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November 2016
Volume 11 Number 10
LabManager.com
SCIENCE
& THE SOCIAL NETWORK
TRENDING NOW: LESS SELF-PROMOTION, MORE GENUINE DISCUSSION
Reconsidering
Generation Y
Testing Drugs of Abuse
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contents
November 2016
LabManager.com
10
24
32
34
feature
10
technology
Science & the Social Network
28
Using smartphones and tablets to run and monitor

processes from afar.
F. Key Kidder
Mike May
business management
20
32
Upgrading to the GHS

necessary for a successful transition to the GHS standards.
Abhijit Ghosh
John Alexander
leadership & staffing

Generation Y
Tech-savvy and committed, millennials can bring
a lot to todays labs.
Sara Goudarzi
Lab Manager
November 2016
Helium, Hydrogen, and

Gas Chromatography
A chromatographers thoughts on which is better
as a carrier gas.
A comprehensive strategy and organizational structure is
24
Remote Instrumentation
for genuine discussion, rather than just self-promotion.
Todays scientists are now using social media more
health & safety

34
Extension Cords in the Lab

An indispensable tool requiring serious safety
consideration.
Vince McLeod
LabManager.com
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LabManager.com
MILLENNIALS IN THE LAB AND

SOCIAL MEDIA IN SCIENCE
This month, we return to two always important topics
for laboratories: millennials and social media. While
both of these can be a big help to labs, they arent
without their challenges. While there is a stereotype
of millennials being entitled and uncommitted to
their work, some lab managers believe this group
performs as well, if not better, than previous generations. Their comfort with technology is one main
benefit, but a deeper understanding of that technology is a weakness that some managers of millennials
have discovered. We delve into the pros and cons of
this generation in this months Leadership & Staffing
article. In our cover story, we return to the topic of
science and social media, where we find scientists
using this platform less for self-promotion and more
for making greater contributions to scientific discussions and sharing work in their respective fields.
DEPARTMENTS
industry insights
40 Drug Discovery: Identifying
Proteins in Pharmaceutical Studies
Western blotting remains a go-to tool.
Mike May
46 Forensic Science:
Testing Drugs of Abuse
GC-MS: The Swiss army knife of forensics.
Angelo DePalma
analytical
48 Ask the Expert
How to choose the best analytical standards.
WDS Canadian return: 478 Bay Street, Suite A213, Midland, ON

Canada L4R 1K9.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Lab Manager, PO Box 2015, Skokie, Il 60076.
62 Ultramicrobalances
The smallest and most precious samples need
the highest precision.
Mike May
63 Mills & Grinders

Industry demands instruments capable of
producing just the right grind.
Ryan Ackerman
64 Centrifuges Survey
Learn the most common rotor types and more
from our latest results.
Ryan Ackerman
Rachel Muenz
65 Stirrers & Mixers Survey
50 UV-Vis Spectroscopy
Find out readers most frequently encountered

issues and more from the latest results.
Building better beverages.
Ryan Ackerman
Mike May
Lab Manager (ISSN: 1931-3810) is published 11 times per year;
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Box 216, 478 Bay Street, Midland, ON Canada L4R 1K9. USPS
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reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without
permission from the publisher.
laboratory
52 GC Systems Survey
Readers ten favorite GC features and more
from our latest survey results.
Ryan Ackerman
in every issue
16 Labs Less Ordinary
The National Research Council of Canadas
Bird Guns: How firing bird carcasses at
airplanes keeps air travel safe.
life science
Rachel Muenz
54 Ask the Expert
38 Infographic
Troubleshooting PCR
Making the cell culture process more

efficient.
45 Infographic
Water Purification Systems
Tanuja Koppal
56 CO2 Incubators
Features to look for.
Angelo DePalma
60 Microplate Handlers Survey

Learn the most common types and more
from our latest results.
Ryan Ackerman
74 How it Works Isolating Weak Protein

Complexes
75 How it Works
Running Modern
Laboratories with a LIS
66 Technology News
The latest equipment, instruments, and system
introductions to the laboratory market.
77 Pre-owned Equipment Marketplace

77 Advertisers Index
78 Lab Manager Online
Lab Manager
November 2016
LabManager.com
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editors note
smart vs. dumb

Social media has encroached on a range of scientific processes, changing
the way some researchers, particularly younger ones, go about their
business, says Key Kidder in this months cover story. Covering this topic
in the past, it is noteworthy that at this juncture scientists seem to have
shifted from using social media for self-promotion to a more meaningful
engagement with their community. And to what end? According to Andy
Miah, bioethicist and chair in science communication and digital media
at Englands University of Salford, aggregation, presentation, mapping,
authoring, sharing, organizing, tracking, collaboration, researching, publishing, administrating, and managing workflow. And its not just young
scientists, 37 percent of AAAS members 50 and older said that it was
very important or important for their career advancement to promote
their findings on platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Speaking of young scientists, this month we again turn our attention to
Generation Y, AKA: millennials. Like todays politicians and marketers,
lab managers need to understand this generationnot to get votes or
sell productsbut in order to maximize their contributions in the workplace. Speaking with a number of lab managers, author Sara Goudarzi
finds they share a similar challenge: While millennials are adept at
mastering instrument operation, they often lack a deeper understanding of the analytical techniques behind certain systems. Sophisticated
equipment is becoming dumber all the time, says David S. Perlin,
executive director of Rutgers Regional Biocontainment Laboratory. To
correct for that, managers need more experienced researchers to share
their knowledge of fundamentals and analysis techniques. While its not
right to put an entire generation into a pigeonhole, as Paola Guevara
Riveros, president and academic liaison of the Association of Laboratory Managers, points out, it is useful to be aware of some of the management challenges this cohort presents. Turn to page 24 to learn more.
The same advancements in laboratory technology that allow less experienced users to achieve good analytical results are also evident in the
latest remote laboratory monitoring equipment. The concept of remote
in todays lab can mean starting and monitoring experiments from your
officeor even farther away from the lab setup, if you like. And probably
even more important, you dont need to create the controllers yourself. It
might be as simple as adding an app to your smartphone, says Mike May
in this months technology article. If something is not correct with an
instrument, LabX provides instant notification, enabling corrective actions
to be taken immediately, explains Isabelle Mattmann, Mettler-Toledos
product manager for balance software. As we continue to see, the equipment, not the operator, knows better.
If your lab is struggling to transition to the new Globally Harmonized
System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, this months Business Management article (page 20) provides a comprehensive strategy
for getting that done. Why does that matter? Because one of the most
important challenges for all labs undergoing the change to the new SDS
system will be staying compliant, says author John Alexander.
Millennials, the impact of social media on science, and the pros and cons of
ever-smarter instruments, are important topics that well be covering for the
foreseeable future. I welcome your insights and opinions.
Best,
Pam
Pamela Ahlberg
Editor-in-Chief
editor-in-chief
art director & production manager
Greg Brewer
senior account manager
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science & the social network
SCIENCE
& THE SOCIAL
NETWORK
TRENDING NOW: LESS SELF-PROMOTION,

MORE GENUINE DISCUSSION
by F. Key Kidder
cientists beating the drum for social media would

seem have no better friend than the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
By most accounts, a majority of scientists remain skeptical about the value of using social media platforms to
communicate aspects of their research. But AAAS, which
bills itself as the worlds largest general scientific society,
has emerged as social medias establishment champion,
lending its considerable weight to
the proposition that the consummate connectivity of nascent social technologies must be served.
At a time when the global scientific community wrestles with
the greater question of whether
social media can properly serve research, its a tough sell.
Scientists customarily dont sign on to socialize; until several years ago, up-and-comers were weaned on the deficit
model of communicationdumb it down for an uninformed public laid low by a pervasive knowledge deficit.
Good science is still recovering from a public relations crisis that gave social media the crack in the door
it needed. A series of ethical lapses, prevarications,
and other misstepsa brazen culture of lawlessness,
opined The Wall Street Journalhad taken science to
the mat. To repair the professions reputation, scientists
were advised to commence campaigns of outreach and
dialogue with different publicsto go forth and engage. Social media has since encroached on a range of
scientific processes, changing the way some researchers,
particularly younger ones, go about their business.
AAAS is big on wanting to communicate science, to
keep the public interested, says Monica Bradford, executive editor of the associations journal Science. AAAS maintains a team of about 40 staff on a mission to drive traffic
to articles in its publications via
multiple social media channels,
and is a presence at scientific seminars and presentations promoting
social engagement.
In the absence of empirical
data, the working assumption was
that scientists usage was asymmetrical, with a core group
of activists accounting for the lions share of social media
activity. As in any public space, people may interact by
proximity or gaze, and not necessarily directly.
In 2014, a Pew Research poll of more than 3,700 AAAS
members produced the first comprehensive survey of
social media use. Observers cautioned against thinking the
data represents science. I think [AAAS members] represent people interested in science, says Dominique Brossard
of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who coauthored
that schools 2014 social media study. AAAS, says Brossard,
is top-heavy with old, white males.
Scientists customarily
don't sign on to socialize.
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Nonetheless, the study offers a snapshot of how

actively engaged scientists ply chosen digital channels.
Some interesting findings:
Female earth scientists are the most active social
media users.
More than one-fifth said it is very important or
important for career advancement to promote their
findings on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. (Not
just younger scientists either20 percent were age
50-64 and 17 percent were age 65 and older.) Overall
numbers continue to climb.
Among those whose field of work is subject to media debate,
51 percent say media coverage of research is important.
Social scientific ecosystems

Andy Miah begins his pitch to the unconverted. What
do the pope, the queen, and the CIA have in common?
They all have Twitter accounts. How about you?
A bioethicist and chair in science communication and
digital media at Englands University of Salford, Miah
is ready for questions like, What can social media do for
me? For starters, he replies, try aggregation, presentation, mapping, authoring, sharing, organizing, tracking,
collaboration, researching, publishing, administrating,
and managing workflow.
Early adopters like Miah say researchers can harness
the power of social media to achieve concrete scientific
outputs and ramp up research development. A diverse
set of social ecosystems supports scientific and academic pursuitsprofessional networking sites (Facebook, ResearchGate, LinkedIn), collaborative project
spaces (Google Docs), and online content communities
(YouTube, Mendeley).
Then theres Twitter, the networking platform that
confines messages to 140 characters. Consider the social
media trajectory of science star Carolyn Bertozzi. The
49-year-old chemist, Stanford University professor, and
MacArthur Fellow began editing an American Chemical
Society journal in 2014. At the urging of coworkers, she
tried using Twitter to promote the journal. But she was
not enthused. As with other social media platforms, she
felt Twitter dealt in mostly stupid minutiae.
She became a believer after discovering Twitters wealth
of feeds from universities and other chemists. Now
Bertozzi shares aspects of her life and research with 2,000
12
Lab Manager
November 2016
followers, and is known to air all the petty humiliations

of life on Twitter, like her ten biggest travel blunders.
Bertozzi believes that younger scientists, especially
women, need to see that being successful doesnt mean
youre infallible. Described as a masterful communicator,
she credits storytelling as a means of creating an emotional connection with her audience.
While most scientists believe that

data sharing is benecial, far fewer
often practice it.
Then theres the little matter of citations. A University
of Wisconsin-Madison study published in Journalism
& Mass Communications Quarterly found the first comprehensive empirical evidence linking the so-called
h-indexa measure of the quality of a scientists work
and influencewith social media activity. Scientists
who couple media outreach with tweeting about their
research are rewarded with a more pronounced spike in
reputation, including citations.
But social media isnt for everyone. Just ask David Roy
Smith, a biologist from the University of Western Ontario:
My new publications are marked by a series of
self-promotional chores: update my departmental and
personal websites; add the paper to my ResearchGate,
Google Scholar, ImpactStory, ORCID, ResearcherID, and
Loop profiles; send out flashy tweets as well as Facebook
and blog posts highlighting the article; search for and
collect media coverage about the publication; and then
retweet, reblog, and repost. Whats worse, I repeat these
same tedious tasks for everything from invited seminars to
conference presentations and teaching assignments.
I feel Im not even using these online resources effectively. I cannot name a single collaboration that resulted
from my incessant social media postings. He attributes
his new projects to old-fashioned face-to-face communication . . . and traditional peer-reviewed pubs.
As with good public speaking, effective social media
requires users to connect and interact with their audience.
. . . This means less self-promotion and more contributions
to online discussion, like constructive feedback and blogging about broader issues, not just my own work.
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Check your intentions before jumping right into the fray, advise experienced
social media scientists. If you dont have good reason to actively participate,
or have reservations about public engagement, stay on the sidelines and read
others posts and content, what social media consultant Tim McCormick calls
listening. Instead of being active on multiple platforms, try sticking to one.
If you don't have good reason to actively

participate, or have reservations about public
engagement, stay on the sidelines.
Many science communicators aspire to reach a wider audience, but to what
end? What happens after you push the send button? Who notices, reads, shares,
chats it up, likes, or dislikes it? The growing altmetrics movement provides measures of readership impact, data that is also of considerable interest to funders.
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The era when good science spoke for itself is so yesterday. As funding diminishes and competition for research dollars intensifies, more in the research
community are turning to self-promotion as a matter of self-preservation. The
solid-gold imprimatur of established journals like Nature, Cell, and Science is being
tested by a new model of disseminating research through social media.
But the perceived need for visibility that media interest provides sometimes turns on scientists, threatening the reputation of the entire profession.
Beyond Publish or Perish, Scientific Papers Look to Make a Splash, a
front-page headline in the July 1, 2015, issue of The New York Times, wasnt
the kind of media attention the scientific establishment had ever sought.
Researchers and funders who formerly floated high above the allure of
popular media now court it, according to the report. Academics may be
subtly skewing their research to render it more compelling. Authors can
be encouraged to inflate the significance of their work to entice journals
to publish their papers. Funders want buzz for their bucks. Were not just
going to generate results read by ten people. Its actually going to be talked
about. (In extremis, this need to be noticed extends to guerilla scientists
who take to the streets to recruit an audience for their findings.)
Traditional media channels pull stories from established sources70 percent of the stories covered by Los Angeles Times science reporter Amina Khan
arrive on her desk from universities, research institutes, and journals. But
many reporters have difficulty distinguishing good research from shoddy research. As more scientists intent on building their online brands push findings
through social media channels without peer review, flawed research is dressed
up and ushered into print, where it may masquerade as the real deal.
The undue influence of certain social media stars is another vexing development. Most scientists are passive users, content to peruse online content posted
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Lab Manager
November 2016
LabManager.com
by others. As any political scientist knows, the strongest

ideologues are the most engagedstirring the drink, creating content, attracting likes and followers, perhaps emerging
as opinion leaders. But what do they know about science?
Observers point to other troubling issues. "Operant
conditioningwhereby people learn to repeat rewarded
behaviorspredicts that social media users will gravitate
toward like-minded others, creating an echo chamber effect
that strengthens existing thinking instead of challenging it.
Calls for greater civility struggle to rise above the din of the
digital jungle as ridicule and ad hominem attacks become commonplace. Negative interactions get good play, at least according
to a 2010 analysis of nearly 2.5 million posts from some 18,000
users of online BBC discussion forums. The longest discussion
posts on BBC forums were found to be generally negative, and
the most active participants often the most negative.
Twitters late 2016 announcement that it was shopping
around for a new owner after analysts downgraded company stock was attributed to a digital excess of free-float-
ing bile in some quarters. Bidders have to wonder whether the cap on Twitters growth is tied more to that most
basicand baseof human emotions: hatred, remarked
a September 3 New York Times piece. It might just be a
human nature problem, mused one Twitter provocateur.
Maybe we just dont like each other all that muchand
thats what Twitter has revealed.
But animosity doesnt win converts or arguments.
According to reviews, the most effective determinants
of productive, persuasive online communication are argument quality, source credibility, source attractiveness,
source perception, and source style.
Is social media the machinery of a knowledge revolution and discovery, or a corrosive, coarsening interloper?
Can good science and social media coexist? Stay tuned.
F. Key Kidder left journalism to pursue a career in government
relations, politics, and PR, but he still likes to keep his hand in writing. He can be reached at k2@keykidder.com or 410-963-4426.
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casestudies
labs less ordinary
THE NATIONAL
RESEARCH COUNCIL
OF CANADAS BIRD
GUNS
HOW FIRING BIRD CARCASSES
AT AIRPLANES KEEPS AIR
TRAVEL SAFE by Rachel Muenz
hy was the bird launched from a cannon? To

keep aircraft safe. At least thats the case at
the National Research Council of Canadas
(NRCs) Flight Impact Simulator facility, where bird
guns are used to test and certify key aircraft components
to ensure they can withstand a possible bird strike. While
the thought of firing bird carcasses at airplanes might
seem funny, tests like these are serious business.
We share the air with birds, and this has been an ongoing problem, says Ron Gould, a retired NRC researcher
who managed the facility, which is based in Ottawa. As a
matter of fact, today [September 1] theres already been a
bird strike reported, so it happens fairly regularly.
The NRC was first asked to explore the issue of bird
strikes and air safety in 1963, with the first bird gun
featuring a 40-inch barrel and a 10-inch boreup and
running in 1968. Aircraft manufacturers use the facility
to test windshields, engines, the leading edge of the
wings, and the tail, where birds are most likely to strike
as the plane is taking off or landing, Gould says.
There are probably far more people working to keep
airplanes and birds separate than there are people working on bird-proofing aircraft, but when it does happen,
the aircraft is required to sustain the damage and make a
safe landing, he says.
Gould adds that for testing aircraft structures during
his days at the NRC, they used birds weighing at least
one pound, while for engine ingestion tests, they continue to use much smaller birds. In the past, they used carcasses of domestic egg-laying chickens from a local farm
in one-pound, two-pound, four-pound, and eight-pound
16
Lab Manager
November 2016
weight categories. For engine tests, they use birds of

only a few ounces from a falconry that specializes in airport security. And the guns dont just fire birds, they can
also simulate hail and launch key aircraft components
and materials to ensure they can withstand impacts.
While the guns are simple pneumatic cannons that include a tank to store the air, a barrel to accelerate the projectile, and a firing mechanism, there are still some things
to watch to ensure a successful shot. The bird carcass,
which must be completely thawed before firing, is placed
in a container that is stripped off the bird at the muzzle
of the gun so it doesnt follow the bird to the target.
The key thing is to package the bird in that container
so that it doesnt get squished into a puddle while its
being accelerated by speed over a short distance, Gould
says. The most important thing that you can provide to
the customer is accurate and repeatable speed. If theyre
paying for a certification test and they have to certify at
350 knots, and then you supply a test at 349.4 knots
thats a wasted test. He adds they also cant be too fast
because then they cant be certain whether a component
failed because it was struck at too high a speed.
Speaking of speed, Gould says the velocities the birds
are shot at can range from something similar to someone
throwing a projectile by hand to more than Mach 1 (600
miles per hour).
Since the 10-inch gun and a smaller gun from the
1970s were recently retired to the Canada Aviation
and Space Museum, the facility now uses two identical
guns, known as the twins. These guns feature a unique
design that allows the team to change barrel sizes, says
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labs less ordinary
1.
2.
1. The NRC Flight Impact Simulator facility. 2. A DeHavilland

Buffalo cockpit windshield after bird impact testing.
Brian Galeote, technical officer at NRCs Gas Turbine

Facilities. Currently the guns have 17-foot-long barrels
with 3-inch diameters, and the team is working on
mapping their performance.
As far as challenges, Galeote and Gould say there
arent many. The older gun design sometimes had issues,
as it used a double Mylar diaphragm that required two
separate pressurizations. If there was any imperfection
in that Mylar, you could get a premature burst, Galeote
explains. For an engine test, that would be really bad.
We ve gone to a high-speed valve that eliminates that
problem, so as far as challenges during a test, weve got it
down pretty good.
18
Lab Manager
November 2016
In the past, Gould said setting up tests could be very

time-consuming, but Galeote says that setup time has now
been reduced by computerizing many of the tasks that were
once done manually. He adds that for him the stress involved
in engine certification tests is a main challenge, as the tests
are very expensive and [they] have to do it right the first time.
Such tests involve loading the bird into the gun, everyone evacuating the test cell, the engine being brought
up to the required condition, and Galeote setting the
software to begin the firing sequence and then starting
the high-speed cameras. We measure velocity and the
image of the bird or projectile going into the engine
using [those] high-speed cameras, he says.
While those tests can be stressful, Galeote adds that
the work is also very satisfying.
Its one of those things where as a kid you would think
[it] would be really awesome to do and you never think
youd get a chance to do it, he says. Even after the hundreds of shots Ive taken, theres always something to learn
from it and [from] the interesting people in the field.
He adds that hes learned a lot from Gould, who
worked at the facility from 1975 to 2010 but is still
brought in as a consultant. Both Galeote and Gould say
its also special to be part of the small group of professionals who operate bird guns.
Its certainly unique, Gould says of his time at the NRC.
There arent too many people who do it. It was fun to see the
different designs, and I met a lot of interesting people.
As for the future, theres a chance the old 10-inch gun
may be brought back into action.
For the past five years, theres been a push for really
large birds, from four to eight pounds, Galeote says, explaining that the current guns cant handle birds of that
size. However, there is a clause in the NRCs agreement
with the aviation museum that they can have the gun
back if its needed for a test.
And despite computer modeling coming into play in
the bird strike simulation scene, both Gould and Galeote
say that with the new composite aircraft materials of
today, bird guns are more relevant than ever.
Technology right now is amazing and computer modeling is really good, but it still doesnt substitute for the real
thing, Galeote says. I think the bird gun, or chicken cannon, or pneumatic cannonwhatever you want to call it
still has an important role to play in aerospace [testing].
Rachel Muenz, associate editor for Lab Manager,
can be reached at rachelm@labmanager.com or by phone
at 888-781-0328 x233.
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business management
UPGRADING
TO THE GHS
FROM MSDS TO SDS By John Alexander
he Globally Harmonized System of Classification

and Labeling of Chemicals, hereafter called the
GHS, is a UN-approved system that aims to improve
safety and documentation for laboratory chemicals across
all nations. Although laboratory-level labeling was mandated by OSHA to be completed by June 1, 2016, due to
the massive levels of change required it is not implausible
to believe that many labs are struggling to finalize changes
in an efficient manner. Additionally, upgrades to existing
systems are vital to improve lab efficiency. A comprehensive strategy and organizational structure is necessary for a
successful transition to the GHS standards.
For the typical laboratory management team, the primary goals of your transition will be to implement a successful update from the old Material Data Safety Sheets
(MSDS) to the newer Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and to
guide laboratory scientists and staff in proper labeling of
hazardous chemicals and mixtures. This article aims to lay
out a basic system for labs of various sizes and organizational structures to make the transition to SDS easier.
paper systems, and a digital SDS ledger could be a tempting solution to track all new changes. All the SDS data
will be downloaded from the suppliers web page, after all.
Be aware that while this is acceptable, all employees must
have ready access to these sheets during work shifts. To
comply with ready access, any computer system used for
SDS must have open access for all employees. A computer
that requires a login would not be accessible to those who
do not know the password, for example. There must also
be adequate backup measures in case of Internet failure or
a power outage. It may be useful to share all SDS documents on a cloud storage system, but in case of an Internet
failure, it is advisable to have a local copy on all designated
SDS access computers. Additionally, it should be noted
that ready access means an employee should not need to do
a web search for the product to find the SDS. This means
that even if a lab is going the web-only route, it should still
supply an SDS repository in its systems. Be sure to update
this regularly, such as when the lab receives orders and
again monthly to ensure all files are up to date.
Why is the GHS necessary?

Before you begin the necessary work to update to the
new system, you may wonder exactly why you are making
these changes. Oftentimes, the old MSDS seem adequate.
However, the more streamlined format of the SDS allows
for quicker interpretation and more efficient cleanup by
safety staff in the event of an accident. Additionally, the
new systems help with international trade, should the lab
group in question be planning to export chemical mixtures.
SDS storage styles

Existing MSDS systems are likely stored on paper sheets
in binders. Modern technology, however, is not limited to
20
Lab Manager
November 2016
A computer that requires a login would not be accessible to

those who do not know the password.
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business management
If your facilities do not have power generators, you

should take the time to produce a physical paper copy as
well. This could be a very time-consuming process, so be
sure to allow adequate time to complete all the necessary
steps. A recommended system is to go in alphabetical order
along your chemical inventory sheet, save the files to the
computer system first, and then print them. Depending on
the company by which the chemical is manufactured (it
is a requirement to have the SDS from the company that
manufactured the product) and the quality of your printer,
this whole process could take up to ten minutes per SDS.
Even when using double-sided printing techniques, your
lab should prepare to be using four to five sheets of paper
per SDS printed, so have plenty of cheap paper on hand.
After stapling and three-hole punching each SDS entry,
try to resist cramming your binders full since you will want
to leave ample space for new chemicals in the future. Be
sure to staple each entry together before adding it to your
binders so it wont be confusing to go through them later.
Last, new chemicals should be put at the top of the queue
during this process so they are not skipped over (e.g., the lab
acquires ethanol while the staff member working on SDS
updates is working on formaldehyde).
A comprehensive strategy
and organizational structure
is necessary for a successful
transition to the GHS standards.
Larger lab groups
In general, larger lab groups are going to have the most
trouble updating to the new system. The sheer size of
the chemical inventory alone can cause trouble. Since
larger lab groups have more staff, it makes sense to break
up the work among several people or have several staff
members take shifts at a single computer between experiments. Care must be taken to be extra methodical and
have inventory lists available when using this method to
ensure no items are skipped. Consider splitting up the
list among several staff members who have their own
segments that they are responsible for (e.g., Jake gets AC, Janet gets D-G). It is important to keep file-naming conventions the same for all employees working on
upgrading the system.
22
Lab Manager
November 2016
Keep file-naming conventions the same between all employees

working on upgrading the system.
Sprawled laboratories
Sprawled laboratories with multiple rooms on several
floors and/or buildings, such as at a university, will have
unique challenges during this process. Since nobody
wants to redo any part of the list, a good first step is to
consolidate all chemical inventories from each section
and eliminate duplicates, then divvy up the remainder
of the list to connected subsections. Since lab sections
are likely to share chemicals with one another from time
to time, it would be advisable for all interconnected systems to have the same copy of the SDS list.
Notes for subgroup managers

Ultimately, each manager of a laboratory subgroup
should be responsible for his or her own sections inventory. This means double-checking that all used chemicals
are represented in the SDS log and ensuring that either
all computers for the section are connected to a generator in case of Internet failure or there is a printed copy
of the sections chemicals made available. If different
subsections regularly share chemicals, it may be worth
the time to go ahead and prepare the SDS entries for
connected labs in advance instead of worrying about
remembering to do so later.
Small labs
Small laboratory groups face a different set of challenges. Often, a smaller group may use just as many chemicals
as larger groups, but it has fewer people-hours available
to perform the task at hand. If careful planning cannot fix
this problem, the smaller lab with extra monetary resources can consider hiring a temporary worker or contractor
for this task. Avoid the temptation to pay for access to an
online SDS database, as the SDS information should al-
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business management
ready be available on the companys website. The important thing now

is to have the information available in an offline format.
What if a chemical has no SDS data online?

Periodically, a lab may find itself with a chemical that does not have
an online SDS available. This could be due to either its being from a
now-defunct company or the company simply not having upgraded
from the old MSDS yet. As long as the lab still possesses the original
MSDS, there will be fewer issues later. Making an effort to pair the
MSDS with an SDS of the same chemical from an active company
along with clear documentation may be the best route. Ask to see
whether anyone is actively using the chemical or plans to; if not, perhaps it is time to dispose of it. Rarely, even an established company like
Fisher will still have an MSDS up on its website. Simply make a note
of these issues and compile a list of chemicals with their respective
companies; emailing or calling them with a list of chemicals still needing SDS will help both the lab and the companies stay in compliance.
A digital SDS ledger could be a tempting

solution to track all new changes.
Staying compliant
One of the most important challenges for all labs undergoing the
change to the new SDS system will be staying compliant. Ensuring that
multiple, up-to-date copies exist of all SDS logs is essential. To avoid
wasting time with replacing printed SDS after an emergency such as a
fire, flood, or spill, consider purchasing easily accessible weather-proof
storage bins. If the lab has outsourced the updating process, be sure to
obtain documentation from the contracted individuals responsible for
the upgrade on the best ways to keep a consistent and logical format
for new entries. Finally, even when switching to updated sheets as you
get new chemicals in, always be sure to hold onto old SDS and MSDS
information so the lab can provide documentation that previous lab
members were aware of the risks of working with those chemicals and
had easy access to the corresponding safety sheets.
PTFE
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ith sensitive or
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Many sizes, styles and options
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For more information about the details of upgrading to the GHS system
for SDS and other matters, check out:
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http://www.ilpi.com/msds/faq/partd.html
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John Alexander has a degree in biology from the University of Tennessee,

and recently finished a contract position with the USDA. He can be reached
at alexanderjohnree@gmail.com, or by phone at 865-582-6492.
November 2016
Lab Manager
23
electronic
valves
control
valves
fittings
& tubing
directional
control
valves
GENERATION Y
TECH-SAVVY AND COMMITTED, MILLENNIALS

CAN BRING A LOT TO TODAYS LABS
by Sara Goudarzi
ecently, Paola Guevara Riveros, president and

academic liaison of the Association of Laboratory
Managers (ALMA), was speaking to a disgruntled manager at a networking event. The manager was
experiencing serious issues with the labs millennial employeesa demographic cohort loosely defined as being
born between the early 1980s and 1994. None of the
younger employees, according
to the manager, were putting
in enough hours or producing
quality work.
Much has been said about
millennials, also known as
Generation Y. Some indicate
that this group fails to learn
skills necessary to master
sophisticated laboratory
equipment, while others have noted a sense of entitlement ingrained in the culture of this demographic,
resulting in a lack of serious commitment to their work.
Riveros, who has been an operations manager for five
years, is familiar with such a depiction of her cohort but
has refused to accept such a simplistic classification of
an entire group within one laband as representative of
a whole generation. So she decided to investigate.
I asked [the manager], Where are you hiring from?
Riveros says, because it sounds like the exact same
individual. And sure enough, they were hiring [everyone]
from the same university around the corner, and that [provided] the explanation of [the employees] behavior.
That group of lab workers, it turned out, was not
sufficiently trained at the universityeither technically
or culturally. They were not taught how they needed to
behave in the workplace. And so the issue in that particular case was more with the educational framework and
not a larger social trend. I dont think its right to put an

entire generation into a pigeonhole, Riveros says.
Riveros is not alone in her assessment of how managers
should view millennials. Many employers believe this generation performs as well as, if not better than, those that
came before, at least in some aspects of laboratory work.
Millennials are often better grounded in fundamentals of technology, [because]
they grew up in an era when
the embrace of novel technology required one to bake
from scratch, says David S.
Perlin, executive director of
Rutgers Regional Biocontainment Laboratory in Newark,
New Jersey.
Many employers believe this

generation performs as well
as, if not better than, those
that came before.
24
Lab Manager
November 2016
A technologically inclined cohort

Crystal Glen, who manages 13 laboratories at Sandia
National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico,
agrees that millennials are adept at new technologies and
can be instrumental in making discoveries.
In fact, the group classified as millennials has grown
up in a much more complicated and intricate world
than their parents did, particularly as far as technology
is concerned, says Glen, who manages 14 employees, 15
percent of whom belong to the cohort.
One of my millennials just recently discovered a new
boundary sheath flowthe boundary that forms around
plasma thats been very poorly understood for generations, she says. And the reason this is important is that
we would like to use plasma to capitalize on the energy
thats generated from these plasma systems and in creating more sustainable energy for the future.
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What he discovered, Glen adds, actually made an incremental advance in

understanding how we might be able to use the future generation of solar cells
more efficiently.
It makes sense that millennials are prone to quickly picking up technology.
By the time this cohort entered adulthood, the Internet was in full swing, Google had launched, and MP3 players were part of the culture. Technology was
ingrained within the fiber of everyday lifeespecially for young adults.
Our millennials have picked up complex sophisticated laboratory equipment, including HPLC and PCR, with little to no issues. says Jill Brzezicki,
laboratory director and owner of CMT Laboratories, LLC, in Denver, Colorado. CMT Laboratories is a state-licensed and -certified cannabis testing
facility that launched in 2013. Brzezicki manages some ten people in the
laboratory, 20 percent of whom are millennials, a group thatdespite being
technologically gearedseems more partial to intuitive equipment.
Everyone likes user-friendly systems, Riveros says. I think that technology has become very intuitive, and nowadays you should be able to come up
to an instrument and use it even if you havent been trained on it. And so I
think that push is definitely expected now in my generation, but it has come
up through other generations.
These changes have been occurring for a long time and have been refined,
she explains, and so we do expect user-friendly equipmentand equipment that is not user-friendly is perhaps [considered to be] inferior because
we have a new standard, Riveros adds.
But reliance on new technology, while common among the younger workers, should be paired with sufficient preparation to engage in the day-to-day
operations of, and scrutiny essential in, the lab. I do feel that it takes a solid
standard operating procedure and excellent training to ensure that the intricacies and requirements of the analysis are met, Brzezicki says.
More simplified systems

Despite (or maybe because of) being more technologically inclined, managers sometimes indicate that the younger generation has a harder time with
understanding the fundamentals behind the technology they are utilizing.
Most users dont understand the technology or process, or fully understand the dynamic outputs, says Perlin. It is a trend in all of science. Most
graduate students or postdocs, when asked how they obtained a molecular
result, simply say: I used kit X from manufacturer Y. In many cases, they are
not really clear how the kit works or what underlying technology it uses.
This has been a trend in science for the past two decades or more, Perlin
adds. It is not, per se, a millennial issue, but transcends all of science.
And it looks as if the trend toward simplifying systems and equipment
will continue, no doubt streamlining lab procedure but perhaps in turn producing operators further removed from the fundamentals.
I believe there will be constant advancements in simplifying systems, and if
the advanced system performs better than or equal to the original system, then
I see no problem in changing the system, says Brzezicki. I do believe that its
important for employees to understand what is happening with the analysis
and equipment they are using, and that experience is the best teacher.
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It is therefore pertinent for those more experienced to impart to the younger workforce a knowledge of fundamentals and analysis techniques.
Sophisticated equipment is becoming dumber
all the time, Perlin says. Manufacturers remove
the complexity by simplifying inputs, such as data
or specimens, and provide yes-or-no outputs,
which minimize interpretation. This has been
going on for decades, and it is why highly sophisticated diagnostic equipment can be used so
successfully in clinical diagnostic labs by a wide
range of trained personnel.
Challenges with the group

Millennials have proven to be as valuable as,
if not more valuable than, their predecessors in
the laboratory workforce. Managers are finding
that when trained properly, the cohort can be an
asset as opposed to a liability for the workplace.
As such, many are discounting the notion that
the cohort should be treated as second-class or
viewed in an inferior light.
Despite this, millennialsmany of whom
quickly became accomplished in the age of
Silicon Valley success storiestypically have expectations that are different from those of older
cohorts who manage or work with them. As such,
its up to upper management to close the gap on
the expectations of the younger group.
Some challenges Ive faced as a manager are
getting the employees to actually do the job and
trying to impart to them that respect is something
that is earned, not given, Brzezicki says. There
seems to be a sense of entitlement and arrogance
that runs rampant in this age group; however,
CMT Labs has been fortunate to have encountered only a few insubordinate millennials, who
no longer work for the company.
Perlin believes that to close the gap and ensure
that everyone is moving toward the same goal, managers should invest in training and mentoring their
employees. But most important, millennial or not, it
is about embracing innovation to advance your science, he says. And the question to ask, Perlin says, is
Does the individual want to embrace this?
Glen also believes that those in management
positions should rethink their notion of classifying individuals in terms of generation and
instead focus on the weaknesses and strengths of individual

employeesbecause embracing the differences of each unit
of the workforce can strengthen the goal of the whole.
Every individual is different, and thats whats great about
our culture, she says. Managers should focus on managing
the individual as well as the group, and on helping others grow
through their strengths as well as capitalize on their weaknesses.
This is true regardless of the generation. For example, if the
individual is succeeding and advancing very quickly compared
with another individual, you would obviously want to give the
individual whos advancing more quickly more responsibility. I
cant say that that is going to be generationally specific.
Brzezicki agrees that the value of an employee is not generation-specific and that each persons role can be important.
I believe that everyone must work his or her way up through
the laboratory process, and that takes time, she says. I think
managers should be able to provide a good opportunity for
advancement and communicate effectively to their employees.
Sara Goudarzi is a freelance writer based in New York City. Her
website is www.saragoudarzi.com.
technology
REMOTE
INSTRUMENTATION
USING SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS TO RUN AND
MONITOR PROCESSES FROM AFAR by Mike May, PhD
ts the late 1980s and Im sitting in a small room at

Cornell University, surrounded on three sides by
electronic and acoustical instruments. I control them
all by hand. I fiddle with knobs here and there, press
some buttons that drive stimuli and others that control
data-capture devices. Most devices are no more remote
than my arms reach or maybe a short roll on my chair.
Even back then, some scientists developed computer
programs that controlled some processes remotely, or as
remote as it got in most labs. I could have done that, because
Id written plenty of programs and Id made many of the
devices in my rig, so I knew how to control and access
them. But it just didnt make sense. Creating the remote
controllers would have taken more time than they would
have savedat least in my opinion thenand I changed
experimental setups too frequently to justify the investment
of time in creating a controller anyway. So I just pounded
out the experiments and data the old-fashioned way.
How times have changed! The concept of remote in
todays lab can mean starting and monitoring experiments from your officeor even farther away from the
lab setup, if you like. And probably even more important, you dont need to create the controllers yourself. It
might be as simple as adding an app to your smartphone.
When asked by email how this technology changes what

scientists can do, Ileana Place, Thermo Fisher Scientific global product manager, large capacity centrifuges,
and Philip Hutcherson, Thermo Fisher Scientific global
product manager, superspeed and ultracentrifuges, wrote:
Critical to the safe operation of bioprocessing procedures and the development of high-value products are the
current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations, which are enforced by the US Food and Drug Administration. They added, Broadly speaking, the cGMP
regulations specific to the production of pharmaceutical
drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients state that
each step of the manufacturing process must be carefully
controlled to maximize the likelihood that the finished
product meets its quality and design requirements.
Sensing the spin

The options for adding instruments that provide remote
control and access cover a broad range. In some cases,
the technology focuses on one kind of instrument, like
a centrifuge. As an example, Thermo Fisher Scientific
(Waltham, MA) developed its Centri-Vue application to
provide a real-time connection with its Thermo Scientific
Sorvall LYNX superspeed and Sorvall BIOS 16 bioprocessing centrifuges. With just a mobile device, like a tablet,
a scientist can access the status of one or more centrifuges.
28
Lab Manager
November 2016
The Thermo Scientific Centri-Vue can control multiple centrifuges

from one mobile device. (Image courtesy of Thermo Fisher Scientific.)
With Centri-Vue in a cGMP facility, scientists can
keep records of centrifuge runs and provide an audit
trail. As explained by Place and Hutcherson, Data can
be downloaded from the centrifuge in real time or by
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technology
batch methods, depending on the needs of the customer. They added, Metadata tags, user information, and date stamps are included in the data logs
to ensure complete data integrity.
As needed, a scientist can use a smartphone app
to track a run or monitor the progress of a network
of centrifuges.
Controlling chromatography
Sample processing steps like chromatography
can also now be controlled remotely in many cases.
For example, Bio-Rad (Hercules, CA) enhanced its
NGC Chromatography System with various ways
to control it remotely. According to Candice Cox,
global product manager at Bio-Rad, You can monitor and control the NGC system remotely using
your smartphone or tablet device as long as you
can access the network of the NGC system. This
requires the use of a Virtual Network Computing
(VNC) viewer, but many are freely available online.
With the ChromLab Software User Management
Edition (UME), says Cox, One or multiple NGC systems can be monitored and controlled by a single user or
multiple licensed users, and user access levels are set up
by an administrator.
Both the VNC and UME options provide full
control of the NGC system. Cox says, Remote
access with the VNC viewer is via ChromLab Touch
Software. She adds, Methods can only be written
on a PC, so if control is via VNC on a tablet or
smartphone, the method needs to be created on a PC
and sent to the NGC system.
Various devices, including smartphones and tablets, can

remotely control a variety of devices, including Bio-Rads
NGC Chromatography System. (Image courtesy of Bio-Rad.)
technology
Analyzing bioethanol production

Remote control and access of instruments can really
benefit industrial science environments, including production facilities. In September 2016, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (Columbia, MD) released its BioEthanol
Analyzer, which works with the companys Prominence-i
integrated HPLC platform. This platform provides
real-time monitoring of the fermentation process that
produces bioethanol. In brief, something starchylike
corngets ground and combined with yeast to ferment
into alcohol, which can be used as fuel.
This analyzer can be controlled in various ways, says
Mark Janeczko, Shimadzus marketing manager for chemicals and energy. One way is through a free software module
called LabSolutions Direct. This connects a workstation
to the analyzer, and it can be accessed through a Wi-Fi or
Internet connection. A lab manager or supervisor can log
in from an office and have complete control, says Janeczko.
They can monitor the status or start a run. He adds, You
can collect data and analyze it through a browser.
production facility. Consequently, the laboratory instrumentation needs to be kept clean. To do that, Shimadzu
made this analyzer completely enclosed, with an air filtration system and purified mobile phase containers, which
keeps out contaminants that contribute to bacterial growth.
A scientist can use a smartphone app

to track a run or monitor the progress
of a network of centrifuges.
With decreasing costs of petroleum-based sources
of energy, bioethanol must be made as efficiently as
possible. The efficiency of conversion is important,
Janeczko says, and to maximize this the process must be
monitored along the way. Thats just what the BioEthanol Analyzer does, and it can do so from a distance.
Broad control
The BioEthanol Analyzer from Shimadzu Scientific Instruments remotely monitors the fermentation that creates bioethanol.
(Image courtesy of Shimadzu.)
Shimadzu built this analyzer with a graphical user
interface. Its very graphical, Janeczko says, and it even
includes a picture of the sample tray and where to put
the sample. He adds, If youre using a smartphone, the
interface might be a little truncated, but you can still see
it. Its even easier to see on a tablet.
The company designed this system to be used in
bioethanol plants. This can be a very dusty factory environment, Janeczko explains, because they are usually
grinding corn, and the lab tends to be in the middle of the
30
Lab Manager
November 2016
To further spread the use of remote control and

access, some vendors develop ways to manage more devices with the same tool. The LabX laboratory software
solution from Mettler-Toledo (Greifensee, Switzerland)
makes an excellent example. It can connect up to 30
Mettler-Toledo instruments of several different types,
says Isabelle Mattmann, the companys product manager
for balance software. The instruments can be balances,
density meters, Excellence melting-point systems, Excellence titrators, SevenExcellence pH meters, refractometers, or UV-Vis spectrophotometers.
LabX can view the results from every instrument in
real time. All results are stored securely in a central
database and can be accessed at any time, Mattmann
points out. Each activity on an instrument is automatically recorded in a comprehensive audit trail.
This technology goes beyond the obvious. With
true bidirectional integration, LabX offers much more
than remote instrument control, Mattmann says. For
example, the LabX solution also keeps track of instrument operation. If something is not correct with an
instrument, LabX provides instant notification, enabling
corrective actions to be taken immediately, she explains.
For example, if an attached balance requires a routine
test to be carried out, LabX can block it from being used
until the test is successfully completed.
LabManager.com
technology
Analytical and Precision Balances
The LabX laboratory software solution from Mettler-Toledo can simultaneously

control a collection of instruments, including balances, UV-Vis spectrophotometers,
and more. (Image courtesy of Mettler-Toledo.)
The breadth of this systems capabilities makes it applicable not
only to the remote monitoring and control of activities on each instrument, but also in a variety of different situations. As an example,
Mattmann explains, The quality manager of a lab needs to know if all
instruments are in a ready-to-operate state. With LabX, she says, that
manager does not have to check each instrument individually, which
is time-consuming and prone to error. Instead, all the instruments can
be checked on a PC. A green StatusLight indicates everything is in
order and work on the instrument can begin, yellow means a test or an
adjustment is pending, and red means immediate action is requiredfor
example, if a balance is out of level, Mattmann explains.
Not for everyone

At the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), Michael Joyner and colleagues
in his lab study how humans respond to stress, such as losing blood or
not getting enough oxygen. Joyner says, My interest in monitoring is
what it can tell people about their health or exercise performance.
Despite the complexity of this, especially with Joyners interest in an
integrated slant that combines various approaches to a scientific question,
his lab does not need remote control of or access to instruments. As he
explains, We just have no need for this in the types of experiments we
do. But he quickly adds, If we had a need, we would do it in a minute.
So as cool as remote control can be, its not for everyonenot yet,
anyway. With todays tools, maybe I would have found a use to go
remote on some forms of control or access. Clearly, todays technology
makes some processes more efficient than ever.
Mike May is a freelance writer and editor living in Florida. You may reach him
at mikemay1959@gmail.com.
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performance, the Eclipse is
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The Eclipse features an
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technology
HELIUM VS.
HYDROGEN
ONE GAS CHROMATOGRAPHER
WEIGHS IN by Abhijit Ghosh
here actually is a sense of worry about the future

availability of helium, which puts it into the group
of top endangered elements.1 Helium is not easy to
come by. Most terrestrial helium derives from the decay of
radioactive uranium (U238) and thorium (Th232) in the earths
crust. Because the decay process for radioactive sources
of helium is time-consuming (a billion years), the rate of
production is incredibly slow. To make it more challenging,
because it is a lighter gas, most of the helium produced over
the years has diffused to the surface and escaped from the
earths atmosphere. A small fraction that has been contained
in the layers of rock is found alongside natural gas.2
In general, helium reminds us of parade and party
balloons, but it is also a key element for research, medical
technology, welding, semiconductor manufacturing, space
exploration, national defense, and more. Being the largest
producer of helium, the United States has controlled the
exploration and availability of helium through government policies and amendments since 1925. As the ongoing
search for helium continues worldwide, and contradictory
news and views about helium resources surface in the media and literature, the community of analytical chemists
often finds itself entangled in the debate of helium versus
hydrogen in the field of gas chromatography. My favorite hydrogen versus helium trivia is that the Hindenburg
was designed to be filled with helium, but because the US
controlled most of the worlds supply of helium and the
Hindenburg was used as a propaganda tool by the Nazis,
the US wouldnt sell the helium to Germany. As we all
know, the story of the Hindenburg didnt end so well.3,4
Most gas chromatographs (GCs) run on helium as a
carrier gas. The advantages include non-inflammability,
inertness, and moderate speed of analysis. Hydrogen, in
contrast, is flammable and may be reactive under favorable
32
Lab Manager
November 2016
conditions, but it produces high-speed analysis and generates sharper peak shapes. The last two characteristics are
a matter of rejoicing for many gas chromatographers
those who value time and enhanced sensitivity. Furthermore, hydrogen is approximately 2.5 times less expensive
than helium. Every gas chromatographers dream is to get
analysis done quickly and cost-effectively with an improved detection limit. But there is a catch: the risk
of setting the lab on fire!
Hydrogen is inherently dangerous and has a history
of many unpleasant events in laboratories. Recently, a
postdoctoral student at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, lost her arm in an explosion generated by a mixture
of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.5 I also heard
about an earlier incident of a hydrogen-related GC explosion in my current lab, and I myself survived a heavy
hydrogen leak not many months ago.
So, do I still personally prefer hydrogen for GC?
The answer is yes!
In spite of the fact that hydrogen is flammable (4 percent
versus 74 percent for helium) and explosive (18.3 percent
versus 59 percent for helium) in air, a hazardous mixture
can easily be avoided in standard laboratory conditions. Because the rate of diffusion of hydrogen in air is very rapid,
when it is released in open laboratory space, it quickly dilutes below the dangerous concentration. Being the lightest
of the gases, hydrogen rises with a speed of 45 miles/hour,
more quickly than any other gas.6 So, building up hydrogen
to its flammable concentration is not something that usually
happens unless there is a heavy leakage (pressure regulator
failure, transfer line leakage, etc.) from a large, compressed
source. Such situations can be avoided by laboratory-scale
hydrogen generators that can produce a sufficient amount
of the gas at any given time but do not store much of it.
LabManager.com
technology
But in a confined space like a GC oven,

hydrogen may create problems. Unanticipated column breakage in a GC oven, leading to
the buildup of a critical concentration and the
subsequent attempt in detector ignition, was one
of the major causes of explosions in the earlier
days. Fortunately, most modern GC systems
are smart enough to go into shut down mode
when they sense a sudden discrepancy in flow or
pressure pattern. And the introduction of metal
columns has greatly reduced the amount of
column breakage.
The reactivity of hydrogen gas is another
concern that deters gas chromatographers from
choosing it. Hydrogen is a reducing agent that can
promote hydrogenation (the addition of hydrogen to a double or triple bond). Hydrogenation is
favored at high temperatures and high pressure,
and in the presence of a metallic catalyst such
as nickel, platinum, or palladium. Fortunately,
favorable conditions for hydrogenation do not
exist inside regularly used open tubular fused
silica capillary columns. But precautions must
be taken in the use of nickel or alumina (Al2O3)
columns. Moreover, carrying out pyrolysis GC
with hydrogen as the carrier gas may cause some
hydrogenation of the unsaturated polymers, provided there is metal contamination (from catalyst
use during production). And solid phase micro
extraction fibers, if the sample contains a metal
core and divinyl benzene as a polymer, causes a
considerable amount of hydrogenation.7-9
There are both proponents and critics of
hydrogen in the GC community. And after much
contemplation, irrespective of helium availability and price, many prefer hydrogen to other
carrier gases. During my graduate school performance of GC and valve-based GCxGC analyses,
I have used hydrogen extensively with no mishap.
I still run GC both on helium and hydrogen for
my microchip thermal gradient gas chromatography research. Like many other analysts, I really
believe that if the safety aspects and possible
consequences (unwanted hydrogenation) are
identified well, with current available technology,
hydrogen is not a threat to our lives and labs, but
rather a gas chromatographers strength.
PS: Good news for helium lovers! A vast reservoir
of helium was uncovered in Tanzania recently.
References:
1. https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/greenchemistry/researchinnovation/research-topics/endangered-elements.html
2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2013.01.059
3. file:///G:/Hydrogen/About%20Helium.html
4. http://www.history.com/news/the-hindenburgdisaster-9-surprising-facts
5. DOI: 10.1126/science.caredit.a1600049
6. www.arhab.org/pdfs/h2_safety_fsheet.pdf
7. https://www.chromatographytoday.com/article_read/1333/
8. Anal. Chem. 2016, 88, 54625468
9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2016.05.045
Abhijit Ghosh, postdoctoral research associate at Brigham Young
University, can be reached at ghosha@byu.edu.
health & safety
EXTENSION CORDS
IN THE LAB
AN INDISPENSABLE TOOL REQUIRING
SERIOUS SAFETY CONSIDERATION
by Vince McLeod
ssential to modern life and a familiar part of our

surroundings, yet often not treated with deserved
respect. Run over, walked on, crimped in windows
and doors, left out in sun and storm alike, strung together, bent, yanked, and strung across rooms and under
carpets, strewn across wet grass and through holes in
walls, taped up and snarled in tangles that would give a
sailor nightmares. Used in the office, in the lab, and in
the field, taken for granted until you need one. What are
we talking about? Electrical extension cords, one of the
most indispensable tools we use today, but too often with
little consideration. And, sometimes used in a fashion
that could have disastrous results.
In 1997, more than 12,000 people were treated for electrical shocks and burns; about 2,500 of them were treated
for injuries stemming from extension cords.1 In addition,
each year about 4,000 injuries associated with electric
extension cords are treated in hospital emergency rooms.
Half of these injuries involve fractures, lacerations,
contusions, or sprains from people tripping over extension
cords. Roughly 3,300 home fires originate in extension
cords each year, killing 50 people and injuring about 270
more.2 However, with a little care and some precautions,
these conveyors of power can be used safely.
We must caution up front, that if you have more than a
few extension cords powering equipment in your lab, it is
probably time to either call an electrician to install additional strategically placed outlets, or to rearrange equipment.
Likewise, if you have any cords running through walls, up
through the ceiling and down somewhere else, an electrician is definitely required. Extension cords should only
be used when necessary and only for temporary use. You
should always plug equipment directly into a permanent
outlet when possible. Where this is not possible, however,
you should begin by selecting the right cord for the job.
34
Lab Manager
November 2016
Indoors or outdoors, the use of extension cords serve

different needs and should be selected accordingly.
Regardless of location, always use the three-prong type
of cord approved for either indoor or outdoor use. In
addition, the cord should have a certification label from
an independent testing lab such as UL (Underwriters
Laboratories) or ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories)
on the package and attached to the cord near the plug.
The amount of current a cord can handle will depend
on the diameter of the conductors (copper wire part
of the cord). Cords that contain more copper can safely
handle more power. The wire size is measured by the
gauge of the wire. You will usually find numbers like 16,
14, or 12 gauge on an extension cord package and the
cord itself. Now, this is one of those confusing issues. You
would think that a 16-gauge wire is bigger than a 12-gauge
wire, but its not! As the number gets smaller, the thickness
of the conductor gets bigger. A 12-gauge wire can safely
carry much more power than a 16-gauge wire. Compare
the capacity on the label to the intended load.
Always use the shortest extension cord possible, to
minimize risk of damage to the cord and reduce electrical resistance across the length of the cord. Extension
cords, by the nature of their length and conditions of
use, are much more prone to damage than other types
of wiring. It is important to check the total length of the
cord for damage before putting it into use.
One should start by looking at the ends of the cords.
The male endthe end with the three prongs that fit
into an electrical outletis the one that is most prone to
damage. The two flat power-conducting prongs are subject to bending, while the round prong (often called the
ground pin), can be broken off. Without the ground pin
there is no path to ground through the wirespotentially a very dangerous situation.
LabManager.com
health & safety
Outdoor use extension cords, and many equipment cords,

have a tough outer layer designed to protect the inner wires. If
the outer jacket is damaged, the softer inner insulation around
the wires can easily become damaged as well. Does this mean
you should whip out the tape to repair it? No, damage to an
extension cord jacket, or any cord for that matter, should never
be fixed by wrapping it with tape. Even electrical tape does not
have sufficient strength or abrasion resistance to make a permanent repair as required by OSHA. A taped-up extension or
power cord to a piece of equipment is an easy OSHA citation.
So, what to do if you have a damaged cord? If the damage is extensive, cut off the plug and throw it out. Replace
it with a new cord. Alternatively, the cord can be cut at the
point of damage and a new plug installed. Too many times,
especially if the female end is damaged, we see outlet boxes
intended for structural use installed on the extension cord.
These are not permitted if the box is designed to be surface
mounted. The clues to easy identification are indentations
(knockouts) on the side about the size of a nickel and small
holes on the back. Instead, use hard-walled outlet boxes that
are approved for use on a flexible cord.
Next, where to plug it in? If you are outside, or in a wet

or damp location, or near water, look for outlets protected
by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). A GFCI
is a fast-acting device that detects small current leakage from electrical equipment. In other words, it senses
electricity traveling to ground via something other than
the wires, such as yourself. It shuts off the electricity
within 1/40th of a second if sufficient current leakage is
detected. It provides effective protection against shocks
and electrocution. GFCI pigtailsvery short cords
with a GFCI built incan be used with plug and cord
equipment in areas without protected outlets. Although
GFCI outlets are required by building codes for bathrooms, kitchens, rooftops, and garages, they are not always
required near laboratory sinks. This requirement varies by
locale and code enforcement authority. We think, however,
it is a good idea, and almost always recommend them on
outlets within 6 feet of laboratory sinks.
Special cases, such as in pits, tanks, or near certain
manufacturing processes where flammable materials are
used, require special electrical equipment designed such
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health & safety
Mills, Grinders &

Sieve Shakers
that they will not be possible ignition sources. This
equipment carries the designation intrinsically
safe. Only intrinsically safe equipment may be used
in these potentially explosive areas.
Before closing, here are OSHAs actual rules:3
1910.305(g)(1)(iii) Unless specically permitted in paragraph (g)
(1)(i) of this section, exible cords and cables may not be used:
1910.305(g)(1)(iii)(A) As a substitute for the xed wiring of a structure;
1910.305(g)(1)(iii)(B) Where run through holes in walls, ceilings, or oors;
1910.305(g)(1)(iii)(C) Where run through doorways, windows,
or similar openings;
1910.305(g)(1)(iii)(D) Where attached to building surfaces; or
1910.305(g)(1)(iii)(E) Where concealed behind building walls,
ceilings, or oors.
Remember, when using electrical equipment, look
for an outlet you can plug directly into. If that is
not possible, choose the right cord, and make sure it
is in good shape and protected from damage while
in use. And please, use GFCI-protected circuits
when outdoors or in wet locations.
References
1. 2001 Electrocutions Associated with Consumer Products,
Consumer Product Safety Commission. Bethesda,
MD. 2004. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/
pdfs/electrocutions2001.pdf
2. Extension Cord Safety, Electrical Safety Foundation
International. Arlington, VA. 2015. http://www.
esfi.org/resource/extension-cord-safety-336
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use. Occupational Health and Safety Administration. Washington, D.C. https://www.osha.gov/
pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9882
Vince McLeod is an American Board of Industrial
Hygiene-certified Industrial Hygienist (IH) and the senior
IH with Ascend Environmental + Health Hygiene, LLC,
in Winter Garden, Florida. He has more than 35 years
experience in industrial hygiene and environmental engineering services, including 28 years with the University
of Floridas Environmental Health & Safety Division.
His consulting experience includes comprehensive IH
assessments for major power-generation, manufacturing,
production, and distribution facilities.
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troubleshooting PCR
Troubleshooting
PCR
PCR is a three-step, cyclic process, where new

strands of DNA are created through successive
rounds of denaturation, annealing, and
extension using the enzyme DNA polymerase.
PCR can fail for various reasons, in part due
to its sensitivity to contamination causing
amplification of spurious DNA products.
A DNA Template that contains the target sequence.

DNA Polymerase (Taq) this is the enzyme that
synthesizes new DNA.
Components of
a Successful PCR
Nucleotides (dATP, dTTP, dGTP, dCTP) the building

blocks of DNA.
Primers these are short DNS fragments that are
complimentary to the target sequence of interest.
Buffers buffers containing magnesium ions provide
the required conditions for the polymerase to work.
Expert Tip:
Prepare the master mix in only one tube to prevent pipetting variations and use a tube large enough
to hold the entire volume of the master mix.
Alliqout immediately afterwards to avoid multiple thawing that can negatively impact PCR reproducibility.
Missing Components: Check that you
included all required components and retry.
Troubleshooting
No Bands
Denaturing Temperature Too Low:

If temperature is too low, denaturation will
not be complete and amplification will be low.
A denaturation temperature of 95 C is recommended.
Annealing Temperature Too High:
If temperature is too high, primers will not bind to the
template. Use a temperature that is 5 C lower than
the Tm of the primer.
Troubleshooting
PCR
Too Few PCR Cycles: Use 20-25 cycles

(fewer if template concentration is high and more
if concentration is low).
Bad Template: Template could be sheared or
contain PCR inhibitors; dilute existing template or use
fresh template and increase cycles.
Contamination: Contaminants in the primers,
dNTPs, or water can inhibit PCR. Use only the best
quality reagents and nuclease-free water.
Expert Tip, In The Event of No or Low Amplification:

Optimize denaturation and/or annealing temperature with a gradient.
Use PCR enhancers such as DMSO or BSA. Each require empirical testing for the specific
combination of template and primer
Too Many Cycles: Excessive cycling can result

in non-specific amplification and errors. Use 20-35
cycles and fewer when template concentration is high.
Troubleshooting
Non-specific Bands
Annealing Temperature Too Low: Under

lower temperatures, primers may bind nonspecifically
to the template. Try increasing your annealing
temperature.
Annealing Time Too Long: Longer annealing
times can result in spurious priming. Keep annealing
time to 30 sec.
Extension Time Too Long: Excessive
extension can cause nonspecific amplification. Keep
extension time to 60 seconds/kb.
Sponsored by:
Heating Too Slow: If ramping speed is too slow,

spurious annealing may occur. Set your ramping speed
to maximum.
Contamination: Contaminants in your
primers or dNTPs can lead to incomplete or incorrect
amplification. Use only the highest quality reagents.
Too Much Mg++: Excessive magnesium
increases the likelihood of nonspecific primer binding.
Reduce the amount of Mg++ in your final reaction.
Expert Tip, In Case of Non-specific Amplifications:
Use hot-start protocols. Make sure your cycler is properly calibrated with rapid temperature ramp-up.
For new primers, run optimization with a single primer to determine non-specificity.
Titrate Mg++ to optimize the concentration for your PCR reaction.
Annealing or Extension Times Too Long:
Annealing times of 30 seconds and extension times
of 1 min/kb are ideal.
Troubleshooting
Smeared Bands
Temperature Too Low or Thermal

Cycler Ramping Slowly:
Low annealing temperature may cause primers to bind
non-specifically. Increase your temperature and, for
greater accuracy, optimize using a thermal gradient.
Too Much Template Was Added:
If template concentration is too high, polymerase
can be inhibited. Reduce the number of cycles, reduce
template concentration, and increase denaturation
time and/or temperature.
download the full

infographic
Labmanager.com/troubleshooting-PCR
Degraded Template: If template is degraded,

use a fresh sample.
Template Contained An Exonuclease:
If this is suspected, use a fresh sample.
Contamination: Contamination of primers,
dNTPs, or impure water can result in incomplete or
incorrect amplificationuse high quality reagents and
nuclease-free water.
Sponsored by Eppendorf AG
38
Lab Manager
November 2016
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Eppendorf Mastercyclers best conditions for PCR
Do not let poor instruments compromise
your PCR results. Eppendorf blocks
show outstanding homogeneity and
accuracy. Fast ramp rates are precisely
controlled allowing earlier and reproducible PCR runs.
Programming is easy and protocols can

be password protected. All this supports
your constant strive for reproducible and
meaningful results.
www.eppendorf.com/mastercycler
Eppendorf, the Eppendorf Logo and Eppendorf Mastercycler are registered trademarks of Eppendorf AG, Germany.
All rights reserved, including graphics and images. Copyright 2016 by Eppendorf AG.
industry insights: drug discovery
IDENTIFYING PROTEINS IN
PHARMACEUTICAL STUDIES
WESTERN BLOTTING REMAINS A GO-TO TOOL
THAT KEEPS GETTING EASIER by Mike May, PhD
n 1979, Harry Towbin of the Friedrich Miescher

Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel, Switzerland, and his colleagues Theophil Staehelin and
Julian Gordon published an article in the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences of the United States called
Electrophoretic transfer of proteins from polyacrylamide gels to nitrocellulose sheets: procedure and some
applications. This launched a protein-identification
technique known as Western blotting, and 54,126 papers
have cited Towbin and companys original publication
according to Google Scholar on September 3, 2016. That
number of citations alone gives anyone an idea of this
techniques value to molecular biology.
In brief, Western blotting separates proteins by size and
shape with an electric field applied to a gel, and then targeted
proteins are stained with antibodies. Also, theres really nothing western about it; the name just emerged from a twist on
the name Southern blotting, which is used to detect DNA.
Scientists around the world continue to use Western
blotting in basic and applied research, such as pharmaceutical studies. In particular, this molecular technique can
reveal how disease emerges, how it spreads, and ways to
defeat it. Most important, new techniques make it possible
to apply Western blotting in simpler ways that provide
more accuracy than ever. Furthermore, new tools make
it possible for scientists to use the bulk of Western-blotting knowledge that is available in the literature. These
advances keep this tool more relevant than ever.
UNDERSTANDING ADDICTION
At the University of Florida in Gainesville, assistant

professor of psychology Lori Knackstedt studies how
addictive drugs can change the brain. One easy way to
do that is to have animals take the drugs, and then we do
Western blots to look for changes in proteins related to
neurotransmitters and receptors related to drug addiction, she explains. Then, we try to fix the brain with
medications to see if they can normalize those proteins.
40
Lab Manager
November 2016
Western blotting, says Knackstedt, is the easiest way

to look at protein levels. Alternatively, a scientist could
use immunohistochemistry on brain slices. That takes
longer, and its technically harder, she explains. So
Western blotting is usually picked for its simplicity.
She points out that many companies make antibodies that can be used in Western blotting. The biggest
concern is: Does the antibody recognize what you think
it does? Knackstedt asks. Very few people check. That
requires using an animal that doesnt have the gene that
makes the protein of interesta so-called knockout
animaland then adding the antibody, which should
bind to nothing.
So when asked what tools shed like, Knackstedt says,
validated antibodies. She adds that right now she
does the knockout studies or uses an antibody where
someone else has.
MEASURING MOLECULAR
CONSEQUENCES
When searching for new pharmaceuticals, scientists face

several challenges. For one thing, the drug must work
meaning that it shows efficacy for the condition that it
is planned to treatand scientists need to unravel the
mechanism of action. To truly understand how a drug
works, scientists must explore the molecular consequences of administering it, and Western blotting can be
used in such studies.
For example, a research team from the University of
Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston used
Western blotting to study various reactions to buparlisib
(BKM120) in patients with leukemia. In brief, BKM120
inhibits phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), which is
part of a signaling pathway that controls the growth and
proliferation of leukemia. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, BKM120s impact on PI3K may
result in inhibition of tumor cell growth and survival in
susceptible tumor cell populations.
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Naval G. Daver, assistant professor in MD Andersons

department of leukemia, and his colleagues conducted
a Phase I trial in leukemia patients to determine the
dose-limiting toxicity of BKM120. Using Western blotting, they showed inhibition of disease markers above 50
percent in more than half of the patients, as reported in
the American Journal of Hematology in 2016.
Even when researchers find drugs that work for
illnesses, that doesnt mean they will always work.
Diseases, including leukemia, can grow resistant to a
treatment that initially proved effective in a patient. As
an example, a team of Chinese scientists studied drug
resistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and described their findings in a 2014 issue of PLoS One (now
PLOS ONE) (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105381). As
the scientists wrote: Drug resistance still represents
a major obstacle to successful acute myeloid leukemia
treatment, and the underlying mechanism is not fully
elucidated. Their work revealed that overexpression
of a regulatory gene, c-Myc, can spawn the resistance
to a chemotherapeutic drug. Using Western blotting
plus polymerase chain reaction techniquesthese scientists revealed that overexpression of c-Myc reduced
a family of binding proteins and that increasing these
same proteins could return the efficacy of an AML
drug. And they concluded: Thus, our study indicated
that c-Myc could be a novel target to overcome drug
resistance, providing a new approach in AML therapy.
For many cancer patients, finding ways to extend the
efficacy of a therapy means the difference between life
and death, and understanding the molecular nuances
that drive or disrupt resistance helps pharmaceutical
scientists provide these lifesaving treatments.
ADDING ACCURACY
To improve accuracy, scientists often normalize proteins detected in a Western blot. The REVERT Total
Protein Stain from LI-COR Biosciences (Lincoln, NE)
makes that easier.
This product, says Kristi Ambroz, the companys
director of customer solutions and support, stains all
membrane-bound proteins, allowing normalization of
the target protein to the total protein content within the
sample, and thus enhancing quantitative accuracy. She
adds, The stain can be detected in the 700 nanometer
channel of Odyssey imaging systems for quantification
and normalization analyses. After reversing the staining,
a Western blot detects the proteins of interest.
42
Lab Manager
November 2016
This Jurkat cell

lysate was stained with
REVERT Total Protein
Stain and detected in the
700 nanometer channel of
the Odyssey CLx imaging
system. (Image courtesy of
LI-COR Biosciences.)
Normalizing the target protein utilizing this reagent
reduces the impact of biological variability as compared
to a single housekeeping protein resulting in more accurate quantification of protein expression in a Western
blot, Ambroz explains.
Scientists who need to quickly develop reproducible
processes might prefer a stain-free approach to Western
blotting. As explained by Raymond R. Miller, product manager at Bio-Rad Laboratories (Hercules, CA),
his companys Stain-Free Western Workflow doesnt
require staining steps, reduces variability, and allows the
researcher to track the quality of the process, providing
higher confidence in the results. He adds, Coupled
with our validated antibodies and Total Protein Normalization protocol, the Stain-Free Workflow benefits
scientists, especially those working in pharmaceutical
drug discovery and development where optimizing
time-to-result and ensuring reproducibility are critical
and become even more significant in the later stages of
manufacturing and quality control.
SIMPLIFIED STEPS
Some approaches to Western blotting make it easier

than ever. ProteinSimple (San Jose, CA), for example,
makes products developed from its Simple Western technology. This requires no gels and very little hands-on
intervention, says Patricia Piatti, product manager for
Simple Western. Everything is done automatically after
sample preparation and loading. This approach to identifying proteins uses capillary electrophoresis followed
by immunodetection.
The Wes platform handles up to 24 samples and
runs them through Western processing in less than three
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hours. Doing that with the traditional approach, says

Piatti, would take two mini-gels and typically at least 24
hours. Our approach also uses less sample than traditional Westerns, she says.
Each antibody gets a Bioz Star rating, based on a set

of weighted parameters, including mentions in articles,
impact factor, and recency. This really helps you understand the quality of the product and its likelihood to
work well in your experiment, she says. And its a free
search engine for any researcher to use.
As Daniel Levitt, Bioz cofounder and CEO, says, Our
tool allows researchers to make sure that the way they
are performing an assay is a good match to how other researchers have performed it successfully. He adds, This
is a guide prepared by millions of other researchers who
have already invented the wheel, and weve summarized
this valuable data for the benefit of the next researcher.
ProteinSimples
Simple Western
reduces the handson steps in this
protein analysis.
(Image courtesy of
ProteinSimple.)
It also automatically processes the data. All the quantitationsignal and molecular weighthas been done for
you, Piatti says. The automation of the process and data
analysis also reduce results variability and the expertise
needed to use this technology. No calibration is necessary before or after a run, she explains, and theres very
little waste generated, which leaves nothing to clean up.
ANTIBODY IDENTIFICATION
Based on having performed many Western blots, Karin

Lachmi, cofounder and CSO at Bioz (Palo Alto, CA),
says, One of the main problems is identifying the right
antibody for the right assay.
A scientist can easily search a few articles to get some
background, but Lachmi wanted more. She wanted all
the information thats out there; she wanted to make
well-informed decisions. So now a scientist can go to
Bioz (Bioz.com), enter the name of an antibody, and
get back information summarized and structured from
millions of articles. The results present you with a
complete list of all vendors who sell the antibody that
you are looking for, and help you identify the best antibody vendor for your assay, Lachmi explains. Youll see
whether other researchers use this antibody for Western
blotting or if its better for ELISAs.
44
Lab Manager
November 2016
The Bioz free search engine helps scientists find the right antibodies for their Western blotting. (Image courtesy of Bioz.)
With the right platform and information, Western
blotting can reveal and characterize potential medicines.
From exploring addiction to drug efficacy, as well as the
development of resistance, this molecular technique remains a pharmaceutical workhorse. The key arises from
the detail that this technique can provide. Moreover,
new methods make this technique easier and faster, and
databases help scientists select the best antibodies to use
in specific experiments. So even after more than 35 years,
Western blotting promises to continue as a cutting-edge
mainstay in molecular labs, especially ones working on
ways to improve and extend our lives.
Mike May is a freelance writer and editor living in Florida.
You may reach him at mikemay1959@gmail.com.
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November 2016
Lab Manager
45
industry insights: forensic science
TESTING DRUGS OF ABUSE
GC-MS: THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE OF FORENSICS by Angelo DePalma, PhD
ass spectrometry (MS) has emerged as an

everyday analysis tool suitable for screening
and confirmatory analysis, and in some cases it
blurs the distinction between the two.
Gas chromatography (GC) equipped with a headspace
and fungal identification testing (FID) remain the workhorses for blood alcohol analysis. While the drunk driving rate has dropped in the US and Canada, labs have
seen an increase in these tests because in some jurisdictions, drivers may opt out of curbside breath analysis in
the hope that their blood alcohol content (BAC) will fall
to legal limits between arrest and test.
At some point, curated databases

of abused drugs will be available
to analysts online.
Drugs of abuse, are in many ways, moving targets. Neerdo-wells with degrees in synthetic organic chemistry operate several steps ahead of the law; freelance compounders
substitute substances not normally considered to be human
medicines into street drugs. Thus, targeted screening
may miss dangerous, illegal compounds such as synthetic
cannabinoids and their derivatives or, as has recently been
reported, heroin laced with elephant tranquilizers.
HRMS INCHING TOWARD

US MARKETS
Because drugs tend to be small-molecule structures,

gas-chromatography-MS (GC-MS) serves as confirmation both for alcohol level and for most drugs. There is
still an advantage in terms of comfort level compared
with liquid chromatographybased methods, says Lisa
Thomas, senior director for vertical marketing for clinical and forensic toxicology at Thermo Fisher Scientific
(Sunnyvale, CA). Thomas describes GC-MS as the
46
Lab Manager
November 2016
Swiss army knife of forensics, because in addition to

drug testing it serves investigations of arson, explosives,
and seized drugs, as well as the characterization of common substances such as inks.
Thermo Fisher offers both MS and non-MS workflows
for forensics laboratories within the fields of forensic
toxicology, controlled substance analysis, trace evidence,
explosive investigations, and human identification.
High-resolution MS has taken forensic toxicology by
storm in European markets, but adoption has been slower in the US due to capital cost, validation, and residual
effects of the overpromise and finicky behavior of the
first-generation quadrupole time-of-flight instruments,
says Thomas.
Todays orbitrap-based high-resolution systems now
rival triple-quad spectrometers in sensitivity. Thermo
has released a GC-orbitrap system that is currently under evaluation at national forensics organizations for the
analysis of seized drugs.
Thomas therefore sees a significant shift to quantitative high-resolution mass spec based on technology
improvements, greater affordability and ease of use,
and most important, the reduced need to send samples
to independent labs for death investigations in which
abuse of designer drugs is suspected. Thermo Fishers Q
Exactive Focus Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap mass
spectrometer provides those benefits, Thomas says, and
incorporates high-resolution MS libraries of hundreds
of novel psychoactive substances, with the ability to update regularly using a cloud-based resource. The system,
mzCloud, overcomes proprietary monthly updates of
conventional updating mechanisms.
More private laboratories now offer isotope ratio MS
(IRMS) as part of their forensics capabilities. IRMS
pinpoints the geographic origin of counterfeit or illicit
drugs, and traces sources of adulterants.
GC-MS has been the go-to method for seized drugs,
usually after screening with FTIR. Novel DOBs have
swamped border patrol, DEA, and other officials with
LabManager.com
industry insights: forensic science
Professor William Clarke of Johns Hopkins

University (Baltimore, MD) notes that the
testing of legal drugs in health care settings is
growing rapidly. Many such tests are conducted not for legal purposes but to manage a
patients condition, for example, at childbirth
and in pain management settings. Here, physician liability, not legal prosecution, becomes
the main driver.
For maternity testing, the presence of any
opioid will raise red flags to health care providers. Within pain management, screening
should consist of more definitive identification. Immunoassays used for prenatal and
perinatal tests cannot distinguish between
morphine and codeine, for example, but in
opioid management, doctors want to know
which agent is in the bloodstream. That is
where LC-MS comes in.
MS is increasingly used in screening mode as
well, but is not yet standard. Clarke makes the
case that MS could be applied to many screens,
followed by a confirmatory test with appropriate standards. In todays practice, analysts
may be prepared for about 40 drugs but only
include standards for three or so.
Commercially available standards covering
a much broader range of drugs of abuse are
possible, of course, and Clarke says they will be
available at some point, adding that commercially available standards would make life a lot
easier for many labs. For many workflows, standards prep eats up more time than sample prep.
At some point, curated databases of abused
drugs will be available to analysts online,
including high-resolution masses and perhaps
fragmentation values and LC retention times
as well. Having those tools available will allow
non-targeted screening, says Clarke, which
could be important in public health settings.
In June 2016, Phytronix Technologies (Quebec City, Canada)

introduced the Luxon Ion Source, based on a next-generation
sample introduction and ionization technology, LDTD, for
high-throughput screening using MS.
Luxon uses a fiber-coupled laser diode that analyzes samples in less
than one second. The redesigned device improves performance and
robustness in applications with very low sample volumes.
Traditional screening methods require multiple immunoassays
that lack drug specificity, depend on reagent availability, and gener115-7576
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ate a high false-positive
rate
due square
to interference
LDTD is reagent-free and drug-class agnostic. It enables laboratories to optimize revenue potential by offering presumptive
test menus for over 100 compounds by a single extraction sample
preparation method, says Ted Palashis, president of Overbrook
Scientific (Boston, MA), which markets and supports Luxon
and LDTD in the United States. Palashis refers to LDTD as a
paradigm shift for high-throughput laboratory workflows. We
believe LDTD will replace traditional immunoassay screening
methods as it incorporates critical analysis attributes with quantitative analysis by mass spectrometry.
Angelo DePalma is a freelance writer living in Newton, NJ. You can
reach him at angelo@adepalma.com.
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ask the expert
ASK THE EXPERT

CHOOSING THE BEST ANALYTICAL
STANDARDS by Rachel Muenz
Anita Shah currently works at Doctors Data, Inc. (DDI), as that companys elements technical manager.
She specializes in elemental analysis, using ICP-MS on clinical specimens. For over a decade she has
been a leader in DDIs method development and method validation, writing controlled documents,
developing training and staff competency, preparing for laboratory audits, and much more. Ms.
Shah has over 20 years combined laboratory experience in the biotech, clinical, and environmental
industries. Before joining DDI, she served as a chief chemist at Gabriel Environmental Services, located
in Chicago, Illinois, and as an executive at Torrent Gujarat Biotech in India.
Anita Shah
Q: What does your laboratory do?

A: We are a clinical reference laboratory that provides specialty testing for
a broad range of analytes in human
specimens. Im the technical manager
in the trace element department, where
we test blood, urine, hair, and feces for
trace elements.
Q: What main analytical

technology do you use?
A: We use ICP-MS with reaction cell
and collision cell technology.
Q: What elements do you test

for in your department? What
sort of sample prep is involved?
A: We test as many as 42 analytes in
various biological specimens. Most of
our sample preparation is done using
acid digestion techniques with microwave ovens. Our urine preparation is
performed using an online automated
system developed here at DDI.
Q: Which elements are most
challenging to test for, and why?
A: The most challenging elements are

titanium, chromium, and vanadium.
Q: What are some of the challenges you run into when using
ICP-MS, if any?
48
Lab Manager
November 2016
A: Contamination control, element

stability, matrix interferences, and
isobaric interferences.
Q: What advice would you have
for those who are new to ICP-MS?

A: Read a beginners guide to become
familiar with ICP-MS, get training, pay
attention to details, and be patient.
Improper combinations
of elements and
stabilizing reagents
(acids) may result in
standard degradation.
Q: What do you use analytical
standards for?
A: For calibration of the instrument, verifying the calibration, and preparing spikes.
Q: Which types of analytical
standards do you use?
A: We mainly use Inorganic Ventures

standards. They have stock blends and
custom blends, with elements at the appropriate levels for our clinical specimens.
Q: What are the key things you
are looking for when choosing

analytical standards for the lab?
A: Accuracy, reliability, stability, and
traceability. We have also found good
technical support to be useful as well,
especially when creating our custom
multi-element standards.
Q: What are some of the

challenges you run into when it
comes to analytical standards?
A: There are many challenges when
looking at the stock and custom
multi-element standards we use. Improper combinations of elements and
stabilizing reagents (acids) may result
in standard degradation. Contamination
of elements not part of the certified
list of elements could also cause errors.
For example, in the past, weve seen
platinum and barium contamination in
some of our gold standards.
Q: How do you handle those
challenges?
A: It is important to understand what

is going on when we encounter problems with our analytical standards. Inorganic Ventures has provided us with
excellent support on element/acid
compatibility and how to group our
LabManager.com
ask the expert
custom multi-element standards. They

have been able to provide us with clean
standards and with good approaches to
problem solving.
in this area. When DDI first started

trace element testing, there was very
little interest outside of detecting lead
in blood. DDI is the leader in testing
Q: If a lab chooses the wrong

analytical standard, or one thats
not reliable, what are some of
the possible consequences?
More laboratories are

testing more elements,
and this represents
new challenges.
A: DDI prides itself on quality results.

Using a wrong or unreliable standard
can affect quality and the reputation of
a laboratory. Reliability and accuracy
are very important to us.
Q: What advice would you have

for lab professionals who are
getting into similar work?
A: There is a need for qualified
chemists and medical technologists
awareness of clinical issues associated

with toxic element exposure or essential
element needs. Now more laboratories
are testing more elements, and this
represents new challenges. We need
medical technologists with a strong
analytical chemistry background, or
analytical chemists with a strong clinical
background. We love problem solvers.
Rachel Muenz, associate editor for

Lab Manager, can be reached at
rachelm@labmanager.com or by phone
at 888-781-0328 x233.
many of the other trace elements using

ICP-MS. Now trace element testing in
clinical laboratories is growing. Some
of this is driven by better technologies
in ICP-MS, and some by increased
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UV-VIS SPECTROPHOTOMETERS
product focus | UV-Vis spectrophotometers
50
BUILDING BETTER BEVERAGES: ULTRAVIOLET AND VISIBLE

SPECTRUM ANALYSIS IMPROVE THE PROCESSES
by Mike May, PhD
echnology that analyzes the ultraviolet

(UV) and visible (Vis) spectrum helps
manufacturers make just the right beverages.
UV-Vis spectroscopy, for example, is a very simple and
inexpensive analytical technique that is easily found
in routine laboratories and industries, says Paulo
Henrique Diniz, professor of analytical chemistry at
the Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia in Brazil.
Diniz and his colleagues used UV-Vis spectroscopy
to analyze tea, and they published their results in
Food Chemistry in 2016. As he explains: Simple tea
infusions prepared in boiling water alonesimulating
a homemade cup of teawere analyzed, which
provides a simpler, faster, and more affordable approach
to traditional tea quality evaluations. In fact, they
even analyzed that data with freely available pattern
recognition software.
Diniz doesnt think that UV-Vis can be used in every

case. We know that food and beverages are very
complex matrices, and normally require the use of
more sophisticated analytical techniques, such as liquid
or gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, to
evaluate their quality, he says. With tea, he says, UVVis spectroscopy is a very useful alternative.
Improving the process

When producing beverages, the traditional approach
involves building a batch from a recipeadding so
much of this and that until the beverage contains
all the ingredients in the appropriate amountsand
then decanting the final product into containers.
Now, beverage makers can inject components during
production and use UV-Vis technology to adjust the
mixture in real time. This provides a more consistent
product, and the manufacturer can react to market
demand this way, says John Daly, manager at South
Fork Instruments (Pleasanton, CA)a company that
puts together beverage analysis systems that use various
technologies, including UV-Vis spectrophotometry.
With energy drinks, for example, UV technology is
often used. You take water and then throw in a whole
Lab Manager
November 2016
bunch of stuff, Daly says. So maybe you want to

keep track of the caffeine concentration. Similar
measurements might be made when manufacturing a
cola. You take caffeine powder and put it in a liquid,
and you want to make sure it dissolves fully and you get
the right concentration, he says.
The UV-Vis analysis, though, will always be part of
a larger system. The systems whole purpose is to
provide automation, so the analytical hardware needs
connectivity to the centralized supervisory systems,
Daly explains.
The system's whole purpose

is to provide automation, so
the analytical hardware needs
connectivity to the centralized
supervisory systems.
Better bar beverages
To assess the color of beer or wine, many companies
use UV-Vis technology. These beverages make up very
large markets. As Bob Clifford, marketing manager for
food and consumer products at Shimadzu Scientific
Instruments (Columbia, MD), says, After water and
tea, beer is the most consumed beverage in the world.
There are good reasons that these industries turn to
UV-Vis spectroscopy. According to Steve Upstone,
product specialist with PerkinElmer (Waltham, MA),
UV-Vis is normally chosen for its simplicity and speed
over chromatography. He adds, In some cases, the
down side is that there is some chemistry that needs
performing prior to analysis, but for other things
color, in particularthe measurement is very fast, so
no sample preparation is required and the result takes
seconds. PerkinElmer provides scientists with a choice
of conventional Lambda 365 and array-based Lambda
265 and 465 platforms.
LabManager.com
product focus | UV-Vis spectrophotometers
The low cost of a UV-Vis spectrometer also encourages its

use, and some platforms perform the process more easily
than in the past. Array-based platforms, for example, can
collect readings from multiple wavelengths at the same time.
Conventional UV-Vis instruments have to measure each
wavelength sequentially, Upstone says. If we take wine color
as an example, it is necessary to measure at three separate
wavelengths, and an array instrument, like the PerkinElmer
Lambda, will do this in less than two seconds. It takes ten
times as long in a conventional instrument. If you do five
samples a day, this is no big deal, Upstone says, but if you do
500, then it starts to get significant.
Brewers can also use UV-Vis spectroscopy for analysis of other
features of beer, including components in the beverage. To
balance the bitterness of a hoppy beer, like an IPA, sugars are
extracted from the barley during the mashing process. The
total sugars in the resulting wort or in the beer itself can be
measured with UV-Vis spectroscopy.
During production, one question becomes how do we know
when the fermentation process is complete, says Clifford.
The UV-Vis can test for diacetyl2,3-butanedioneand a
related compound, 2,3-pentanedione, which are called vicinal
diketones or VDKs, and the VDKs are an indication of when
the brewing process is complete.
To make such measurements, brewers can use the Shimadzu
UV-1280 multipurpose UV-visible spectrophotometer.
Offering wavelength scanning from 190 to 1,100 nm, and
featuring enhanced validation, maintenance, and inspection
functions, this compact, high-quality instrument is ideal for
applications in a variety of industries, including food and

beverages, Clifford says. Users can connect USB flash drives
directly to the UV-1280, making it easy to transport analysis
data and to store large amounts of data on a PC.
Maintaining the measurements

To get the right results with UV-Vis spectroscopy, though, the
instrument must be kept clean and stable. Lots of photometric
devices drift, Daly explains, so the instrumentation needs
anti-drift techniques. He adds, Some come with it and some
dont. Typically, this is just an issue of cost.
The equipment selected must also stand up to the environment
where it is needed. For example, it can be difficult to place UVVis sensors in the necessary spots on beverage lines that are
sterilized in place.
As Daly explains, Someone in the beverage industry comes
to us with something they want to measure, and we do some
background on that. Daly and his team might find that
different materials in a solution might absorb light at the same
wavelength. Then, they cant tell which is which. So you might
need more than one UV-Vis system in such a situation, he says.
Ultimately, says Daly, The key is to just get the right stuff. If
that was good enough for the space program, it should be good
enough for beverage analysis.
Mike May is a freelance writer and editor living in Florida. You may
reach him at mikemay1959@gmail.com.
UV-Vis is normally chosen for

its simplicity and speed over
chromatography.
FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON UV-VIS SPECTROPHOTOMETERS, INCLUDING USEFUL ARTICLES AND

A LIST OF MANUFACTURERS, VISIT WWW.LABMANAGER.COM/UV-VIS
November 2016
Lab Manager
51
survey says
ARE YOU IN THE MARKET FOR A...

GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY SYSTEM?
Types of GC detectors used by survey respondents:

Flame ionization (FID)
67%
Mass spectrometer
Thermal conductivity (TCD)
Electron capture (ECD)
Nitrogen-phosphorus
Photo-ionization (PID)
Flame photometric (FPD)
Other
58%
Gas chromatography (GC) is a common technique used in analytical chemistry for separating
and analyzing compounds that can be vaporized without decomposition. GC is typically used for
separating the different components of a mixture, improving the purity of a particular substance,
or identifying a particular compound. GC is a ubiquitous technique, and the various GC instruments
available are designed to achieve every requirement of the technique.
34%
29%
10%
10%
6%
6%
TOP 6 QUESTIONS
You Should Ask When Buying a GC System

1. What factors come into play when determining the GC system specications you require in terms of cycle time,
enhanced operator benets, increased productivity, and exibility for specic applications?
2. What differentiates the vendors GC system from others offered, in terms of performance?
GC-related components used by survey respondents:

Autosampler
77%
Regulators, valves, ttings

Data system
Gas generator
Headspace sampler
Purge & trap
Other
71%
70%
32%
32%
30%
1%
50% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new

gas chromatography system. The reasons for these
purchases are as follows:
Replacement of aging system

Addition to existing systems, increase capacity
First time purchase
Setting up a new lab
Other
55%
27%
8%
2%
8%
3. How do you validate the specication claims presented by the vendor?

4. Has the data processing software been designed for enhanced analytics, with workow in mind and does it support
critical compliance requirements?
5. What are important price points to keep in mind when selecting a GC system?
6. Laboratories need fast and effective services, including an effective distribution of instruments, spare parts, education,
and service personnel. How does the company serve these needs worldwide?
TOP 10 FEATURES/FACTORS
Respondents Look for When Purchasing a GC System

ACCURACY
90%
QUALITY OF DATA
86%
RUGGEDNESS AND RELIABILITY
76%
RESOLUTION
70%
EASE OF MAINTENANCE
66%
SENSITIVITY
66%
PRECISE AND ACCURATE FLOW RATES
64%
SAFETY
63%
PRICE
58%
SERVICE AND SUPPORT
57%
900=
860=
760=
700=
660=
660=
640=
630=
580=
570=
52
For more information on GC systems, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers,
visit www.labmanager.com/GC
Lab Manager
November 2016
LabManager.com
products in action
HIGH PERFORMANCE FUME HOODS ARE KEY TO SUSTAINABLE LABS

One of the greatest operating costs for labs
is fume hood energy consumption. Fume
hoods exhaust tempered air directly outside,
meaning they significantly impact the labs
energy bill. Lowering fume hood consumption with high performance fume hoods can
drastically reduce energy needs.
Airflow volume is typically measured in
cubic feet per minute (CFM), and the
best way to optimize is to reduce the
CFM used by laboratory fume hoods.
Only when all design professionals are in
agreement about lab airflow performance
at the beginning of a project can a sustainable laboratory become a reality.
ENHANCED FUME HOOD DESIGN

FEATURES
During new laboratory construction,
high performance fume hoods can be
employed to efficiently minimize the
required CFM. However, not all high
performance fume hoods are equal.
CFM levels can vary drastically between
models and manufacturers, and it may
be necessary to set the sash operating
height lower on some hoods to ensure
proper energy savings.
Various aerodynamic components of a
fume hood, such as the Eco-Foil air foil,
and the Opti-Zone rear baffle system,
play a significant role in reducing wasted
CFM. Flush air foils offered today can
require 10% more CFM than aerodynamically designed, curved lower air foils. Furthermore, attention to detail in the design
of the rear baffle system can reduce CFM
requirements by creating a more uniform
face velocity across the plane of the sash.
ANSI Z9.5 specifies a minimum exhaust volume based on 150-375 ACH (air changes
per hour) passing through a fume hood. Fume
hoods with more efficient features significantly
lower operating costs when the fume hood
is not in use. Additionally, an automatic sash
positioning system (labeled Sash Intelligence in the table below) can be used in
combination with a variable air volume (VAV)
system to require a fraction of the energy of a
Opti-Zone Rear Baffle System
high performance fume hoods operating

at their low flow set point. Therefore this
laboratory will require 2,040 less CFM total
for laboratory supply air. Using $25 to $30
per CFM as the estimate for initial costs,
these high efficiency hoods saved $50,000
to $60,000 in initial capital costs in
addition to lowering annual operating cost.
Consequently, fume hood performance, and
specifically their operational CFM specification, becomes vitally important to both initial
capital costs and annual operating costs,
without compromising safety.
standard constant air volume (CAV) system.
ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS AND

INITIAL CAPITAL COSTS
The number of CFM fume hoods exhaust
from the lab directly affects the annual
operating costs of heating and cooling,
which range from $4 to $12 per CFM every year, depending on location. The initial
capital costs are also significant and can
be altered a great deal by reducing fume
hood air volume demand. The cooling system, heating system, reheating, supply air
handler, exhaust fan, and exhaust ductwork
can be sized according to hood efficiency
Annual Operating Costs $4 - $12 per CFM
($7 average)
Initial Capital Costs
per CFM
Cooling System
Heating System
Reheating
Exhaust Fan
Supply Air Handler
$14
$2
$0.6
$6
$5
Exhaust Ductwork
$0.4
TOTAL
$25 - $30 per CFM
Photo Credit: Randy Braley
IN CONCLUSION
Fume hoods that arent designed for high performance will create a large, recurring energy
bill. Reduced airflow demand also means reduced heating and cooling system loads, and
therefore longer equipment lifespans. Always
pay attention to the performance specifications
of fume hoods and other equipment specified
in the lab, and especially the airflow volume
(CFM), to optimize annual energy usage.
and can total $25 to $30 per CFM.
CASE IN POINT
The latest laboratory upgrade at the University of Kansas included 34 high efficiency
fume hoods. Labconco Protector XStream
fume hoods demand less airflow volume
compared to similar high performance
hoods. Each hood saves 60 CFM from the
labs overall demand, versus other brands
Labconco Corporation
www.labconco.com
November 2016
Lab Manager
53
ask the expert
ASK THE EXPERT

TRENDS IN CELL CULTURE
by Tanuja Koppal, PhD
Tari Parmely, head of the Tissue Culture Core Laboratory at the Stowers Institute, talks to
contributing editor Tanuja Koppal, PhD, about the challenges involved in working with many
different types of cells, including embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. She discusses
some operating protocols and informatics integration that have been put in place to make the
cell culture process more efficient and reliable.
Tari Parmely
Q: Can you give me some
Q: What are some challenges you
tories at the Stowers Institute in 2002

specifically to do cell culture. However, it soon came to a point where cell
culture became integral to the research
being done at several laboratories on
campus, and it became apparent that a
core lab was needed. I was one of the
people who helped establish that core
lab in 2008 and became its head. At the
core lab, we culture a variety of cell
types, such as insect cells, immortalized
cell lines, mammalian embryonic stem
cells, induced pluripotent stem cells,
and more. We do not culture bacteria
or viruses, but we do consult and help
people working with viral cells.
lines, and keeping those straight is a

challenge. We have eight technicians in
the lab, and many hands are involved in
carrying a project from start to finish.
The first issue that we had to address was
recordkeeping. In 2009, along with our
scientific operations team, we wrote a
laboratory information management system (LIMS) module that was specific for
our lab. Our LIMS is rather unique, as it
was custom-written for us, and it is very
detailed. The module has nine different
tabs. There is one for cell lines, and it
lists all the relevant information about
the cell lines that have been deposited in
our lab. Then we have other tabs, such
as an order tab and a mycoplasma test
information about your lab and

describe some of the cell culture
work you do?
A: I joined one of the research labora-
face working with all these different

kinds of cells at the same time?
A: We work with several different cell
Each cell culture hood is equipped with a computer

workstation. Shown here is the LIMS module calendar which is critical to the Tissue Culture Core
Laboratorys workflow management. Each calendar
task can be opened to see detailed instructions and to
find links to the request or the daily cell log.
54
Lab Manager
November 2016
Automated cell counters are necessary

and important when multiple technicians
are culturing the same cells each week.
tab. There is a cell bank tab for the cell

lines that are frozen in the core lab so we
can access all the related information at
a moments notice just by going through
the LIMS module. We have a cell log,
so anytime the cell bank is touched,
that information is recorded. There are
computers at every hood, so the technician can access the LIMS module while
working on the cells. If there are any
special instructions for a specific cell line,
we save that in the module. So even if
we havent cultured those cell lines for a
while, we can go back and see when and
how those cells were cultured and see
the trends of how they grew.
There is a calendar in the module,
so every day we can look and go through
the daily tasks. The calendar is color-coded, so we know at a glance what tasks are
to be done. If you click on each one of
those tasks, there are detailed instructions,
Incubators hold dozens of cell

types at any one time, therefore
lab management is a priority.
LabManager.com
ask the expert
so we know what [the] concentration [is],

what media to use, and where to deliver
the cells. With many different hands
working on the cells, we have to make
sure that the cells are handled the same
way. We have an automated cell counter,
so we know that each of our cells is handled and counted the same way each time
and there is no variation.
have been very useful. There are automated cell-thawing instruments that
maintain the cell viability and eliminate
the risk of contamination, which can
occur when you thaw cells in a water
bath. For mouse embryonic stem cells,
we have now switched to feeder-free
cultures, which have saved us enormous
amounts of time and money.
Q: Do you use a lot of lab
With many different

hands working on the
cells, we have to make
sure that the cells are
handled the same way.
Q: Are different cells kept in
separate incubators? Have you

run into problems with crosscontamination?
A: We do worry about cross-contami-
nation, but we have never run into this

problem. We never have more than
one cell line in our hood at any given
time, and that is the rule. We do have
separate incubators for some cells, and
a separate area with hoods for embryonic stem cell work. Insect incubators
are separate, and thats dictated by the
temperature they need to be at. The
other cell lines are placed together,
but we flag the outside so we know
the exact location where the cells are
kept inside the incubator. The cells for
transfections have their own incubator.
We have a quarantine incubator for a
new cell line or for those cell lines that
are [being watched] for some reason.
Q: Have there been any major

improvements in the equipment
for cell culture?
A: We use incubators with SafeCell UV
and InCu-saFe to reduce contamination
issues. The automated cell counters
automation for cell culture?

A: If you work with a limited number
of cell lines repeatedly, then automation

makes sense. When working with hundreds of cell lines, it doesnt make sense
to use automation, and there is nothing
out there that is efficient for what we are
doing. We just use multichannel pipettes
for our work, nothing very glamorous.
Instead, we prefer to invest in ergonomic
equipment and furniture, such as pipettes that are lightweight or chairs with
footrests, so technicians can be comfortable working in the cell culture hood for
eight hours a day.
Q: Are you seeing any new

trends in the cell culture projects
that are coming to you?
A: We are working in collaboration with
the molecular biology, the screening,

and the lab animal services core labs on
campus for using clustered regularly
interspaced short palindromic repeats
(CRISPR)-based gene editing in cells. We
started working with organoid cultures a
few months ago. We have grown 3-D cultures for intestinal cells and are currently
troubleshooting how to freeze-thaw
these cells efficiently. We are trying to
standardize the protocols so we can move
into other types of 3-D cultures. We are
also working with some new methods
and technologies for mouse embryonic
stem cells and induced pluripotent stem
cells. We are seeing more requests for cell
authentication, and thats becoming important as journals are now asking for it.
These authentication reports are now fast
and easy to obtain; there are no surprises,
and researchers are happy with the types
of information provided. Mycoplasma

test kits are also becoming more reliable
and easy to work with, and we test every
cell line that comes into the lab.
Q: Can you discuss the types of
cell culture training you provide

as a core lab?
A: We offer a one-hour training course
for any new student, postdoc, or anyone

who has never done cell culture before.
We teach them cell culture etiquette so
they dont leave the cell culture room
messy for the next person. We show
them how to culture both adherent and
suspension cells and then have them
culture [those] themselves. We teach
them the basics of cell culture, such as
how to passage a cell line, how to feed
cells, what to look for, what [confluent
means] and other concepts. We teach
them how to count cells manually and
[by] using automated counters. We
provide them with a reagent list that we
use. We can teach them how to harvest
or transfect cells or how to work with
mouse embryonic stem cells. People can
also tell us ahead of time if they want
training in a specialized technique. We
hand them a standard operating protocol (SOP) that we have written out, and
people have been very happy to have
this service available on campus.
Tari Parmely is the head of the Tissue
Culture Core Laboratory and of media prep,
histology, and electron microscopy at the
Stowers Institute. She joined the Stowers
Institute as a research specialist in the
Conaway laboratory in 2002 and took over
the management of the Stowers Tissue Culture
Core Laboratory in 2008. Working closely
with Stowers investigators, postdoctoral
researchers, and graduate students, Parmely
assists with the development of new projects
and ensures that all their tissue culture needs,
including maintenance and large-scale
expansion of cell lines, are met.
Tanuja Koppal, PhD, is a freelance science

writer and consultant based in Randolph, NJ.
She can be reached at tkoppal@gmail.com
November 2016
Lab Manager
55
CO2 INCUBATORS
product focus | CO2 incubators
FEATURES TO LOOK FOR

by Angelo DePalma, PhD
hile advanced preventive maintenance features

and sample-level cycle tracking are technically
feasible, they are out of reach for most facilities,
according to Alan Campbell, marketing VP at Caron
Products & Services (Marietta, OH). Many customers are
looking for a system that covers all their equipment, that
they can access through a smartphone or tablet, providing
advanced reporting for every instrument in the lab. This has
been difficult to achieve, he says, due to widely disparate ages
and models of lab equipment, and instrument diversity.
The really smart stuff thats possible today will therefore
be limited to the very latest-generation equipment,
and probably to individual manufacturers instrument
lines as well, Campbell explains. Universal equipment
monitoring is possible through existing wired or wireless
systems, but these are limited to providing basic operating
parameters and alarm status. While engineers and
technology-forward users are excited by the prospect of
receiving service and preventive maintenance alerts and
consumable notices tied into reorder systems, current
third-party alarm systems dont offer that, and wont for
the foreseeable future, barring the unlikely adoption of
some type of industry data standard.
Contamination control
Incubator designers should therefore focus on what
they do best, which is environmental management and
contamination control.
The latter has evolved along three major lineages: heat,
UV light, and chemicals. European manufacturers
started the heat decontamination trend with 180C
sterilization, which remains the standard overseas.
Users liked the idea of pressing a button and killing
everything inside the unit.
56
Vaporized hydrogen peroxide comprises the third

approach. H2O2 penetrates where light does not, but
since current implementations employ a wet process,
users must clean up residual moisture, which may
introduce new contamination into the chamber.
Caron has recently introduced dry H2O2 sterilization.
Humidification is precisely controlled to below the dew
point. Excess gas is converted to water inside a silvercatalyst filter unit. Complete pathogen killing and gas
catalysis occur within two hours.
It also eliminates a lot of the prep time of
conventional wet H2O2 sterilization methods,
Campbell adds. Peroxide decontamination requires
longer operation timeabout five minutesbut
the overall process is much shorter and energy
efficient than the typical 12-to-25-hour heat-based
decontamination cycle, he says.
Another new incubator must have feature Campbell
mentions is a slim, space-saving rectangular form
factor, resembling a rectangle more than a cube. Labs
are tight for space, and in a traditional cube incubator,
most of the space in the rear of the unit goes unused.
Carons new Wally stackable CO2 incubator eliminates
that wasted space and sports a slimmer footprint.
Bioprocess incubators
With the emergence of biological medicines, vendors
should expect greater demand for production-worthy
CO2 incubators, says Uwe Ross, president of BINDER
USA (Bohemia, NY). These devices will increasingly
feature round-the-clock wireless monitoring and
perhaps remote problem-solving capability.
Over time, lower temperature cycles became available,

but at the expense of longer cycle times. Recently,
temperatures have begun creeping up, with cycles
at 120, 140, and even 200C, which require sturdy
materials of construction.
At a more basic level, Ross sees the irreproducibility

problem in biology and medicine as a call to action
for incubator manufacturers. Recent surveys suggest
that as many as half of all experiments on cells and
microorganisms cannot be replicated. Cell line repositories
like the nonprofit ATCC (Manassas, VA) place a good deal
of the blame on non-authenticated cell lines. Ross believes
culture conditions are as much to blame.
Ultraviolet light eliminates these issues but only

works by line of sight.
Theres a complete disconnect between what scientists

expect from incubators and how they use them, he
Lab Manager
November 2016
LabManager.com
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you NEED
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in your cell culture environment.
you WANT
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MCO-170M Delivers.
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Benefits of Oxygen Control in the Cell Culture Incubator visit:
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product focus | CO2 incubators
Number of Users
notes. They use them like standard
refrigerators or ovens but expect
performance at a much higher level.
Maintenance or return to setpoint
conditions is one example. As previously
noted, opening incubator doors upsets
the environmental equilibrium for at
least half an hour. Yet users routinely
introduce stirrers or shakers powered by
outside sources, resulting in a slight but
significant opening.
Uniformity of CO2 incubators is a
factor of ten higher than for a standard
oven, but users compromise [them]
by introducing a huge gap between
the lab and the incubator, Ross
says. Seemingly small things like
overlooking the consequences
of misuse contribute significantly
to non-reproducibility of results.
Yet when you inform scientists of
this, they are offended.
Ross suggests coming up with ways to
provide incentives to scientistsnot
necessarily for unique results that garner
publications, fame, and glory, but for
reproducible results. How that may be
achieved is the topic of another discussion.
Sensors to the rescue

Originally, CO2 incubators were of
the constant-flow type with high gas
consumption. The advent of automatic
thermal conductivity (TC) sensors
alleviated high gas consumption but
introduced other issues.
TC CO2 sensors provided improved
control and reduced gas consumption
by a factor of four or five, according to
Buckner Richerson, VP of international
sales at NuAire (Plymouth, MN).
However, TC sensors fall out of

spec over time, and their operation
depends on stable temperatures and
relative humidity. Simply opening the
door affects both temp and humidity
levels. Thus the temperature and
humidity lag between door closing and
reestablishment of equilibrium.
Richersons former employer, Forma
Scientific, introduced infrared (IR)
CO2 sensors in 1986, since adopted
by NuAire (in its AutoFlow models)
and others. IR CO2 monitoring works
independently of relative humidity and
temperature readings.
Richerson advises purchasers to insist on
efficient contamination control features,
like vertical laminar flow designs (also
found in quality Class II A2 biosafety
cabinets). To this, NuAire adds a twist:
closed-loop HEPA filtration, which
prevents inner chamber contamination
by producing Class 100 (ISO Class
5) clean air inside the chamber. From
his perspective, Richerson describes
incubators lacking HEPA filtration as
vulnerable, asking, Has anyone ever
heard of operating a biosafety cabinet
without HEPA filtration?
Richerson advocates HEPA filtration
and a +145C sterilization cycle.
Users should take this advice with a
hefty grain of salt, however, as specific
decontamination protocols may work
better for some processes than for
others. As always, ask a lot of questions,
especially for usage data for operations
similar to yours.
Angelo DePalma is a freelance writer
living in Newton, NJ. You can reach him at
angelo@adepalma.com.
FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON CO2 INCUBATORS, INCLUDING

USEFUL ARTICLES AND A LIST OF MANUFACTURERS, VISIT
WWW.LABMANAGER.COM/CO2-INCUBATORS
LabManager.com
Are You in the Market for

a New CO2 Incubator?
Join Linda the lab managers team in this video as they review what features the best CO2
incubators can (and should) offer. In particular, learn the key options todays incubators
provide for preventing contaminationa major challenge in any cell culture lab.
LabManager.com/CO2-incubator-video
survey says
MICROPLATE HANDLER?
Top five microplate handler applications as reported by

survey respondents:
Education, research
43%
Biotechnology
33%
Clinical / diagnostics
24%
Pharmaceutical / medicine
20%
9%
Environmental
83%
Microplate centrifuge
46%
Microplate washer
35%
Microplate stacker
17%
Microplate sealer
15%
9%
Microplate labeler
11%
Other
Over 51% of respondents are engaged in purchasing

a new microplate handler. The reasons for these
purchases are as follows:
38%
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity 38%

First time purchase
12%
10%
2%
Other
TOP 6 QUESTIONS
You Should Ask When Buying a Microplate Handler

1. How many plates and plate types can the handler accommodate? An ANSI-compatible handler provides increased
exibility for those using multiple plate densities (ex. 96-, 384-, 1536-well) or low-volume plates, and interchangeable
plate stacks accommodate varying throughput requirements.
2. What is the transfer speed? Transfer speed is especially important for increased throughput. Adding a dual plate carrier
keeps two plates in process, thus further increasing assay efciency.
Types of microplate handler(s) used by survey

respondents:
Microplate reader
Microplate handlers are specialized robotic devices that transfer microtiter plates in three
dimensional space from one location within a workow to another. The locations are actually
operations such as solvent addition (through liquid handling), aspiration, heating, shaking,
incubation, washing, reading, and storage.
3. Can the handler operate in portrait and landscape congurations? A rotational gripper option optimizes positioning of
the microplate handler with its mating instrument, thus improving exibility and efcient operation.
4. Does the handler t into a hood or biosafety cabinet? Placing a microplate handler within a hood or biosafety cabinet
allows users to maintain personal safety and protect samples.
5. Is the handler compatible with a wide variety of other instruments?
6. Does it come with a barcode reader for easy microplate identication? Barcode scanning is especially useful for
increased throughput.
Respondents Look for When Purchasing a Microplate Handler

DURABILITY OF PRODUCT
83%
PERFORMANCE OF PRODUCT
81%
EASE OF USE
77%
VALUE FOR PRICE PAID
76%
AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLIES AND ACCESSORIES
73%
SERVICE AND SUPPORT
69%
LOW OPERATING COSTS
67%
LOW MAINTENANCE/EASY TO CLEAN
65%
TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP
65%
SOFTWARE
56%
860=
810=
760=
650=
610=
570=
540=
510=
390=
370=
60
For more information on microplate handlers, visit www.labmanager.com/microplate-tech
Lab Manager
November 2016
LabManager.com
products in action
EVALUATING THE PURITY OF OLIVE OIL USING

UV-VIS SPECTROSCOPY
Olive oil has become a major component of the human diet. Controversy has always surrounded the purity of olive
oil based on its classification as Extra Virgin, Virgin, and Olive Oil. The International Olive Council (IOC) and
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) identify extra virgin as the top grade of olive oil. Chemistry standards have been established for the evaluation of olive oils, and the Shimadzu UV-1800 UV-Vis spectrophotometer
can be used for such analysis. COI/T20/Doc. no. 19 released by the IOC outlines the method of analysis for using a
spectrophotometer based on the absorption characteristics of olive oil in the ultraviolet region of the energy spectrum.
Ultraviolet spectroscopy can provide infor-
guideline. Samples were measured on the
between Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Olive Oil
mation on the degree of oxidation of the
Shimadzu UV-1800 using 1 cm path length
as outlined by the International Olive Coun-
olive oil. More specifically, the quality of ol-
quartz cuvettes with solvent as a reference.
cil. UVProbe software allows for efficient
ive oil is analyzed based on the absorption
Spectrophotometric analysis of olive oil in
data analysis and interpretation of results for
bands between 200 and 300 nm. Peaks
accordance with the official method in the
comparison with defined standard values.
that are present in this region are due to the
EC regulations involves determination of the
presence of conjugated diene and triene
specific extinction (extinction coefficient) in
systems. The analysis method is based on
iso-octane at wavelengths of 232, 264,
the principle that conjugated double bonds
268, 272 nm, and determination of the
are formed in oils upon oxidation.
variation of the specific extinction (K).
An elevated level of UV absorbance indicates oxidized oil. This is demonstrated in

Figure 1 which shows the ultraviolet spectra
of Extra Virgin Olive Oil compared to that of
Olive Oil diluted in solvent.
Olive oil samples were diluted in iso-octane
(2,2,4-Trimethylpentane) using the methods
outlined in COI/T20/Doc. no. 19 as a
The Shimadzu UV-1800 was used to measure

the extinction coefficients of five different oil
samples labelled either as Extra Virgin Olive
Oil and Olive Oil purchased from local
grocery stores. Results are shown in Table 1.
The Shimadzu UV-1800 spectrophotometer
demonstrates the ability to analyze the purity
of olive oil samples allowing for distinction
Shimadzu Scientific Instruments

800-477-1227
November 2016
Lab Manager
61
ULTRAMICROBALANCES
product focus | ultramicrobalances
THE SMALLEST AND MOST PRECIOUS SAMPLES

NEED THE HIGHEST PRECISION
by Mike May, PhD
f a balances measurement goes to seven decimal

digits after zerolike 0.0000001 gramsthats an
ultramicrobalance. That level of precision handles the
smallest samples, and it can be used in many applications,
from mining and emissions testing to elemental analysis
and drug discovery. Such a high-precision instrument,
though, needs some special features.
When asked about some of the key applications of an
ultramicrobalance, Walter Krebs, senior product manager
for weighing and dosing at Mettler-Toledo (Greifensee,
Switzerland), mentions drug discovery, especially in the
lead-optimization process, where the smallest amounts
of possible new drugs have to be analyzed. He adds,
Since often only very small amounts of samples are
available for all the required analytical tests, the users try
to save as much sample as possible.
In emissions testing, Krebs says, particulate
matter is collected on filters, which are weighed on
microbalances, and the weight of these particles is
often very low, and many regulations require the use of
a microbalance for this application.
Some of the applications might even be unexpected.
For example, Radosaw Wilk, senior product manager at
RADWAG Balances and Scales (Radom, Poland), points
out that ultramicrobalances can be used to calibrate
pipettes to volumes in the microliter range. He adds,
These balances can also be used for novel technologies
in general. As an example of that, Canadian scientists
used an ultramicrobalance to measure particles in an
infants nasal pathways, and reported in a 2015 issue of the
Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery that
Electrostatic charge on particles can affect this deposition.
Tracking the temperature

Such fine measurements depend intimately on
the ambient conditions. To track that, RADWAG
ultramicrobalances include an internal ambient
conditions module, which measures humidity, pressure,
and temperature. If the ambient conditions are very
bad, the balance wont even be stable, Wilk explains,
and the results will be continuously changing.
A good ultramicrobalance provides internal adjustments. The

user can choose the setting for the adjustments, Wilk says.
Likewise, Mettler-Toledo uses an active temperature
control system that, Krebs says, keeps the temperature
in the weighing cell stable. In combination with
improved signal processing, says Krebs, this leads to 25
percent better measurement performances.
The real question is how this all works out in the lab.
Adam Paganini, a marine researcher at San Francisco
State University in California, says, Probably the most
key feature that matters to me in a microbalance is its
resistance to drift throughout the day. Dealing with that
drift can take some effort from the scientist. He adds,
The microbalance needs to be continuously calibrated to
function properlymaybe more than its supposed to be.
Check the connections

According to Micro Scale Measurement, by RADWAGs
research laboratory manager Sawomir Janas, Most
balances with module design use cables connecting
particular components. Such [a] solution is the most
common one but not always satisfactory. To get the
best results from an ultramicrobalance, scientists
often want a platform that provides connectivity. Our
solution offers features like wireless connectivity
between a computer terminal and the weighing
module, Wilk says. So you could, for example, put the
weighing module in a vacuum chamber.
In a similar move to help users, Mettler-Toledo
developed a new touchscreen terminal that, Krebs
says, comes with a new user interface and a second
SmartView terminal. He adds, The new user
interface enables training-free weighing and makes
manual result capture obsolete.
The take-home message for ultramicrobalances is:
Look for every opportunity to enhance the accuracy,
repeatability, and ability to document the conditions of
the measurement. Features like these must be included
in a platform to ensure ongoing and precise results.
Mike May is a freelance writer and editor living in Florida.
You may reach him at mikemay1959@gmail.com.
FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON BALANCES, INCLUDING USEFUL ARTICLES AND A LIST

OF MANUFACTURERS, VISIT WWW.LABMANAGER.COM/BALANCES
62
Lab Manager
November 2016
LabManager.com
product focus | mills and grinders
by Ryan Ackerman
he milling and grinding of samples is an

ancient technique that holds applications
in a variety of laboratory settingssuch
as grinding samples for particle characterization or
drug preparations in a pharmaceutical laboratory.
Anyone who has taken high school chemistry has been
exposed to this practice via the humble mortar and
pestle. While the mortar and pestle are still widely
used by many researchers, demand for instruments
that are capable of producing just the right grind
and doing so efficiently and accurately for their
processhas caused this laboratory equipment to
evolve into a variety of configurations.
Samplesdependent on industry and
application, of courseoften come
in many different types with their
own unique physical properties.
Samples can be hard or soft,
brittle, fibrous or elastic,
or even a paste. In light
of this, mill and grinder
vendors have manufactured
specialized products to
properly grind any sample
for any application. For
laboratories working with hard or
brittle materials, it is commonplace
to see a jaw crusher in use. When
working with materials that are soft or
fibrous, a cutting mill may be employed.
And then there exists another specialized area of mills
and grinders to help speed up the preparation process
when working with tissue samples. These units are
specialized to ensure that tissue preparation and cell
lysis occur seamlessly and without contamination. With
the increasing focus on life science applications over
the past several years, its no wonder that the milling
and grinding industry has begun to push into a product
area that was once reserved for homogenizers.
than other mill varieties, making them the weapon

of choice when working with high volumes of
tissue samples. The Bead Mill 24 by Fisher Scientific
(Waltham, MA) is capable of accommodating 24
samples simultaneously; this not only allows for
greater sample capacity, but also dampens the risk of
the tissue samples degrading during the time between
runs. Contaminationa common risk in many types
of millsis negated through the use of separate,
disposable tubes.
In some casesespecially where extraction of nucleic
acids, proteins, or other biochemicals is
the main applicationa cryogenic
solution may be the best choice.
Cryogenic grinding equipment
comes in a variety of configurations,
from traditional mortar-andpestle-style setups to blade
millssuch as the Cryogenic
Tissue Grinder by BioSpec
(Bartlesville, OK). By
freezing with dry ice
before or during grinding,
samples can be made
into a powder without
altering the biochemical of
interest, making for a much
smoother extraction process.
In the milling and grinding world,
there exist numerous options to choose
from, enabling any researcher to find just the
right grind for his or her purposes. When it comes to
preparing tissue samples, the purchasing landscape
is no different. By knowing your samplesand what
your end goals are for analysisfinding the right mill
or grinder for you can be a straightforward, painless
process.
MILLS AND GRINDERS
INDUSTRY DEMANDS INSTRUMENTS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING

JUST THE RIGHT GRIND
Ryan Ackerman, assistant technology editor for Lab

Manager, can be reached at rackerman@labmanager.com.
When processing sensitive tissue samples, throughput

and speed can affect the quality of the sample. Bead
mills can accommodate a higher volume of samples
FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON MILLS AND GRINDERS, INCLUDING USEFUL ARTICLES AND A LIST
OF MANUFACTURERS, VISIT WWW.LABMANAGER.COM/MILLS-GRINDERS
November 2016
Lab Manager
63
survey says
CENTRIFUGE?
Types of centrifuge(s) used by survey respondents:

Benchtop centrifuge
56%
Microcentrifuge
41%
Benchtop refrigerated centrifuge
36%
Benchtop clinical centrifuge
24%
Floor refrigerated centrifuge
19%
Floor centrifuge
16%
Floor ultracentrifuge
14%
Benchtop ultracentrifuge
7%
Centrifuge rotor type(s) used by survey respondents:

Fixed angle rotors
77%
Swinging-bucket rotors
72%
Vertical rotors
TOP 5 QUESTIONS
You Should Ask When Buying a Centrifuge

1. What is the maximum g-force the centrifuge can generate?
2. How does the companys centrifuge differ from other ones that can achieve the same speed and capacity?
3. What kind of warranty comes with the centrifuge and what does it cover?
4. If the company discontinues the product, for how many years do they provide accessories and parts for the centrifuge?
5. Ask about the cost of the purchasenot just the price of the product being installed but the total cost of ownership
including price, service expectations, warranty, etc.
8%
Over 59% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new

centrifuge. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:
When it comes to common technology in a laboratory, centrifuges rise toward the top of the list. Centrifuges
separate particles and structures suspended in liquid by applying thousands of gravitational force
equivalents to the sample through spinning and play a role in a wide range of workows and applications.
68%

Require more speed (g-forces) and capacity
5%
Changing from the current type of centrifuge
3%
1%
Other
5%
Respondents Look for When Purchasing a Centrifuge

RELIABILITY
88%
LOW MAINTENANCE / OPERATING COSTS
76%
EASE OF USE
74%
SAFETY FEATURES
71%
PRICE
65%
WARRANTY
54%
EASE OF INSTALLATION
49%
ACCURACY
47%
SERVICE AND SUPPORT
46%
NOISE REDUCTION
36%
880=
760=
740=
710=
650=
540=
490=
470=
460=
360=
For more information on centrifuges, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers,
visit www.labmanager.com/centrifuges
survey says
STIRRER OR MIXER?
Magnetic stirrers are a popular type of laboratory stirrer that use a rotating magnetic field to cause
a stirrer bar to rotate within the solution. These stirrers are often combined with a hotplate and are
ideal for small volumes of non-viscous liquids and for situations in which a reaction must take place
in a closed vessel or system. The overhead stirrer, however, is more suitable for larger volumes and
more viscous solutions, but can be less convenient and more time-consuming to set up.
Types of stirrer(s) used by survey respondents:
TOP 9 QUESTIONS
Magnetic stirrer
82%
You Should Ask When Buying a Stirrer or Mixer
Hot plate stirrer
82%
1.
What applications are you using the stirrer or mixer for? What result do you want to accomplish?
Overhead stirrer
24%
2.
What are the maximum volume and the maximum viscosity that you can use the stirrer for?
3.
Which stirring element is best suited to your application?
4.
What are the features and specs of the stirrers or mixers available?
Stirrer doesn't maintain speed
41%
5.
What level of accuracy does the digital speed indicator have?
Stirrer can't handle high viscosity uids
35%
6.
What type of motor is used in the stirrer or mixer?
Stirrer can't handle large volumes
26%
7.
Can you determine the viscosity with the torque trend measurement?
Drive motor overheats
15%
8.
Have you purchased everything you need to start mixing? Sometimes stirrers and mixers are sold as kits, while
sometimes all or some of the accessories must be purchased separately.
9.
Does the manufacturing company offer application and technical support over the phone?
Stirrer problems reported by survey respondents:
DURABILITY OF PRODUCT
86%
LOW MAINTENANCE - EASY TO USE AND CLEAN
80%
VALUE FOR PRICE PAID
71%
RELIABILITY OF VENDOR
54%
MINIMAL VIBRATION
53%
SAFETY FEATURES
50%
VERSATILITY
47%
REPUTATION OF VENDOR
42%
COMPACT DESIGN
40%
WARRANTY
40%
710=
540=
530=
500=
470=
420=
400=
400=
15%
Other
58%
Respondents Look for When Purchasing a Stirrer or Mixer
800=
6%
Impeller frequently becomes jammed
49% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new

stirrer or mixer. The reasons for these purchases are
as follows:
860=
4%
Other

First time purchase
4%
2%
Other
4%
For more information on stirrers and mixers, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers,
visit www.labmanager.com/stirrers-mixers
November 2016
Lab Manager
65
TECHNOLOGYNEWS
In this issue we highlight companies that will be exhibiting at the American Society for Cell Biologys (ascb) Annual Meeting (cell biology
2016). This event, which focuses on the latest advances in cell biology such as CRISPR, will run Dec. 3-7 in San Francisco, CA. Please note that the specic
technologies featured here may not necessarily be at the show, but their manufacturers and distributors will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
BioEthanol Analyzer
ANALYTICAL
Triple Quadrupole GC/MS
Instruments
7000D and 7010B
Include enhancements that not only improve analytical

performance but make them easier to use than any
previous triple quad GC/MS system
Agilents single quad GC/MS installed customer base,
who want to run samples on their triple quad, can open existing single quad
GC/MS methods with a single mouse click using Agilent MassHunter software
7010B includes Agilents exclusive high-efciency ion source
Agilent
www.agilent.com
EBSD Detectors for Scanning

Electron Microscopes
e-FlashFS & e-FlashHD
Booth 501
Designed for electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis on scanning electron microscopes
Optimally cover all EBSD applications from
everyday characterization of minerals and alloys
to advanced analysis of nano and functional materials
e-FlashFS provides an increase in sensitivity by a factor
of three compared to its predecessor, the e-Flash1000
The e-FlashHD detector features a CCD camera
resolution of 1,600 x 1,200 pixels and state-of-the-art camera optics
Bruker
www.bruker.com
Spectrophotometer Systems
Flame-CHEM
These systems combine a high performance, compact

Flame UV-Vis (200-850 nm) or Vis-NIR (350-1000 nm)
spectrometer, with an all-in-one direct-attach light source
and cuvette holder, into a single affordable package
Suited for regular absorbance and transmission
measurements in teaching labs and research facilities
Can easily be customized, providing exibility as measurement needs change
Ocean Optics
www.OceanOptics.com
Thermal Field Flow Fractionation System

TF2000
Provides a highly efcient method of separating

and characterising complex polymer samples
from approximately 10 kDa up to 100 MDa
and more in organic and aqueous solvents
Uses a temperature gradient as the driving force for its separation of polymers and particles
Does not require sample treatment as samples can be injected without pre-ltration
Postnova
66
Lab Manager
www.postnova.com/tf2000-overview.html
November 2016
Based on the Prominence-i integrated HPLC platform

Provides an advanced tool for real-time monitoring
of the fermentation process in bioethanol production
Remote monitoring of the BioEthanol Analyzer via
the i-Series web interface or LabSolutions Direct provides
instrument status and chromatogram information from
anywhere using any smart device or PC
Built-in ECO mode reduces power consumption and mobile phase usage
Shimadzu
Binary UHPLC System

Vanquish Flex
Booth 815
Adds a binary solvent delivery option in the 1000 bar

(15,000 psi) performance range
Built for high-speed, fast gradient applications and the Vanquish
platforms inherent outstanding retention time reproducibility
Features a binary high-pressure gradient pump with 2 x 3
solvent channels and low gradient delay volume capable of
delivering high ow rates of up to 8 mL/min
Thermo Fisher Scientic
www.thermoscientic.com/vanquish
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
SMALL SYSTEM, MANY SAMPLES

NEW ICP-OES TACKLES THE MOST DIFFICULT,
HIGH-MATRIX SAMPLES WITHOUT DILUTION
Those dealing with food, industrial, and environmental

samples but who also want to save space in the lab now
have the industrys smallest inductively coupled plasma
optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) at their disposal.
PerkinElmers Avio 200 helps laboratory professionals
running inorganic analyses and facing an expanding
range of sample types to test difficult, high-matrix
samples without the need for dilution.
The new system has the matrix tolerance to handle a wide variety of samples and to
test across a broad set of applications such as: nutrients analysis for nutritional labeling;
compliance with the RoHS Directive, an industry restriction on the use of certain
hazardous substances in electrical/electronic equipment; analysis of soil micronutrients;
determination of trace elements in water; and evaluation of metal levels in toys.
With industry regulations becoming more complex and driving testing for more
elements, lab professionals find themselves challenged with managing the associated
higher sample volume and time-consuming analyses, said Jon DiVincenzo,
president of environmental health at PerkinElmer. The Avio 200 system is our
latest innovation in ICP instrumentation engineered to help our customers run
multi-elemental analyses reliably and efficiently across food safety, industrial, and
environmental applications for better health outcomes.
The Avio 200 is designed to help laboratory professionals enhance their productivity
through its ability to deliver increased uptime and minimal maintenance. The system
features a vertical plasma design for greater sample exibility, low argon consumption
(via patented Flat Plate plasma technology), and fast start up from power-on for
enhanced productivity. It also offers high sensitivity and resolution, along with a wide
linear range by means of its unique dual optical viewing technology.
For more information, visit http://www.perkinelmer.com/product/
avio-200-icp-optical-emission-spectrometer-avio200
LabManager.com
technology news
Benchtop Mass Spectrometer
Pump for Liquid Chromatography
Enabled by the newly designed StepWave XS ion guide

Features a unique combination of ion optics, detection and
ionization technologies resulting in levels of sensitivity not
previously seen
Rened design allows the system to quantify challenging
compounds at trace levelseven if they are labile or show
poor transmission efciency
Features ultimate low pulsation as well as an innovative

suction and discharge system
Makes it possible to keep a constant ow rate even with
trapped air bubbles and allows for reliable intake from
containers placed below the pump
Includes a dual identical plunger assembly, with each
plunger being completely controlled by software
Comes in two plunger type varieties: 3.2mm analytical
or 9.5mm semi-prep
Xevo TQ-XS
Waters
www.waters.com/xevotqxs
Intelligent Pump UI-12
JM Science
BASIC LAB
Reaction Inserts for Heating Blocks
Designed for Asynts DrySyn range of heating blocks
Enable scientists to now conduct precisely controlled
heated/stirred experiments in three dram vials,
20ml scintillation vials, and 2ml HPLC sample vials
New multi position blocks, when combined with
a DrySyn base unit, allow up to 27 experiments
to be performed in parallel
Asynt
www.asynt.com
www.jmscience.com
Benchtop Nitrogen Gas

Generator System
Solaris
Developed to offer a compact and convenient gas source

for labs using ELSD (evaporative light scattering detector)
instruments and compact mass spectrometers
Provides a consistent source of nitrogen gas for these applications,
typically requiring lower ow rates and specic purity
Capable of delivering up to 10L/min and at purity levels
of up to 99.5% (at lower ow rates)
Peak Scientic
www.peakscientic.com/solaris
UV Fiber Optic System
Microscope Stage
In-situ system is designed for dissolution testing

Measures directly in the vessel, eliminating problematic
lters, tubing, and pumps used in conventional sampling
Patented ARCH probes designed specically for
dissolution eliminate bubbles and trapped particles
that plague other ber systems
New multicomponent analysis allows quantifying two
components at once, without the need for separation
Offers a travel range of over 300 x 300 mm

Suited for accurate and precise scanning of
semiconductor wafers, photo masks, at
panel displays, and printed circuit boards
Fully compatible with a wide range of microscopes
Can easily accommodate wafers up to 12-inches (300mm) in diameter,
or samples up to 25kg in weight, and works with many robot arm wafer loaders
Opt-Diss 410
Distek
H112
Booth 615
www.distekinc.com
Prior Scientic
www.prior.com
High-Speed 5MP Camera
Wireless Integrated Sensors
Easily mounted on users microscopes,

enabling them to record high-speed
video of microscopic events
Feature four models to choose from and
crisp, clean video from 2560 x 2080
@ 230fps to 800 x 600 @ 1650fps
All models record over 3200 fps at VGA resolution
and more than 18,000 fps at smaller resolutions
Consist of a pressure sensor integrated with a wireless node

and internal battery
Support pressure monitoring and alarm reporting as part
of the SignalFire remote sensing system
Provides a low-cost alternative to conduit-wired or other
wireless pressure monitoring solutions
Suited for well tubing and casing pressure monitoring,
tank level monitoring, and compressor station status monitoring
IL5
Fastec Imaging
www.fastecimaging.com
Pressure Scout
SignalFire Wireless Telemetry
www.signal-re.com
November 2016
Lab Manager
67
technology news
UV-Blue Light Converter Screens

Can quickly and simply change harmful
UV into blue light
Offer a safe, affordable way of using the
UV transilluminator in Syngene imaging systems
to visualize DNA and protein gels labeled with
many commercial uorescent dyes
Come in two sizes (21cm x 26cm and 25cm x
30cm) and are made of scratch-resistant plastic
Syngene
www.syngene.com/uv-blue-light-converter
Motorized Shoe Cleaner

Designed for labs, cleanrooms, and gowning rooms
Automatically brushes and vacuums shoes with the
simple push of a lever
Inside the housing, ve brushes placed at various angles
are activated to clean all surfaces of the shoe
On-off lever is an easy-reach, waist-high handle, also
serving to help workers balance during the cleaning cycles
Terra Universal
www.TerraUniversal.com
CHEMICALS, KITS, & REAGENTS

Immunotherapy Research Products
Booth 1211
Arcis
This kit is for preparation of DNA from blood using

a novel three-minute, two-step system, designed
for in vitro diagnostic use
Sold in a ready-to-use format, and enables users
to stabilize and extract nucleic acid from fresh or
frozen whole blood samples in just three minutes,
without the need for prior sample preparation steps
Non-hazardous, and ships and stores at room temperature for ease of handling
Arcis Biotechnology
www.arcisbio.com
Magnetic Purication System

AbPure
Based on Protein A magnetic beads, which have a high

afnity for IgG molecules and allow scientists to purify
small quantities of antibody from complex mixtures
Contains novel buffer compositions that are compatible
with every conceivable approach to conjugation,
including Innovas Lightning-Link, Thunder-Link,
InnovaCoat GOLD, and LATEX conjugation kits
Will save researchers time, improve antibody yields,
and facilitate the production of conjugates
Innova Biosciences
www.innovabiosciences.com
Residual Protein A Detection Kit

Ready BLI
New range of TIGIT receptor products includes a Jurkat

cell line, homogeneous assay kits, and recombinant
proteins for immunotherapy research
The TIGIT homogeneous assay kits, include a CD112
kit to measure the inhibition of TIGIT binding to CD112
(PVRL2/Nectin-2) and a CD155 kit designed to
measure the inhibition of TIGIT binding to CD155
Designed for Octet systems

Gives users a fast and simple way to test for the presence and concentration of Protein A or
MabSelectSure bioprocessing samples
Does not require the manual sample prep steps like heating, centrifuging, and washing
typically needed with ELISA
Provides results in two hours when paired with the Octet HTX system
AMSBIO
Pall ForteBio
www.amsbio.com/immunotherapy.aspx
Kit for Extraction of Genomic DNA

from Plant Tissue
MagSi-DNA Vegetal
Booth 1211
68
DNA Blood Kit (IVD)
www.fortebio.com
Cas9 Nuclease
XactEdit
Brings the convenience and cost effectiveness

of magnetic bead technology to the world of
plant genomics
Flexible protocols can be adjusted to optimize
the researchers specic plant extraction protocol requirements
System is fully compatible with high-throughput robotic liquid handling systems,
as well as smaller-scale plant genomics projects
This highly active, puried recombinant

Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 protein
mediates site-specic double-stranded DNA
cleavage when complexed with a guide RNA
Available as a kit or a standalone enzyme
(1mg/mL or 10mg/mL)
Delivers consistent and robust performance
Especially suited for in vitro assays or for introduction
into cells by electroporation or transfection
AMSBIO
SGI-DNA
Lab Manager
www.amsbio.com/magnetic-beads.aspx
November 2016
sgidna.com/xactedit-cas9-nuclease.html
LabManager.com
technology news
Sample Tracking Software
INFORMATICS
Samples
Spectroscopy Software & Databases

KnowItAll 2017
Booth 1109
Offers an additional 976,000 reference

spectra in the KnowItAll Spectral Library
including Bio-Rads Sadtler spectra as well
as spectra from John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Database collection now includes over 2.3 million spectra
Allows users to save time by automatically importing structures and properties directly from
PubChem to enhance user-built databases
Bio-Rad
www.knowitall.com/whatsnew
Microscopy Stage Software

LINK
Delivers a practical and intuitive system

experience to users of temperature
controlled microscopy stages
Allows users to control and monitor the
different physical parameters for Linkam
stages from one central interface
Can be programmed with up to 100
ramps, making it easy for even complex experiments to be run
Linkam
Ziath
ziath.com/index.php/products
LAB AUTOMATION
Automated Extraction System
InnuPure C16 touch
Combines highly precise liquid handling with automated

extraction, using magnetic-particle separation as a basis
for isolating high-quality nucleic acids
Well-established walk-away principle ensures that the entire
processup to and including analysisis fully automated
once the initial manual loading step is complete
1 mL pipette tips with aerosol lters effectively prevent
contamination of the dispensing unit and samples
Analytik Jena
www.analytik-jena.com
www.linkam.co.uk
Instrument Utilization Dashboard

TetraScience Utilization
Automated Reagent Injector

Asia
Designed for use with Asia ow chemistry systems, enabling

fully automated experiments with multiple reagents
Driven by the Asia syringe pump module
Offers high performance, fully automated sample
injection via two independent channels, allowing
complex matrixed libraries to be synthesized
Gas blanketing provides the inert sampling conditions required
for safe handling of air and moisture sensitive reagents
Provides a dynamic dashboard of instrument

usage data and analytics
Shows trends in instrument use so labs can
make data-driven decisions around which capital
expenditures to invest in, where to adjust service
contracts and preventive maintenance, when to
redeploy or resell depreciating equipment, how
to optimize instrument scheduling, and where to
eliminate bottlenecks during high growth periods
TetraScience
Recent updates will allow for the improved importing of large legacy data les, the
enhancement of the audit trail for individual samples, and improvements to the search facility
for sample retrieval
Now has an improved function for the importing of large amounts of legacy data, which can
then be searched for and retr ieved in the database, even if the samples do not have barcodes
Syrris
syrris.com
www.tetrascience.com
Automated Sample
Software for Small Molecule Research Purication System
Compound Discoverer 2.0
Booth 815
KingFisher Presto
Booth 815
Offers a full suite of powerful tools to address mass

spectrometry-based small molecule differential
analysis, identication, and pathway mapping
Provides simplied data processing and
integrated compound identication
Also features streamlined data assembling from
one or more experiments
Designed to be part of an automated workow using a

liquid handler with a gripper or robot arm to purify samples
with volumes from 50L to 5mL
A small footprint allows for easy connection to several liquid
handling instruments in either a side-by-side or on-deck
conguration, allowing exible selection of platform and
use for a wide variety of applications
www.thermosher.com
thermosher.com/kingsherpresto
November 2016
Lab Manager
69
technology news
CE-IVD Labeled FISH Probes
LIFE SCIENCE
Silicon Photomultiplier PET Insert
Booth 501
Designed for simultaneous positron emission tomography /

magnetic resonance imaging) investigations in mice and rats
Compatible with MRI systems up to 15.2 Tesla
Allows simultaneous measurements for the perfect correlation
of PET and MRI data in space and time, in order to examine
tracer kinetics, therapeutic agent distribution, and animal physiology
Bruker
www.bruker.com
Preclinical Imaging System

SkyScan 1276
Booth 501
Provides improved in vivo scanning of small

laboratory animals and of in vitro biological
samples in preclinical studies
Features continuously variable magnication,
including a smallest pixel size of 2.8m, and
a shortest scanning cycle of 3.9 seconds
Gives researchers access to highest-quality images at higher throughput
The worlds rst in vivo microCT system with rapid helical scanning
Bruker
Oxford Gene Technology
www.ogt.com/NSCLC
Diagnostic Assays for

Systemic Sclerosis
Multilisa CENP-B and Scl-70
Multilisa SSc program combines novel and proprietary markers with existing
diagnostic standards to help understand the condition at a molecular level
Intended for the semi-quantitative determination of IgG antibodies specic for the
CENP-B and Scl-70 proteins
Are the rst Protagen CE marked diagnostic assays in an easy to use ELISA format
Protagen
www.protagen.com
www.bruker.com
Single Cell RNA-Seq System
Crossow Filter
Sartocon Slice 50 ECO
Developed for efcient, high throughput

single cell transcriptomics
Compact, scalable system enables rapid,
reproducible droplet encapsulation of individual
cells, allowing up to 10,000 single cell libraries
to be generated in one 15-minute run
Allows up to 500 l samples of cells and
oligo-barcoded beads to be encapsulated
in extremely monodisperse droplets, each containing a single cell
Specially designed for water-based protein solutions

with viscosities below 3 cp
The crossow cassette can typically be used in biotech
applications, such as ltration of IgG, blood factors and
peptides, especially involving membrane screening and
small-volume process development
Reduced ow channel geometry of the new lter lowers
the recirculation pump requirements by as much as 50%
versus a standard design
Dolomite Bio
Sartorius
www.dolomite-bio.com
Syringe Pump
Pump 33 DDS
Features two independent pumping channels

controlled by an intuitive touchscreen interface
This multi-purpose syringe pump employs
advanced syringe mechanisms that include a
tight gripping, extremely secure syringe clamp
that accommodates syringe sizes 0.5 l to 60 ml
Offers enhanced ow performance with high
accuracy and smooth ow from 1.02 pl/min to 106 ml/min
Harvard Apparatus
70
Cytocell Aquarius ROS1 Plus Breakapart and

RET Breakapart probes specically and accurately
detect rearrangements in the genome associated
with the most common form of lung cancer
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
In OGT validation studies, the new Cytocell
probes for NCSLC showed tight, bright signals
allowing easy visualization and scoring of results
Available in two economical sizes and are
premixed in hybridization buffer
Lab Manager
www.harvardapparatus.com
November 2016
www.sartorius.com/sartoow-smart
Fully Integrated Upstream Platform

Designed to meet the requirements of todays
upstream bioprocessing
Combines a top-performing expression system
with equipment and process control for the
rapid development and scale-up of robust,
high-titer commercial manufacturing processes
Biopharmaceutical manufacturers will be able
to reach the clinic in 14 months by leveraging this new platform
Sartorius
www.connect-upstream.com
LabManager.com
technology news
High Density Cell Factory System

Nunc
Booth 815
Designed to provide efcient and economical large-scale

production of cells by increasing productivity within the same
manufacturing space
Incorporates additional layers compared with the standard
Nunc Cell Factory systems, increasing surface area and yield
up to 30 percent, depending on the type of cells cultured
Available in 3-, 13- or 52- layer options
thermosher.com/cellfactory
INTEGRA
Lux i-Cellulose-5
Human iPSC-Based Discovery Services

Support both preclinical neuroscience and chronic pain research
Offered through a partnership between Cellectricon AB and Censo Biotechnologies Ltd.
Collaboration provides the opportunity to meet industrys demands for drug discovery
models that are closer, and therefore more relevant, to humans
www.cellectricon.com
Mitochondrial Toxicity Testing

3D InSight
New service is for the identication of mitochondrial

liabilities during drug development and safety testing
Combines the organotypic liver functionality and
28-day in vitro lifespan of 3D InSight human
liver microtissues with state-of-the-art analysis of
mitochondrial respiration using the Agilent XFe96 analyzer
Capitalizes on the in vivo-like biology of 3D human liver microtissues
InSphero
Enables 1536-well pipetting on INTEGRAs VIAFLO

384 electronic handheld pipette
Provides screening labs with a unique alternative to
fully automated robotic liquid handling systems
For optimal alignment of the pipetting head with
the target 1536 well plate, the new plate holder is
adjustable in the y-direction
Features easy to use slide function providing access to
all four quadrants with a 384-channel pipetting head
Chiral Columns
SERVICES
Cellectricon
Plate Holder for Electronic Pipette
www.insphero.com
SUPPLIES & CONSUMABLES

Organic Bottletop Dispensers
New Lux media is more robust than other

chiral offerings on the market thanks to a
manufactured chemical crosslinking between
the polysaccharide and silica supports
Can be used with even the strongest organic
solvents, and offer greater sample loading and method development exibility
Dichlorophenylcarbamate selector of the new media combines well with Phenomenexs
other Lux chiral stationary phases
Phenomenex
www.phenomenex.com
GC Inlet Liners
Zebron PLUS
Designed with a pre-installed Viton O-ring to eliminate installation steps

Easy-to-open packaging also prevents pitfalls that commonly occur during
liner installation, including breakage,
cuts, and potential contamination
Specially deactivated during manufacturing and tested for activity against
established EPA 8081 and 8270,
which are representative methods for
typical compounds of concern
Phenomenex
www.phenomenex.com
Microplates
sol-R
Part of the latest generation of BRAND bottletop dispensers

Improvements include elimination of seals, lower operating
forces, easier priming, and a new safety discharge system
Bottle adapters and accessories allow use with nearly any
unpressurized system
Digital models are available for highly reproducible settings,
analog models for rapid volume changes, or xed volume
models for standardized protocols
Designed to amplify the productivity gains

delivered by laser-scanning uorescence
cytometers by enabling users to deliver
reliable decision making data faster
Validated for use with TTP Labtechs
acumen and mirrorball cytometers
Provide the convenience of an off-theshelf consumable and the benets of custom design
Developed for use with microscope-based imaging devices,
enabling users to transfer seamlessly between devices
BrandTech Scientic
TTP Labtech
Dispensette S Organic
www.brandtech.com
ttplabtech.com/cell-imaging/mirrorball
November 2016
Lab Manager
71
products in action
STARLINE PLUG-IN RACEWAY For Flexible Lab Power
STARLINE Plug-In Raceway is the next generation in raceway
Reduced Overall Costs STARLINE Plug-In Raceway makes
systems, created to meet the ever-changing power distribution and data-
installation quick and easy, and lowers costs because it takes about
comm needs of retail, labs, data center and higher education customers.
one third less time to install, so labor costs are cut dramatically. Also,
STARLINEs innovative design offers a flexibility that no other product
the modules are so easy to add, that an electrician is not needed.
on the market offers the ability to add or relocate plug-in modules
Safety and Convenience Allows the user to avoid large panel
anywhere on the raceway quickly and easily, eliminating the time and
boards in a remote location and has greater flexibility without the
cost needed to reconfigure circuits, receptacles and wiring. Insulated
confusion of determining what breaker corresponds to which outlet.
copper bus bars are preinstalled in the raceway sections. Then, with
STARLINE Plug-In Raceway, you simply snap the pre-assembled plug-in
STARLINE Plug-In Raceway Common Applications:
modules into place on the raceway backplane and the connection to
Labs Medical/Pharmaceutical Designed to provide
power is made automatically without having to interrupt power.
reliability, STARLINE Plug-In Raceway helps labs and hospitals run
STARLINE Plug-In Raceway not only offers flexibility and low cost of
at peak efficiency. And the flexibility of STARLINE Plug-In Raceway
ownership, additional benefits are:
allows you to meet the constant changes a lab presents.
Reliability If you know the name STARLINE, you know that reli-
Education STARLINE Plug-In Raceway has a role in facilities
ability is the backbone of design criteria for all of our systems. This
all over campus, from cafeterias, labs and vo-tech classrooms, to
system is tested to meet NEC, IEC and UL standards and has the ETL
stadiums, auditoriums and theaters.
mark. Joints and plug-in units require no maintenance.
Healthcare The flexibility of the Plug-In Raceway product, as
Aesthetic Appeal The electrical raceway is built with a smooth
well as the circuit protection each plug-in unit provides, makes it
aluminum finish and its compact design requires minimal space.
ideal for healthcare environments.
STARLINE Plug-In Raceway is available in white, black or silver.
Data Centers Downtime at data centers can be costly. Thats
Custom colors are available upon request.
why STARLINE Plug-In Raceway is preferred at data centers and
Flexibility and Scalability STARLINE Plug-In Raceway is an invest-
mission critical facilities that need the ability to add power, without
ment that allows you to expand, reconfigure or relocate the system anywhere
shutting off power.
you need powerimproving your ability to meet future changing facility

needs and making it one of todays most flexible products on the market.
To find out if STARLINE Plug-In Raceway is the right fit for your facility,
visit www.starlinepower.com/raceway.
72
Lab Manager
November 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
One of many important topics you can read

about focuses on properly balancing the
rotor. In order for a rotor to run smoothly and
safely at its operating speed, the load it carries must be balanced. (Examples of correct
and incorrect loading are shown below.)
Top View of
Partially-Filled Rotor
Center of rotation
A
A rotor can be properly balanced by

following some simple rules:
1. A rotor must never be run with buckets
missing, though opposing buckets may
be left empty.
2. All opposing loads must balance within
a certain weight as specified by the centrifuge
manufacturers instruction manual.
3. If opposing buckets are run with a partial
load of tubes, they must be arranged symmetrically, both with respect to the pivotal
axis of each bucket and across the center
of rotation (see below).
Pivotal axis
of bucket C
D
Unbalanced Load
Top View of
Partially-Filled Rotor
Even if all tubes are

filled equally, the rotor
on the left is improperly
loaded because none
of the bucket loads are
balanced with respect
to their pivotal axes.
The rotor load on
the right, however, is
properly balanced. All
buckets are balanced
across the center of
rotation and each
bucket is balanced
with respect to its
pivotal axis.
Center of rotation
A
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
November 2016
Lab Manager
73
how it works
ISOLATING WEAK PROTEIN COMPLEXES

Problem: Alterations in the proteomeincluding changes in protein expression, function, or localizationplay a significant
role in the development of cancer and other diseases. Most proteins work in multi-subunit complexes consisting of proteins or
nucleic acids, but studying these interactions can be a challenge when these associations are weak or transient.
The use of paramagnetic beads for affinity purification techniques has made protein isolation faster and simpler. However, protein
purification still represents a bottleneck in protein characterization and identification. Paramagnetic bead protocols require
multiple, harsh pipette-based wash manipulations that may result in the loss of the weakly-bound or transient protein interactors
the researchers are seeking. Paramagnetic bead isolation is also time-consuming. Each target requires separate collection tubes
and each experiment may require multiple isolations.
Solution: Recently, Dr. David Beebe, professor of
biomedical engineering at the University of WisconsinMadison, developed a gentler and faster method using
paramagnetic beads known as Exclusion-based Sample
Preparation (ESP) that allows scientists to study weak
and transient protein interactions. Rather than wash
contaminants from paramagnetic beads, ESP technologies
move the beads with their bound analyte from the initial
sample solution. This is achieved by either pulling the
beads along a surface into the elution buffer or pinning
the beads to a surface and transferring the entire surface
with the bead attached to the elution buffer. The result is
significantly less carryover of unwanted debris or buffer,
and is the key in reducing the number of steps.
Gilson is the first to commercialize ESP technology into a
research tool, EXTRACTMAN, which is fast and easy to
use. After the target protein or complex is allowed to bind
to magnetic beads with an appropriate capture substrate,
the sample is loaded onto the EXTRACTMAN plate.
Then, an upper magnet within the device lid captures the
beads. A second, lower magnet temporarily disengages the
upper magnet so that the beads can be moved to a new
solution. The simple capture and release mechanism
is repeated in a series of steps, first through wash buffer to
remove contaminants, then finally into an elution buffer to
release the analyte. The EXTRACTMAN does not destroy
the original sample, which makes reprobing for multiple
analytes a possibility.
EXTRACTMAN takes advantage of a liquids surface
tension and hydrophobic surfaces to provide a gentle and
fast protein isolation method. Because there are no shearing
forces from pipetting or pulling the beads along a surface,
the EXTRACTMAN protocol is significantly better at
retaining weakly bound protein-protein, protein-RNA,
74
Lab Manager
November 2016
and cell-protein complexes. The rapid nature of the

isolation also aids in retaining weakly bound complexes
since it reduces the samples time spent in wash buffers,
which can promote dissociation.
The EXTRACTMAN platform is compatible with many
commercially available paramagnetic beads, making
it easy to adapt to existing immunoprecipitation, coimmunoprecipitation, and protein isolation workflows.
Additionally, the device allows for up to four protein
isolations to be run in parallel, allowing for greater
throughput than traditional bead isolation protocols.
For more information, go to: www.gilson.com/extractmanHIW
Figure 1. The Gilson EXTRACTMAN platform uses
Exclusion-based Sample Preparation (ESP) technology

to isolate proteins of interest using paramagnetic beads
while eliminating the harsh, manual wash steps of
traditional protocols.
LabManager.com
how it works
RUNNING MODERN
LABORATORIES WITH A LIS
Problem: Todays laboratories face many challenges in their day-to-day operations. Staffing shortages, increasing
turnaround times, time-intensive certification audits, insufficient sample monitoring methods, and inaccurate billing all must
be managed while staying fully compliant with CLIA and HIPAA regulations. For a modern clinical laboratory to remain
competitive, adopting a laboratory information system (LIS) has become an economic necessity.
Effective software management of this kind is essential for meeting regulatory guidelines, providing timely and accurate test
results and test result interpretation to physicians, and thriving in the clinical testing market while avoiding potential negative
audit findings. Identifying your laboratorys needs and challenges will help you in determining which laboratory information
system (LIS) fits your specific requirements.
To get started, consider whether you or anyone in your laboratory has said: I cant track the progress of my samples
through various tests in the lab. Are all of the tests completed? Entering billing data and sending faxes is taking too much
time away from lab work. Where is the final test result report? Did we ever send it to the client? Or, Who performed
quality checks on this instrument and when?
Solution: LimitLIS is one example of a modern,
automated, and cloud-based laboratory information

system designed to manage samples and test orders, track
samples and test results in the lab, publish results and
reports to the laboratorys clients in their preferred formats;
and integrate directly with analyzers, EHR providers,
billing providers, and reference laboratories. LimitLIS
centralizes all of the users laboratory data and operations
information and consolidates it in a single solution. Perhaps
most importantly, this LIS is using its modern software
architecture to offer a streamlined, pleasant lab user
experience and professional appearance to lab customers
accessing its inbuilt Client Portal features. RURO designed
LimitLIS to address and resolve a multitude of issues
impacting the labs daily laboratory operations.
LimitLIS is a cloud-based solution that will grow with the

laboratory and can be accessed anywhere and on any device
by the labs staff and clients. In addition to the benefits listed
above, this LIS offers the laboratory a variety of cutting
edge features including: client/patient portal, laboratory
dashboard, paperless e-requisitions, sample tracking and
storage, integration, report delivery, and much more.
For more information, please contact RURO at 1-888-881-RURO or
visit their product website at limitlis.cloud.
RURO also provides free webinars for LimitLIS. To sign up, please
visit limitlis.cloud or contact a RURO representative at info@ruro.com.
How can a LIS such as LimitLIS add value to the

laboratorys business?
- Keep valued clients and grow the users client base by
achieving faster turnaround times
- Improve quality through enhanced data accuracy
- Increase efficiency by centralizing information and tools
in a single software package
- Reduce staffing costs with automated billing, EHR
integration, and notifications
LimitLIS centralizes all of the users laboratory data and
operations information and consolidates it in a single solution.
November 2016
Lab Manager
75
PROFILES
BOOST LAB PRODUCTIVITY WITH USHIOS PHOTO
ABSORBANCE SENSOR, PICOEXPLORER
The USHIO PiCOEXPLORER PAS-110 is a compact lab
research device that conducts your experiment in seconds in
just 3 EASY steps. Bluetooth capable with a downloadable
application this powerful tool can be used anywhere; no
pipetting and no residue wiping, thus reducing bottlenecks
in the lab and saving valuable time.
Free Up Dedicated Resources
No Pipettes or Cuvettes
Mobile App Connectivity
Super Affordable and Productive
Contact: Ushio America, Inc.
www.ushio.com | customerservice@ushio.com
Phone: +1-800-838-7446
NIMBUS BALANCES DELIVER

SKY-HIGH PERFORMANCE
Adam Equipments Nimbus analytical and precision
balances make every day lab work easy. The Nimbus
range includes models featuring internal or external
calibration, with readabilities from 0.1mg to 0.1g
and capacities from 80g to 22kg.
Contact: Adam Equipment Inc.

PLACE YOUR PRODUCT PROFILE AD TODAY!
REACH YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE, ENGAGE YOUR BRAND,

AND OPTIMIZE YOUR ADVERTISING IMPACT.
Deliver your message and position your products and brand in front
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other resource available today.
For more information visit www.labmanger.com
76
Lab Manager
November 2016
LabManager.com
PRE-OWNED EQUIPMENT MARKETPLACE
Equipment Soluons for

Pharaceucal, Laboratory,
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ADVERTISER INDEX
Company
URL
Page
Huber USA Inc.
www.huber-usa.com
15
Adam Equipment Inc.
31, 76
IKA Works
www.ika.com
33
Agilent Technologies
www.agilent.com
49
INTEGRA
Aries Filterworks
www.arieslterworks.com
26
Labconco
www.labconco.com
Beckman Coulter Inc.
www.beckmancoulter.com
Milestone
www.milestonesci.com
17
Bio-Rad Life Science Group
www.bio-rad.com
43
OI Analytical
www.oico.com
36
BioTek Instruments, Inc.
www.biotek.com
Panasonic Healthcare
www.panasonic-healthcare.com
57
BMG LABTECH
www.bmglabtech.com
Peak Scientic
www.peakscientic.com
11
Caron
www.caronproducts.com
58
Pittcon
www.pittcon.org
25
CARVER
www.carverpress.com
47
ProteinSimple
www.proteinsimple.com
41
Clippard
www.clippard.com
23
Retsch
www.retsch.com
37
Conquer Scientic
ConquerScientic.com
77
Ruro
www.ruro.com
21, 80
Elemental Machines
elementalmachines.io
29
Shimadzu Scientic
14
Eppendorf North America
www.eppendorf.com
39
SLAS
SLAS2017.org
35
Federal Equipment Company
www.fedequip.com
77
Stirling Ultracold
www.stirlingultracold.com
13
Hettich Lab Technology
www.hettweb.com
64
USHIO
www.ushio.com
27, 76
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.
November 2016
Lab Manager
77
lab manager online
LAB MANAGER
ONLINE
We look back at our web content since the October issue and look forward to whats in store for the upcoming December issue.
1 The Key to Getting More
Women into Leadership Positions
Many studies have shown that having more
gender diversity in companies upper management ranks leads to a number of benefits, including more ethical decisions and
a better bottom line. However, leadership
positions at many companies continue to
be dominated by men. We explore a recent
study that examines why that is and possible
solutions to the gender gap problem.
2 Trending on Social Media:

Spend Wisely
As of October 18, Lab Managers top October
issue article posted to Facebook and Twitter
was our Business Management article, Spend
Wisely. This article outlined how to strategically manage your equipment, supplies, and
personnel budget in order to improve efficiency and productivity in the laboratory.
3 Most Popular Webinar

Last months top webinar on LabManager.
com with 512 registrants was Overcome
Your Fears in Public Speaking, presented by Rick Parmely. This webinar outlined
the steps laboratory professionals can take
to conquer their fears of public speaking.
Though it ran on September 29, you can still
catch it on demand at the link below.
Read more at LabManager.com/lab-budgeting
Read more at LabManager.com/publicspeaker
Read more at LabManager.com/women-leaders
Women in Science
LabManager.com
78
Lab Manager
November 2016
Examining the problem of gender-based wage inequality, as well as the barriers

women face when attempting to enter the STEM fields, our December cover story
will take a close look at the current state of women in science. Highlights will
include salary and work-life flexibility differences within academic, government,
and industrial research institutions.
LabManager.com
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES
LAB MANAGERS UPCOMING WEBINAR SERIES
PRODUCT
SPOTLIGHT
HOW MODERN ICP-OES TECHNOLOGY CAN IMPROVE

LABORATORY EFFICIENCIES AND ANALYTICAL RESULTS
WHILE REDUCING COSTS
Wednesday November 9, 2016 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST
LabManager.com/ICPOEStechnologyspotlight
TRENDS IN CELL CULTURE

Thursday November 10, 2016 | 12:00 - 1:30 pm EST
LabManager.com/cellculturetrends
10 TIPS TO OPTIMIZE THE QUALITY

OF YOUR LABS WATER
Tuesday November 29, 2016 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST
LabManager.com/labwaterexpert
MANAGEMENT
MATTERS
EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT:

SMART OBJECTIVES, ANNUAL REVIEWS,
AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS
Wednesday November 30, 2016 | 1:00 - 2:00 pm EST
LabManager.com/performancemanagement
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF OUR UPCOMING AND ON DEMAND WEBINARS, PLEASE VISIT
LabManager.com/webinars

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November 2016

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74 How it Works Isolating Weak Protein

77 Pre-owned Equipment Marketplace

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Nonetheless, the study offers a snapshot of how

Social scientific ecosystems

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While most scientists believe that

Sample Integrity & Energy Efficiency

Your Samples have

With superior reliability compared to