environments, whilst accurately and reliably and from 0.5 to 300 l in multichannel models
measuring pH levels for a variety of sample types Ergonomic design enables extremely low
Model 550 is a general-purpose portable pH pipetting and tip ejection forces that reduce
meter that displays both the temperature-compensated pH readings and temperature the risk of Work Related Upper Limb Disorder
Model 570 is a general-purpose handheld pH, mV, and temperature meter Deliver consistent and accurate results time after time
Jenway www.jenway.com Sartorius www.sartorius.com

Modular Titration Platform Laboratory Blender

OMNIS
Booth 1218
Designed for wet analysis
Can be expanded from a stand-alone titrator to
a powerful system that includes automation
Capable of performing 4 fully automated analyses
simultaneously and can process up to 175 samples
completely unattended
Patented Liquid Adapter makes reagent exchange
contact-free and safer
Intuitive to use as the entire hardware is graphically represented in the user interface
Metrohm
Post-Analytical Capping Solution
Novitain
Provides secure sealing of sample collection
tubes after analytical tests have been conducted
Includes the Capcluster-50, 50-well format
storage rack, and manual capper CV750
Novitain TPE push caps offer an ideal solution
for the secure short-term sealing of 13mm
diameter sample collection tubes stored in a
50-well format
Micronic
Stomacher 400 EVO
Engineered and designed to make it even easier to use
Almost silent in operation, with rugged and dependable
day-to-day performance
Laboratories can also save up to 25% on consumables
by using the Seward Stomacher 400 EVO with the new
Stomacher ECO bags, which use significantly less plastic
Features a unique, one-touch bag loading system
Seward www.seward.co.uk
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
www.metrohm.com
COOL, COMPACT, AND HIGH-CAPACITY
NEW CENTRIFUGE INCLUDES HIGH TECH
FEATURES IN A SMALL PACKAGE
Booth 3636
If you need a high capacity centrifuge but
have limited lab space, Eppendorf may have
the solution for you with the release of its new
refrigerated centrifuge, the Centrifuge 5920 R.
The centrifuge can accommodate up to four
standard 1 Liter Nalgene bottles, as well as up
to 108 x 15mL conical tubes, and 52 x 50mL
conical tubes, enabling researchers to spin large
volumes simultaneously, in applications such
www.micronic.com as bioprocessing or cell culture. The new units universal rotor bucket design also
enables researchers to spin both plates and tubes in the same bucket without needing
to purchase separate plate buckets.

Centrifugal Field Flow And the refrigeration system is also impressive, featuring advanced temperature
management that allows users to ensure their temperature-sensitive samples are safe.
Fractionation System In addition, dynamic compressor control technology and a FastTemp pro function allow
precise and automated pre-cooling based on a pre-programmable time and date.
CF2000
The 5920 is easy to use and features a multi-lingual menu with backlit display and
Booth 1610 five program keys enabling rapid access to routine programs. The units adjustable
Employs a centrifugal field as the driving force ECO shut-off function also allows users to save energy and increase compressor life.
for separations; particles affected by this field With laboratories under increasing pressure to increase efficiencies and throughput,
are separated by dynamic diffusion on the basis of both particle size and density we understand the challenges that researchers face in their work, said Peter
Allows the separation of different particulate materials having the same particle size Schreiner, global product manager of centrifugation at Eppendorf. The very large
Especially suited for the separation of complex particulate samples in areas including capacity and precise temperature management offered by the Centrifuge 5920 R
means researchers can be assured that not only are their samples safe, but that they
agriculture, cosmetics, the environment, food, and nanomaterials are saving time, money, and energy with this system.
Postnova Analytics www.postnova.com For more information, visit www.eppendorf.com/centrifugation

July 2016 Lab Manager 67

 technology news
CELL CULTURE
iPSC-Derived Astrocyte Kits
New options include the iPSC-Derived Astrocyte
Progenitor Kit and iPSC-Derived Mature Astrocyte Kit
Include cryopreserved cells, optimized media,
and supplements
Offer researchers a complete culture system that is
easy to use and promotes long-term cell viability for
use in disease modeling and drug discovery applications
Axol Bioscience
Bioanalyte Analyzer
Vi-CELL MetaFLEX
Booth 2600
Designed for micro to large-scale cell culture applications
Delivers fast, accurate bioanalytical analysis
(measuring pH, pO2, pCO2, glucose, lactate,
electrolytes, and more parameters)
Designed to be operational more than 22 hours a day,
with a turnaround time of less than 60 seconds
Able to store up to 2,000 results on-board
Beckman Coulter
INFORMATICS
5D Hyperspectral Mapping Capabilities Software
SCIEX OS
Platform
5DM
Now available for CRAIC UV-visible-NIR and Raman microspectrometers
Gives users the ability to map the spectral responses
across the surfaces of their samples by point scanning
With microscopic spatial resolution between
each point, high resolution maps may be created
representing all three dimensions, the two axes of
the spectra, and of time
CRAIC www.microspectra.com
Web-Based Scientic Teamboard
Application
Spaces
Enhances communication within scientific research teams
often located in multiple locations and/or companies
Provides unique ways of looking at research data compared
to the traditional table or form-based views
Allows scientists to collaborate together on existing project
data and on the design and prioritization of new or proposed molecules, or biologics as
a project progresses
Dotmatics
68 Lab Manager July 2016
Thermal Imaging Software
ResearchIR 4.2
Provides an excellent tool for viewing, acquiring,
analyzing, and sharing thermal data
Offers a comprehensive set of acquisition, diagnostic,
and data sharing tools as well as customizable, savable
workspaces that allow users to arrange how images,
data, charts, and plots are displayed
Tutorial videos may be viewed at www.flir.eu/science/
display/?id=55874
FLIR Systems www.FLIR.com
www.axolbio.com
Materials Analyzer Software
SmartLink
Booth 1217
Available on previous and select current generations
of Oxford Instruments microspot analyzers
Optimized for the MAXXI 6 to meet the demands of
incoming inspection, production control, and quality
control personnel
With a user interface designed to simplify routine
analysis, minimally trained operators are ensured the
beckman.com same result as expert technical staff using point-and-shoot operation
Oxford Instruments www.oxford-instruments.com
Booth 2917
Completely redesigned for the SCIEX X-series QTOF systems
Contains instrument control, data acquisition, data processing,
and reporting functionality all in one software package
The new simplified user interface is easy to learn and
master, with quantitation and screening workflows designed
based on routine food and beverage testing labs user input
SCIEX sciex.com
Sample Management Software Update
Mosaic
Mosaic sample management software
has now been linked with HighRes Cellario
automation system control software
Offers users seamless and more efficient workflows
New Cellario Fulfillment Module (CFM) interfaces with HighRes Cellario Order Broker
(COB) to simplify the entire process of sample preparation, including labware placement,
consumables loading, and liquid handling
www.dotmatics.com Titian Software www.titian.co.uk
LabManager.com
 technology news

LIFE SCIENCE Cell Imaging System

Invitrogen Evos FL Auto 2
Booth 2334 (AACC 2016)
Booth 1326 & 1327 (ACS 2016)
System for DNA Damage Measurement Includes upgraded software that provides more
CometChip options to enable users to rapidly capture and
This high-throughput platform is developed to analyze higher-quality images and scan up to four
simultaneously treat and measure DNA damage fluorescence colors and transmitted light
induced by different treatments, or among different New design features a 23-inch LCD monitor
cell types on a single slide using the Comet assay User interface has been revised with an emphasis on
Extends the productivity of the 96-well format workflow, which can be tailored to the sample and
Comet Assay even further data required for experiments
A single 96-well CometChip can produce 20,000 data
points per chip, based on an average of 208 cells imaged per well Thermo Fisher Scientific www.thermofisher.com/evosauto2

AMSBIO www.amsbio.com/comet-chip.aspx

Ultrasensitive Assays
SUPPLIES & CONSUMABLES
Ciraplex ULTRA
Include multiplexing capabilities and are intuitive and easy to use
Provide femtogram/ml (fg/ml) levels of
96-Well DNA Purication Plate
Uses proprietary filtration media that allow
detection, addressing multiple biomarkers
much higher loadings of active material than
in a wide range of therapeutic areas
has been previously possible
Offer enhanced sensitivity and an extended dynamic
Typical assay times using the plate are less than 5 minutes
range providing quantification below standard
The Chromatrap DNA purification kit is designed for
Cira software streamlines the data management
the purification and concentration of samples from PCR
process, providing exceptional data control
mixtures, ChIP, and restriction enzyme digestions
Aushon BioSystems www.aushon.com Chromatrap www.chromatrap.com

1p36/1q25 & 19q13/19p13 1.40ml Sample Storage Tube

Deletion Probe Kit
Cytocell Aquarius
This cost-effective fluorescence in situ hybridization
(FISH) kit is for the reliable investigation of glial tumors
CE-IVD labeled kit consistently delivers bright, specific
signals with minimal background
By enabling clear and accurate scoring, the need for repeat
testing is minimized, saving both time and resources
The convenience of ready-to-use pre-mixed probes saves
aliquoting time, while also minimizing potential errors
Oxford Gene Technology
FISH System
MicroFISH
Clinically validated method combines microvolume, multiwell slides
with SciGene slide processing instruments to economically perform
routine cellular FISH in cytogenetic laboratories
Uses 1 l probe for each 1 l sample on specially coated
8-well MicroFISH slides
Lower volume conserves precious samples while reducing probe cost by 75%
SciGene
The first in a range of new designs featuring
an external thread
Eliminates the possibility of the sample coming
into contact with the screw thread, which greatly
reduces the chance of cross-contamination
Externally threaded tubes also allow for a higher
volume of material to be stored inside, which
means that sample tubes can hold more while
occupying the same amount of storage space
Micronic www.micronic.com
www.cytocell.com
Pump Tubing
Especially suited for the Spetec peristaltic
pump product line and can also be used
with continuous flow devices
Available in PVC, fluoro rubber compa-
rable with Viton, Santoprene, solvent
flex, PU longlife, and silicon
Includes over 450 individual items, with
tubes featuring inner diameters from
0.12 to 3.2 mm
www.scigene.com Spetec www.spetec.de

July 2016 Lab Manager 69

 how it works

QUICKLY CLEAN UP UNIDENTIFIED SPILLS

Problem: Hazardous chemicals present physical and health threats to laboratory workers if they are not
managed properly. Lab safety procedures and material safety data sheets provide instructions for the
management of chemicals used in a lab. However, if an unidentified substance is spilled, these resources
become clumsy and cumbersome in a time when reacting quickly and safely is of utmost importance.

Solution: The following is the chemical structure of this particular

common process a lab worker would neutralizer allows it to neutralize caustic
need to follow for unidentified spills: chemicals, volatile organic compounds,
Donning all available personal and dangerous inorganic chemicals
protective equipment without damaging the environment.

Containing the spill with an A group very familiar with neutralizing

absorbent barrier
Testing it with pH paper to confirm
the chemical is an acid or a base
Identifying proper spill response
techniques
Neutralizing the spill
Testing again with pH paper
to determine the spill has been
neutralized Amphomag is one way
to better manage hazardous
Taking appropriate measures to lab spills.
dispose of the chemical
Instead, lab workers could simply
set up an absorbent barrier around the spill, pour
Amphomaga universal neutralizerslowly and
directly over the spill to contain and neutralize it, then
use a broom and plastic dustpan to sweep up and dispose
of the material as non-hazardous waste.
This quick and safe technique is possible, first and foremost,
because Amphomag is amphoteric, so it can treat both
acids and bases. Other neutralizer manufacturers have
three or more different products depending on the material
released. Amphomag also has a built-in multi-range pH
indicator that turns red when applied to acids and blue
when applied to bases. As it neutralizes the spill, the color
gradually changes to yellow or green.
The spill is neutralized in minutes, with no chance of
misapplication and no need for formal training or special
safety equipment. In fact, the natural magnesium-based
unidentified hazardous chemicals are
the special police task forces charged
with investigating methamphetamine
labs. Jake Kelton, the founder of MERIT
Training Programs, uses Amphomag
when he trains police officers to dismantle
clandestine labs. Without this product, first
responders would need to wait for a third-
party hazardous waste cleanup crew to
arrive at the scene, increasing the risk of
exposure or chemical combustion.
With proper training, Kelton believes
law enforcement agencies can safely
deactivate and dispose of 90 percent or
more of all gas generators, cooking flasks, and any mixed
solvents found in meth labs. This reduces remediation
time, liability, and potentially saves tens of thousands of
dollars annually.
In any spill situation, it is critical to react quickly so that
spilled material does not come into contact with people or
enter the environment. Whether the chemical is identified
or not, Amphomag can provide the rapid response
lab workers need to safely control a situation and keep
everyone out of harms way.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.amphomag.com/lab-manager

70 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com

 how it works

NEW GENERATION ROTARY EVAPORATORS

Problem: Rotary evaporators (rotavaps) have for decades been staples in labs and industries
performing chemistry, including labs in the chemical, environmental, materials, life science, and forensics
industries. Key applications include sample concentration, solvent recycling, extractions, and separation
of solvent mixtures. Rotavaps consist of a heating fluid bath, rotating motor, evaporating flask,
condenser, collection flask, and vacuum source. Solvent distills from the sample under the combined
effects of heat and vacuum, and collects in the collection flask after condensation by the condenser.1
The condenser is either equipped with a coil through which coolant (water) passes, or a "cold finger"
charged with dry ice or liquid nitrogen. In the past decade recirculating chillers have emerged as an
alternative to tap water due to customers desire to conserve water and save on water bills. However,
traditional recirculating chillers can be bulky (big footprint), heavy, complex, and inefficient, which limit
their widespread use. High-efficiency condensing of low-boiling solvents is still achieved with dry ice.
The limitations of recirculating chillers have created four traditional methods of cooling condensers in
use today. Namely: tap water, recirculating chiller (water and/or anti-freeze), and dry ice. Using dry
ice requires researchers to continually fetch and fill the condenser with dry ice and constantly monitor
dry ice levels. Anytime dry ice is not available, productivity is negatively impacted and routine
exposure to dry ice also presents health concerns such as frostbite and exposure to carbon dioxide. It
is not convenient to use dry ice on a daily basis. Furthermore, in many laboratories, the evaporation
of solvents takes up a lot of time that scientists would prefer to spend on more complex tasks.2
Solution: What is needed is an efficient condenser A system such as this rapidly condenses vapors from samples
cooling system that addresses the problems associated with or solvents and thereby reduces evaporation time and
traditional methods of cooling condensers. A desirable increases productivity. EcoChyll provides desired cooling,
high-efficiency condenser cooling system is much needed faster evaporation, environmentally friendly operation, a
in the industry. It would be advantageous to reduce size, reduced footprint, and a wide range of cooling temperatures.
weight, complexity, and improve cooling temperature and High-efficiency trapping of low-boiling solvents is easily
functions of the condenser cooling system. Researchers achieved. Upgrading any rotary evaporator with a system like
have been waiting for a condenser that is always available this can save money and time, increasing productivity.
and has a wide range of cooling temperatures. Additionally,
any technology that will relieve rotavap users of the For more information, contact George Adjabeng, Ecodyst Inc. at 919-
routine condenser cooling challenges will free them to 599-4963, info@ecodyst.com, or visit www.ecodyst.com
focus on more complex tasks. Rotavap users should not be
burdened with condenser cooling issues.
References:
Ecodyst has met this existing technological gap with its
1 http://www.labmanager.com/surveys/2015/06/are-you-
innovative EcoChyll instrument. The instrument was
in-the-market-for-an-evaporator-#.VmwthbnSlMs
designed with the entire spectrum of rotavap users in mind
and it incorporates customer-desired features. EcoChyll is a 2 http://www.labmanager.com/laboratory-technology/2015/10/
condenser cooling system that upgrades any existing rotavap. customized-evaporation#.VmwuirnSlMs
The system increases productivity and eliminates downtime
and its refrigerated cooling condenser sets a new standard
for cooling down samples or processes without the use of
traditional coolants such as water or dry ice. EcoChyll is
tankless and does not require water and/or antifreeze
coolant. Its cooling temperature can reach -20C in less
than one minute and attain cooling temperatures superior
to dry ice. EcoChylls cooling technology is continuously The EcoChyll
available, easy to use, saves time, and is worry-free. This is a system that
upgrades any
is the way evaporation should bethe user shouldnt be
existing rotavap.
concerned with condenser cooling issues.

July 2016 Lab Manager 71

 products in action

ULTIMATE SAFETY WITH UNRIVALED VALIDATION:

RXPERT DOUBLE FILTERED BALANCE SYSTEMS
Labconco has expanded on its pat- SAFETY AND VERSATILITY SAFEBRIDGE CONSULTANTS, INC.
ented, proven XPert System design by VALIDATED CONTAINMENT
Safety is paramount when handling
adding a second layer of HEPA filtration
potent compounds, so the RXPert features The RXPert Double Filtered Balance
to create the RXPert line of Filtered
two HEPA filters in series to significantly Systems containment has been validated
Balance Systems. The RXPert Double
reduce the chance of exposure for an by SafeBridge Consultants, Inc. Using
Filtered Balance System, which meets
operator. Furthermore, the arrangement a surrogate powder, naproxen sodium,
USP <800> requirements for non-sterile
of each HEPA filter in an RXPert gives rigorous testing shows that RXPert enclo-
compounding, allows users to handle
users and certifiers the peace of mind sures have the ability to contain powders
hazardous powders without redundant
of knowing the equipment is functioning down to 25 ng/m3 in an operators
external ventilation. Complete with
safely and effectively. By placing an breathing zone during normal powder
validated containment and vibration
access panel between the two HEPA weighing procedures. Extreme contain-
studies, this double filtered RXPert is the
filters, certifiers are able to probe the ment of powders makes RXPert Double
only powder weighing enclosure that
entire surface of the primary HEPA filter. Filtered Balance Systems suitable for:
allows the surface of both HEPA filters to
Scanning of the secondary HEPA filter
be 100% leak checked. These features Pharmaceutical Compounding
is easily performed from the top of the
make the RXPert the safest balance
enclosure and does not require tools. Handling of Active Pharmaceutical
enclosure in the world.
Ingredients
Safety benefits of RXPert Double Filtered
USP <800> Compliant
Systems include: Handling of Potent Compounds
No Ducting Required
Double (Redundant), 100% Scannable Labconcos RXPert Double Filtered Sys-
The RXPerts wide variety of widths, HEPA Filters tems offer unparalleled safety for users by
depths, and heights make it suitable for pairing exceptional containment with an
Bag-In/Bag-Out Systems On Both
weighing, compounding, and most mill- innovative design for leak-checking. To
Filters For Safe Changing
ing procedures. Additionally, all RXPert learn more about RXPert Double Filtered
enclosures can be paired with either a 3rd Party-Validated Powder Contain- Systems, please visit labconco.com.
solid epoxy or stainless steel worksurface ment & Balance Vibration Stability
for superior cleanliness.
Widths from 2 to 6
Depths of 29 to 35.5
Stainless Steel or
Epoxy Work surfaces

by David Wasescha
Labconco Corporation
816.822.3749
dwasescha@labconco.com

72 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com

 PRODUCT PROFILE
ADVERTISER INDEX ALIGNING PRECISION AND
PERFORMANCE
With its brilliant deep-blue LCD, a capacitive touch
keypad and both RS-232 and USB interfaces, Adam
Company URL Page Equipments new Eclipse balances provide a unique
weighing experience to lab professionals.
Adam Equipment Inc. www.adamequipment.com 49,73 Learn more at www.adamequipment.com.

Agilent Technologies www.efficientuhplc.agilent.com 76

Anton Paar www.anton-paar.com 11

Beckman Coulter Inc. www.beckman.com 7,17

Contact: Adam Equipment Inc.
BioTek Instruments, Inc. www.biotek.com 2 www.adamequipment.com

CEM www.cem.com 28

Conquer Scientific conquerscientific.com 73 VELP OXITEST OXIDATION STABILITY

REACTOR FOR SHELF LIFE STUDIES
The Oxitest is a reliable solution entirely managed
ELGA www.elgalabwater.com 43 by the powerful OXISoft software that provides
oxidative stability valuable information on food, feed,
EquipNet, Inc. www.equipnet.com 21 oil, fat, cosmetics and biodiesel samples. A versatile
analytical instrument testing the whole sample and
suitable for a wide range of applications including:
Evergreen Labware Products www.evergreensci.com 23 Prediction of the oxidative stability during shelf-life studies
Evaluation of the adequacy of storage conditions
Federal Equipment Company www.fedequip.com 73 Evaluation of the best packaging solution
Comparison of the oxidative stability of different formulas
GenTech Scientific, Inc. www.gentechscientific.com 21 for food preparations
Contact: VELP Scientific, Inc.
HEMCO Corporation www.hemcocorp.com 27 www.velp.com velpusa@velp.com
631 573 6002
IKA Works www.ika.com 29

INTEGRA www.integra-biosciences.com 39

KNF Neuberger Inc. www.knfusa.com 41

PRE-OWNED EQUIPMENT MARKETPLACE

Milestone www.milestonesci.com 51

NuAire Inc. www.nuaire.com 14

Ohaus www.ohaus.com 3

Panasonic Healthcare us.panasonic-healthcare.com 5

RADWAG USA L.L.C. www.radwagusa.com 13

RDM Industrial Products, Inc. www.labspacesolutions.com 25

Retsch www.retsch.com 15

Shimadzu Scientific www.ssi.shimadzu.com 37

Universal Electric starlinepower.com 75

Vacuubrand, Inc. www.vacuu-lan.com 40 Equipment Solutions for

Pharmaceutical, Laboratory,
VELP Scientifica SRL www.velp.com 73 and Research Industries

Watson Bio Lab www.watsonbiolab.com 19 216-271-3500

www.fedequip.com
pharmaceuticals@fedequip.com
The Advertisers Index is provided as a reader service. Although every attempt has been made to make
this index as complete as possible, the accuracy of all listings cannot be guaranteed. 8200 Bessemer Ave., Cleveland, OH 44127

July 2016 Lab Manager 73

 lab manager online

1 2 3

LAB MANAGER
ONLINE
We look back at our web content since the June issue and look forward to whats in store for the upcoming August issue.
1 How to Deal with Clumsiness
in the Laboratory
From a quick Internet search, its clear
that many people have experienced clum-
siness or nerves in the lab at some point.
For some, it may even become a barrier to
pursuing science as a career. Here are some
tips for both lab workers and managers on
what they can do to combat clumsiness and
anxiety in the lab.
Read more at LabManager.com/lab-clumsiness
2 Trending on Social Media:
INSIGHTS on Developing
Diagnostics with Raman
As of June 21, Lab Managers top June issue ar-
ticle posted to Facebook and Twitter was our
Clinical Industry Insights article, Developing
Diagnostics with Raman. In this article, we
shared new clinical applications of Raman and
the challenges of commercializing this tech-
nology for more widespread diagnostic use.
Read more at LabManager.com/Clinical-Raman
3 Most Popular Webinar
Last months top webinar on LabManager.
com with 528 registrants was Top Five
Tips to Manage Time, presented by Rick
Parmely. As the title suggests, this webinar
shared five key methods to help you manage
your time more effectively. Though it ran
on May 5, you can still catch it on demand
at the link below.
Read more at LabManager.com/time-management

Product Resource Guide 2017

Our annual guide will include the best features of last years version along with
new Q&As on each laboratory product category page to help you in your buying
decisions. Each category page will also be better connected to our web content than
ever before and our comprehensive Directory of Manufacturers will be back to help
LabManager.com connect you with manufacturers for dozens of lab product categories.

74 Lab Manager July 2016 LabManager.com

 The results are in.
Starline Plug-In Raceway enables labs to easily expand power.

Starline Plug-In Raceway gives you the power to meet the ever-changing needs of your
hospital or lab by allowing you to easily expand, reconfigure or relocate power. Our
pre-assembled modules simply snap into place along the backplane of the raceway
wherever a connection to power is required. And not only does Plug-In Raceway
install quickly, but there is no need to call in an electrician to expand power, which
will lower future maintenance costs. To learn more, visit starlinepower.com/raceway.
 EVERY DAY
EVERY WAY
The new Agilent 1260 Infinity II LC
Put your trust in the LC platform that runs, and runs, and runs. Forming a solid
foundation for the Agilent InfinityLab family, the new 1260 Infinity II LC combines
latest technology with perfectly matched columns and supplies, taking you to the
next level of efficiency. Add our OpenLAB software and CrossLab services for
utmost confidence in your daily results every day in every way.

Be the front-runner
www.efficientUHPLC.agilent.com/1260
#EfficientUHPLC

Runs, and runs, and runs

NEWEST version of
OpenLAB CDS software

NEW InfinityLab instruments,

columns and supplies
Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2016