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Your guide to laboratory and pathology equipment in Europe € 22.– 2024/2025 Vol. 11 Sample Processing Chemistry & Immunochemistry Hematology Pathology DNA Microbiology POCT Information Technology Other Applications
For healthcare professionals. For you. 10 MED Komponenten Konstante Drehzahlen in Arzneimittel-Testgeräten 17 MED Software Digitale Messung des Blasenfüllstands 30 MED Elektronik Sounddesign für medizinische Geräte 3-4 | 2024 07 Titelstory Qualität, Sicherheit und Ressourcenschonung vereinen € 22.- The Guide to Imaging Technology and Informatics in Europe RADBOOK 2024 Vol. 17 Vol 33 ISSUE 4/24 • November 2024 THE EUROPEAN FORUM FOR THOSE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING HEALTHCARE WORK THE EUROPEAN FORUM FOR THOSE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING HEALTHCARE WORK AI imaging More accuracy in the segmentation of brain tumours 4 2 0 2 r e b m e v o N November 2024 93. Jahrgang ku-gesundheitsmanagement.de Diagnosing cancer and ma- naging a patient’s respective treatment path requires a pre- cise segmentation of the af- fected anatomical structures. Defining the different sem- antic objects in an image such as disease patterns, lesions, biomarkers, organs, tissues etc. is at the core of this. Such a segmentation enables radi- ologists to distinguish the three subcategories of a tu- mour – the active core, the ne- crotic disintegrated area and oedemas – among others. A range of medical decisions are based on this classification: e.g., radiologists determine the volume of a tumour, moni- tor its development, design the concept of a personalised radiation therapy and sub- sequently administer it. In the realm of surgery, image seg- mentation is used for plan- ning and navigating oper- ations. To best support patients, clini- cians need this segmentation to be as accurate as possible. How- ever, segmenting medical images is a key challenge of medical image processing. The Research Department Artificial Intelli- gence in Medical Image and Sig- nal Processing (AIMedI) at the Lübeck site of the German Re- search Center for Artificial Intel- ligence (Deutsches Forschungs- zentrum Künstliche Intelligenz or DFKI) has been working on the development of a high-precision three-dimen- sional viewer software for medi- cal image data. Using AI and deep learning methods, the soft- ware analyses medical image data, bio signals along with other patient data and automatically interprets them. In this way, it can delineate pathologically al- tered image areas and detect dis- eases. für Prof Dr Heinz Handels, Director of the Institute of Medical In- of the Institute of Medical In- formatics, University of Lübeck, formatics, University of Lübeck, and Head of AIMedI explains: and Head of AIMedI explains: “Our aim is to support clinicians “Our aim is to support clinicians with the classification of cancer with the classification of cancer tissue of malignant brain tu- tissue of malignant brain tu- mours such as glioblastoma. This mours such as glioblastoma. This also helps with the volumetric also helps with the volumetric measurement of a brain tumour measurement of a brain tumour for which we need to be able to for which we need to be able to define which pixels form an ob- define which pixels form an ob- ject.” ject.” www.healthcare-in-europe.com Grün: Peritumorales Edem; Gelb: Gadolinium-verstärkter Tumor Annotated medical data in short supply Methods to measure the volume of tumours already exist, but their accuracy is still wanting. To this end, the research group around Handels, AIMedI, devel- oped a procedure that allows to automatically segment and re- cognise objects such as tumours at an exact pixel-level in the brain. It uses deep learning methods tailored to image pro- cessing, which deliver a higher accuracy of the segmentation. These deep learning methods au- tonomously learn from training tonomously learn from training data. To facilitate this, the al- data. To facilitate this, the al- gorithm requires original images gorithm requires original images that must be manually marked that must be manually marked by an expert to create a so-called by an expert to create a so-called annotated image. annotated image. This approach has already been This approach has already been successfully used in many areas successfully used in many areas of public life, such as for the of public life, such as for the analysis of traffic, where non- analysis of traffic, where non- specialists perform the an- specialists perform the an- notation of the images. Neverthe- less, this is different in the field of medicine where an expert is required to do the annotation. As it takes several hours to annotate a 3D dataset, only few exist: “I reckon that in my research com- munity there is globally only a li- mited number of such annotated datasets, which are all part of a global initiative. The data is held on central servers so that the im- ages can be accessed from every- where. This allows to compare generated images to those an- notated by experts”, says Han- dels. However, deep learning al- dels. However, deep learning al- gorithms deliver more reliable gorithms deliver more reliable results, the more data is avail- results, the more data is avail- able. able. Using U-Nets for optimised results To overcome the constraints of To overcome the constraints of limited manually annotated train- limited manually annotated train- ing data, scientists in the AIMedI ing data, scientists in the AIMedI group have trained a U-Net, a group have trained a U-Net, a convolutional neural network convolutional neural network developed seg- developed seg- image image for for k c e b ü L f o y t i s r e v i n U © training mentation. The U-Net architec- ture is suited to work with fewer (annotated) images whilst achieving a more precise segmentation. Furthermore, the researchers investigate the safety and possible explanations of the generated results. The evaluation of the methods and systems developed is still ongoing and done in close co- operation with medical co- operation partners based on practical applications. The future: Generating annotated synthetic image data At the heart of this endeavour is At the heart of this endeavour is the aspiration to generate an- the aspiration to generate an- notated synthetic brain tumor notated synthetic brain tumor images to free up experts’ time, images to free up experts’ time, which they anyhow only unwill- which they anyhow only unwill- ingly bestow on annotating 3D ingly bestow on annotating 3D datasets. Handels explains: “We datasets. Handels explains: “We aim to generate new data, so- aim to generate new data, so- called synthetic image data, called synthetic image data, where the labeled data is auto- where the labeled data is auto- Heinz Handels n i z a g a m h c a F s a D – t n e m e g a n a m s t i e h d n matically generated, using gener- u ated net- s e works (GANs) or diffusion G U models.” However, this type of K network poses its own chal- lenges like its substantial storage requirements. Prof Dr Heinz Handels Director of the Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Lübeck adversarial synthetic investigate Furthermore, data would circumnavigate data pro- tection requirements as man- dated per the General Data Pro- “In our tection Regulation. research, we to use only synthetic data for the training of neural networks. This will be of enormous value for re- search purposes as this data will be freely available”, concludes Handels. This is a relatively new research field, and more work is needed. ■ Article: Cornelia Wels-Maug CONTENTS RADIOLOGY LABORATORY AI RESEARCH 2 5 7 11 G K . www.healthcare-in-europe.com o C & H b m G e g a l r e v h c a f o g m MEDIZIN- UND MEDIZIN- UND KRANKENHAUSTECHNIK KRANKENHAUSTECHNIK Auf dem neusten Stand EMPLOYER BRANDING EMPLOYER BRANDING EMPLOYER BRANDING Wertvolles Gut Wertvolles Gut Wertvolles Gut € 22.– Your guide to laboratory and pathology equipment in Europe 2024/2025 Vol. 11 Automation & Sample Processing Chemistry & Immunochemistry Hematology Pathology DNA Microbiology POCT Information Technology Other Applications NAEOTOM Alpha®, the world’s first photon-counting CT, is nothing less than the reinvention of computed tomography. NAEOTOM Alpha®, the world’s first photon-counting CT, is nothing less than the reinvention of computed tomography. 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Editorial Dear reader, as we refl ect on 2024, the fi eld of laboratory medical devices has experienced remarkable transformation, driven by both cutting-edge innovation and essential regulatory shifts. MedTech achieved its sixth consecutive year of uninterrupted revenue growth and has now become a $587 billion industry. This year, advancements in diagnostic tech- nology and automation continue to rede- fi ne what is possible in medical laboratories worldwide, yet these innovations also bring to light new challenges in balancing effi cien- cy, accuracy, and safety. From automated sample preparation to high-throughput analyzers, laboratories are now able to process data faster than ever, a boon for precision diagnostics and personalized medicine. Artifi cial intelligence and machine learning have also found their way into lab tech, helping labs analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns that can lead to earlier, more accurate diagnoses. The LABBook 2024/2025 celebrates these advances by highlighting both innovative prod- ucts and insightful feature articles that explore the latest trends shaping our industry. From state-of-the-art equipment to everyday solutions, this year’s LABBook showcases tools and technologies that support effi cient workfl ows, improve accuracy, and enhance safety within the laboratory. These innovations are designed not only to streamline operations but also to build the foundation for a resilient future, capable of facing whatever challenges lie ahead. Join us in exploring these exciting developments and the products that are reshaping the future of laboratory medicine. Warm regards Tim Hofmann Specialist editor healthcare LABBook 2024 / 2025 3
Content Products & Systems 5 Sample Processing 6 Chemistry & Immunochemistry 11 Hematology 13 Pathology 15 DNA 17 Microbiology 22 POCT 25 Information Technology 27 Other Applications Companies & Suppliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Imprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Sample Processing 5 Sample Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 6 Chemistry & Immunochemistry Mass Spectrometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Electrophoresis / Chromatography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Research Use Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hematology 11 Pathology 13 Histology Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 DNA 15 Microbiology 17 Mass Spectrometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 POCT 22 Blood Glucose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Blood Gases / Electrolytes / Metabolites / Oximetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Endochrine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Clinical Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Information Technology 25 Other Applications 27 Blood Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Centrifuges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Incubators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Histology Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Index of Advertisers Hamamatsu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4 LABBook 2024 / 2025 . . m o c e b o d a k c o t s © : r e v o c
Sample Processing Sample Processing Sample Processing NGNY Devices – CUBE Benchtop Rack to Rack Sorter – 2nd generation Cost-efficient workhorse: · Registration, sorting and archiving from/to analyzer racks & centrifuge buckets · Up to 700 tubes/hr on 1sqm · Proven and robust design Smart sample flow manager: · No more tube hunting: continuous tracking and routing of tubes based on pending tests and priority · Single-tube traceability for safe archiving · Easy change between different workflow configurations · Maximizing the efficiency of your LIS and middleware with dual connection and highly developed software Sample Processing T&O LabSystems – ATRAS Bulk Loader and Bulk / Rack Sorter – 4th generation Highlights: Cut down your process time, simplify your daily life and configure the ATRAS to fit your needs. · Cost-efficient registration and sorting of bulk material · Numerous output configurations for sorting into bulk bins, customer-specific racks and centrifuge buckets · Fast bulk-to-rack sorting on a small footprint (3000 samples / h on 1.2 m²) · Extendable by our intelligent sample transportation system InTrac Equip the ATRAS according to your requirements Features such as CapIdent, STAT Input, SIQ bin, Piston detection, Spin Check and Barcode alignment. https://to-labsystems.com/labbook LABBook 2024 / 2025 5
Chemistry & Immunochemistry Mass Spectrometry Mass Spectrometry Shimadzu – CLAM-2040 CL (IVD) / CLAM-2040 (RUO) Dimensions: 670 × 700 × 1190 mm (w × d × h) Weight: 185 kg Assays: Immunosuppressants, vitamin D, steroids, antiepileptics, antiarrhythimics drugs, amiodarone, drugs of abuse, anitdepressants, neuroleptics Highlights: CLAM-2040 provides users seamless integration of automated sample preparation with LC-MS / MS to improve data quality, sample throughput, laboratory effi ciency and safety Simple workfl ows allow users to go from blood collection tubes to results without any additional sample handling. Each sample is processed successively in parallel, to optimize instrument usage. Easy to access software for management of reagents, calibration curves, control samples and maintenance ensure reliability and quality of results. 6 LABBook 2024 / 2025
Chemistry & Immunochemistry Mass Spectrometry Mass Spectrometry Shimadzu – LCMS-8060NX CL (IVD) / LCMS-8060 NX (RUO) Shimadzu – LCMS-8060 CL (IVD) / LCMS-8060 (RUO) Dimensions: Weight: 1180 × 540 × 610 mm (w × d × h) 140 kg Highlights: The LCMS-8060NX delivers high sensitivity and ultra fast analysis speed together with robustness and high flexibility. Developed on the base of the LCMS-8060, it incorporates a newly designed ionsource IonFocus to boost ion transfer to the masss spectrometer and increase even more the robustness of the system for complex biological matrices in daily analysis . The system perfectly suits to high sensitivity applications like steroids, catecholamines, and metabolomics studies in clinical research. Dimensions: Weight: 1180 × 540 × 610 mm (w × d × h) 140 kg Highlights: The LCMS-8060 CL delivers the highest sensitivity and fastest analysis speed of any LCMS on the market today. A newly developed UF-Qarray boosts ion intensity but suppresses noise. By improving the ion sampling device, the ion guide, and vacuum efficiency, Shimadzu has achieved an unprecedented sensitivity in quantitative analysis by LC / MS / MS while keeping high robustness for daily analysis. Mass Spectrometry Mass Spectrometry Shimadzu – LCMS-8050 CL (IVD) / LCMS-8050 (RUO) Shimadzu – LCMS-8045 CL (IVD) / LCMS-8045 (RUO) Dimensions: Weight: 1180 × 540 × 610 mm (w × d × h) 140 kg Highlights: Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry is the method of choice for quantification of trace-level analytes in complex samples for a variety of applications including clinical research, forensic, toxicology, pharmacokinetics. Combined with our world-leading UHPLC systems, and maintaining Shimadzu’s proprietary ultrafast technologies (UFMS), which include high-speed MRM transitions, MS / MS acquisition, and ultra-high speed polarity switching, the LCMS-8050 can dramatically improve analytical throughput. Dimensions: Weight: 1180 × 540 × 610 mm (w × d × h) 140 kg Highlights: The LCMS-8045 offers the proven high sensitivity, high speed and robustness of Shimadzu’s UFMS series to provide highly reliable data for applications that demand the sensitivity and speed of a mass spectro- meter, such as for simultaneous analysis used in the clinical research field. Due to the heated-ESI probe and UFsweeper II collision cell, it offers the highest sensitivity in the middle-range class (UFsensitivity). LABBook 2024 / 2025 7
Chemistry & Immunochemistry Mass Spectrometry Electrophoresis / Chromatography Shimadzu – nSMOL Antibody BA Kit Shimadzu – HPLC / UHPLC (RUO or CE-IVD) Assays: 100 Highlights: nSMOL is a proprietary, innovative technique from Shimadzu, enabling selective proteolysis of the Fab region of monoclonal antibodies. The nSMOL Antibody BA Kit is a ready-to-use reagent kit for collecting monoclonal antibodies from blood or other biological samples using immunoglobulin collection resin, and then performing selective proteolysis of the Fab region of these antibodies via FG beads Trypsin DART. Fab-derived peptide fragments produced by limited digestion can then be quantified via LC-MS / MS. Highlights: Shimadzu is offering a wide range of solutions in liquid chromatography starting from standard HPLC systems to high end UHPLC systems including compact con- figurations. Available with several options for columns switching, pre-concentration, online SPE, etc, the systems are also well recognized for coupling with highly sensitive detectors like fluorescence, radio-activity, electrochemical, or mass spectrometry. To increase throughput with mass spectrometers, Shimadzu offers the Nexera-MX configuration. Research Use Only Shimadzu – MALDImini-1 LABBOOK 2024 Please visit us at healthcare-in-europe.com Dimensions: Weight: 309 × 385 × 320 mm (w × d × h) 25 kg Highlights: With its simple configuration and compact size, it is possible to install the MALDImini-1 in places where mass analysis devices could not previously be used. Through ingenious engineering and innovation its footprint has been reduced to the size of a piece of paper. The MALDImini-1, with ist MS3 capabilities, can be used in research facilities, educational organizations and private structures involved in biomedical science or which carry out research on the structure of glycans. 8 LABBook 2024 / 2025
Chemistry & Immunochemistry Brain cancer immunotherapy CAR-T Cells vs. Glioblastoma Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumour, with an average survival after diagnosis of less than two years, and against which current treatments remain ineffective. Report: University of Geneva Recent advances in immunotherapy are promising, but success has been relatively modest. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) identified a marker on the surface of tumour cells, and gener- ated CAR-T immune cells carrying an antibody to destroy them. Furthermore, these cells seem capable of targeting diseased tumour cells that do not carry this antigen, while sparing healthy cells. These results, published in Cancer Immunology Research, are a first step towards clinical trials with human patients. Glioblastomas carry biological characteristics that make them particularly difficult to treat. Able to induce a microenvironment that limits the attack of the immune system, they escape standard treatments and recur rapidly. Denis Migliorini, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the UNIGE Faculty of Medicine, is an expert in CAR-T cells (for chimeric antigen receptors T-cells). This immu- notherapy consists in collecting immune T cells from patients, modifying them genetically in the lab to make them express antibodies capable of detecting elements specific to tumour cells, before reinjecting them so that they can specifically target the tumour. ‘‘For several years we have been trying to identify the protein markers expressed by glioblastoma cells,’’ explains Denis Migliorini. ‘‘One of these markers, PTPRZ1, proved particularly important: we were able to generate CAR-T cells carrying antibodies targeting PTPRZ1. This is a first step towards CAR-T cells effective against malignant gliomas.” Most CAR-T cells are generated using viral vectors, a technique that has proved its worth in certain diseases but is not very suitable in the brain. ‘‘Indeed, they persist for a very long time in the context blood cancers. The brain is a fragile organ, and this persistence can generate a risk of toxicity,’’ explains Darel Martinez Bedoya, a post-doctoral fellow in Denis Migliorini’s laboratory and first author of this research. The scientists there- fore introduced in the T-cells the messenger RNA encoding for the desired antibody. The cellular machinery is then responsible for producing the right protein to build the receptor that will take place on the T-cell surface and recognise the tumour target. Immunofluorescence staining of a representative human glioblastoma tissue section. In red, the PTPRZ1 markers, and in blue, the cell nuclei. (scale bar: 400 μm). © Denis Migliorini – UNIGE/HUG ‘‘This technique has a number of advantages: CAR-Ts offer a flexible platform, allowing multiple adaptations according to the specificities and evolution of the tumour,’’ explains Darel Martinez Bedoya. To check that CAR-Ts only attack tumour cells, the Geneva team first tested them in vitro on healthy and tumour cells. ‘‘To our surprise, not only did CAR-Ts not attack healthy cells, but they were also capable, by bystander effect, of identifying and fighting tumour cells not expressing the PTPRZ1 marker,’’ Denis Migliorini is delighted to report. ‘‘In this context, CAR-Ts are probably capable of secreting pro-inflammatory molecules that are responsible for eliminating tumour cells even in the absence of the original marker when co-cultured with target positive tumour cells.’’ The second stage involved testing the treatment in vivo in mouse models of human glioblastoma. Tumour growth was controlled, prolonging the lives of the mice remarkably well without signs of toxicity. ‘‘By administering CAR-Ts intratu- mourally in the CNS, we can use fewer cells and greatly reduce the risk of peripheral toxicity. With this data and other unpub- lished yet, all lights are green to now envisage a first clinical trial in humans,’’ the scientists conclude. LABBook 2024 / 2025 9
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Hematology Next-generation pathology Multiplexed staining techniques in the fight against complex diseases Bringing digital pathology together with novel multiplexed staining techniques may answer key questions about complex diseases. Pathologist Lukas Marcelis, MD, PhD, believes such combinations of technology will have benefits for clinicians and patients and can help unravel some of the mysteries surrounding a range of conditions. Report: Mark Nicholls In one example, he believes it could explain why younger patients with Epstein-Barr Virus-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma NOS (EBV+ DLBCL, NOC) generally fare better than older people. Marcelis discusses these technological advances in his presentation to the 35th European Congress of Pathology in Dublin entitled “Next-generation pathology using multiplexed immunohistochemistry in haematological malignancy.” MILAN gives better context A medical physician and trainee pathologist at University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium, having completed his PhD in EBV-driven lymphomas, he is continuing research into new multiplexed stain technologies. Speaking ahead of his presenta- tion, he believes next-generation pathology using digital images analysis will offer significant benefits. In a transition that sees pathologists no longer reading slides with their eyes but using computer digital image analysis, he points to the importance of correcting artefacts, and good quality control. ‘One advantage is that you can identify very specific immune cell subtypes, with spatial context,’ he added. With multiplexed immunohistochemistry allowing for signifi- cantly more markers on a slide (each cell can have 50+ markers), he has embraced the MILAN (multiple iterative labelling through antibody neodeposition) technique which uses immunofluores- cent markers. Potential in EBV-driven lymphomas In haematological malignancy, he notes this is of particular interest in his research area of EBV-driven lymphomas, which can arise in immune-compromised patients, such as those receiving immune suppression to prevent organ rejection post-transplantation. He said: ‘One question is why some develop EBV-driven lymphoproliferative disorders (EBV-driven LPD) and others do not, and why sometimes if we reduce immunosuppression the disease disappears and sometimes not. ‘In EBV-driven LPD there is a lot of interaction between immune cells, the virus and the malignancy itself which requires a multitude of antibody stains to adequately characterize.’ The technique may help in predicting why in some, mainly younger, patients the immune system can control the condition better than in older people, for example. Introduction into clinical practice almost within reach A possible advantage for patients, he added, is that the microenvironment can be more fully characterized. This is currently highly interesting in research settings but while there is still much work to be done, he believes there is potential for this to be implemented into future clinical practice. Questions, Digital tissue reconstruction of a DLBCL biopsy (tissue micro array core) stained using MILAN. BC: B-cell, DC: dendritic cell, Mf: macrophage, PC: plasma cell, Tcy: cytotoxic T cell, Th: helper T cell, Treg: regulatory T cell. LABBook 2024 / 2025 11
Hematology however, remain around quality control, guidelines agreement and image quality. For example, he stressed the importance of the machine adequately recognising individual cells and avoiding over-seg- menting and splitting up one cell into different parts, or under-segmenting and grouping cells together. ‘Many different methods for cell segmentation exist, but for clinical practise a consensus on “gold standards” would be needed,’ he said. ‘But there is definitely a future in this digital image analysis using high-multiplexed stains because it can give a lot of infor- mation that cannot be obtained with classic immunochemistry.’ New answers (that will lead to new questions) Dr Marcelis suggests there are benefits on a therapeutic and diagnostic level, such as in helping identify immune microenvi- ronment “state” of the patient to predict the behaviour of EBV- driven LPDs or potential therapeutic options. ‘Next-generation pathology and digital image analysis and multiplex will allow to identify complex immune cell types in a spatial context and do neighbourhood analysis, all things not possible with traditional immunochemistry or flow cytometry.’ The big step is looking at a combination of 50-plus markers digitally on a single slide rather than through a microscope and examining and interpreting the slide differently. ‘Many questions will need to be answered,’ he said, ‘since these techniques often identify new immune cell clusters where we do not always know enough to name these cell types and if they are genuine or an artefact. But the future is that we are going to work more and more digitally and will have to use these techniques since they will have advantages for patients,’ he concluded. PROFILE Lukas Marcelis, MD, PhD, is a pathologist from the Department of Pathology at University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium, having completed his medical training at the University of Leuven and obtained his PhD in the field of biomedical sciences on Epstein- Barr Virus-driven lymphoma. His research focus is on multiplexed stain technologies in haematological malignancy. A winner of the international David Y Mason award as a promising young researcher in the field of hematopathology, he is a co-founding member and secretary of the Young European Association for Haematopathology (Young EA4HP). NanoZoomer® S60v2MD NanoZoomer® S20MD NanoZoomer® S360MD Multi-slide digital scanner High-speed scanner High-throughput High-capacity scanner YOUR LAB, YOUR WAY Scalable workflow for increased flexibility w w w. n a n o z o o m e r. c o m 12 LABBook 2024 / 2025
Pathology Histology Equipment Histology Equipment Histology Equipment KABE Labortechnik – Consumables for pathology / histology KABE Labortechnik – Consumables for Pathology/Histology Highlights: Tissue embedding cassettes · Different variants: standard, uni versal, biopsy, bionet and each type also for laser printers · Available in different colours · Without, with separate or with pre-attached hinged lid · Available pre-stacked: ready for use in cassette printers · High quality material is resistant to solvents, guarantees dimensional stability and offers good writing and printability · Comprehensive range of accessories · Paraffin Highlights: Test tubes for pathology and histology in various dimensions · Prefilled with 4 % formaldehyde solution · Screw caps for absolute leak-tightness · Tubes available with (individual) label with / without barcode and tear-off label · Untreated tubes with enclosed lid also available Furthermore: precise fi lling of customers’ reagents possible on in-house fi lling-systems LABBook 2024 / 2025 13
Pathology Study First test for the early detection of head and neck cancer being developed Most head and neck tumors are discovered in late due in part to the fact that there is no established method for early detection. To close this gap, a team at oncgnostics, a biotechnology company based in Jena, Germany, is participating in a study which aims to develop an early detection test. Report: Sonja Buske In Germany alone, every year 17,000 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer, i.e. malignant tumors of the oral cavity, throat, larynx, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and outer neck, especially the thyroid gland. Often, tumors develop from so-called leukoplakia, conspicuous white patches in the mouth and throat. Since they do not cause any symptoms, however, very few patients consult a doctor, explains Dr. Alfred Hansel, biologist and CEO of oncgnostics, and adds that “most patients see a doctor only when they have severe difficulties swallowing. By then the tumor is often advanced and requires chemother- apy or surgery – depending on the location and type of tumor. At that point, cure rates are low. Therefore, we would like to develop a test that detects tumors early.” Study in five centers To achieve this goal, the biotechnology company has launched a broad study in five centers. In a first step, a liquid biopsy is performed in patients diagnosed with a head and neck cancer prior to treatment in order to detect DNA methylation markers in saliva. If this is successful, further saliva or swab samples © Eberhard Schorr, oncgnostics 14 LABBook 2024 / 2025 Dr. Alfred Hansel during the presentation of oncgnostics at Medica 2023. © Sonja Buske are taken during follow-up to monitor the markers and assess relapses. “Going forward, we might be able to search for precisely these biomarkers in patients with an increased cancer risk, for example patients with leukoplakia,” Hansel is confident. First test kits could become commercially available after the conclusion of the study in mid-2026. According to Dr. Hansel screening the entire population is neither realistic nor necessary. Instead he supports the idea of a standardized screening program for groups at risk, i.e. smokers over 50 years of age and patients with an HPV infection. Similar to a Covid-19 test, Hansel says, the people in these groups could take the saliva samples themselves and send them to a laboratory. “To the best of our knowledge,” he adds, “this process would be unique worldwide.”
DNA Cancer treatment advances USC study findings: early blood test forecasts survival rates in patients with metastatic prostate cancer The non-invasive test, which measures circulating tumor cells in the blood, can predict treatment response, disease progression and overall survival in men newly diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, according to new research led by USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Source: Keck School of Medicine of USC A blood test, performed when metastatic prostate cancer is first diagnosed, can predict which patients are likely to respond to treatment and survive the longest. It can help providers decide which patients should receive standard treatment versus who might stand to benefit from riskier, more aggressive new drug trials. The research, part of a phase 3 clinical trial funded in part by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health, was just published in JAMA Network Open. Before it spreads, prostate cancer can be cured with surgery or radiation. Once the cancer has metastasized and is no longer curable, systemic treatments are used to prolong survival as much as possible. Biomarkers that predict how patients will respond could allow for better personalization of treatments, but they are few and far between. A new study found that measuring circulating tumor cells (CTCs), rare cancer cells shed from tumors into the blood, is a reliable way to predict later treatment response and survival prospects. CTCs have been studied in prostate cancer before, but only in its later stages. “No one, until now, has looked at whether CTC counts can be used right at the beginning, when a man first presents with metastatic prostate cancer, to tell us whether he’s going to live a long or short time, or whether or not he will progress with therapies,” said Amir Goldkorn, MD, lead author of the study and associate director of translational sciences at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. The research leveraged CellSearch (Menarini, Inc.), an FDA- cleared liquid biopsy technology at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, to detect and measure CTCs in blood samples. Patients with more CTCs had shorter median survival lengths and a greater risk of death during the study period. Those with An early blood test can predict survival in patients with metastatic prostate cancer, © kasto-stock.adobe.com shows USC study more CTCs also had less “progression-free survival,” which refers to the length of time when a patient’s disease is con- trolled by treatment without getting worse. “You couldn’t tell these men apart when they walked through the door,” said Goldkorn, who is also a professor of medicine at the Keck School of Medicine. “All of their other variables and prognostic factors were seemingly the same, and yet they had very, very different outcomes over time.” The researchers say that the CellSearch blood test, which is already widely available from commercial providers, can help quickly identify patients who are unlikely to respond to standard treatment options. Those men could benefit from a more intensive approach to therapy, including clinical trials of new drugs that may have more side effects but could improve survival in these high-risk patients. Counting CTCs The research was part of a phase 3 clinical trial of the NCI- funded SWOG Cancer Research Network, a group of more than LABBook 2024 / 2025 15
DNA 1,300 institutions around the country that collaborate to study various cancers. Baseline blood samples from 503 patients with metastatic prostate cancer, who were participating in a new drug trial, were sent to the Keck School of Medicine team for analysis. To analyze the blood samples, the researchers used the Cell- Search platform at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Liquid Biopsy Research Core, a facility that Goldkorn founded and directs. CellSearch uses immunomagnetic beads, antibodies attached to small magnetic particles, which bind to CTCs in the blood and pull them out to be detected and counted by special- ized equipment. Patients with fi ve or more CTCs in their blood sample had the worst outcomes. Compared to patients with zero CTCs, they were 3.22 times as likely to die during the study period and 2.46 times as likely to have their cancer progress. They were only 0.26 times as likely to achieve a complete prostate-specifi c antigen (PSA) response, meaning they responded poorly to treatment. Men with fi ve or more CTCs had a median survival length of 27.9 months following the blood test, compared to 56.2 months for men with one to four CTCs and at least 78 months for men with zero CTCs. (Many patients in the latter group survived past the date of publication, so the median survival length could not yet be calculated.) The bottom line: more CTCs meant that patients survived for less time, progressed much more quickly and were unlikely to respond to standard treatments. Candidates for clinical trials The new study shows that measuring CTC counts at the start of therapy can predict long-term survival rates, even in men who go on to receive many treatments for metastatic prostate cancer over a years-long period. That means the test can help identify men early on for trials of new and potentially more aggressive therapies. “We want to enrich these clinical trials with men who need all that extra help—who really would benefi t from three drugs versus just two, or from being on a new chemotherapy drug, even though it may have more side effects,” Goldkorn said. Goldkorn and his team are now testing a new blood test that measures not just CTC counts, but also the molecular composi- tion of CTCs and tumor DNA circulating in the blood, as well as other factors. Their goal is to create biomarkers with even more predictive power, which may ultimately help match patients with specifi c treatment options. NEWS ∙ REPORTS ∙ INTERVIEWS ∙ VIDEOS ∙ SOCIAL MEDIA K e p u p - - d a e n h e l a e s n e w s f r m h s p i a l - r e l a e d f i e l d s ! a l Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter and conveniently receive selected medical articles and background information. For more information, visit healthcare-in-europe.com 16 LABBook 2024 / 2025
Microbiology Mass Spectrometry Mass Spectrometry Mass Spectrometry Shimadzu – Axima iDplus Assurance Shimadzu – Axima iDplus Confi dence Dimensions: Weight: 700 × 1920 × 850 mm (w × h × d) 330 kg, excluding data system Highlights: Axima Assurance – fl exibility and quality: The Axima Assurance is designed with the general analytical and life science laboratory in mind. Incorporating a variable repetition rate 50 Hz N2 laser, the system provides high quality and high sensitivity rapid MALDI mass spectra and is particularly suited to identifi cation in the microbiology fi eld. Positive and negative ion modes are included as standard, allowing greater fl exibility and extending the compound categories that may be analysed. Dimensions: Weight: 700 × 1920 × 850 mm (w × h × d) 330 kg, excluding data system Highlights: iDplus Confi dence – sensitivity and fl exibility: · Rapid microbial identifi cation for research use · Identifi es and classifi es strains based on phenotype characteristics · SuperSpectra reduce the incidence of false positives and ensure robustness and reproducibility · Open system allows addition of new species / entries to the database or the creation of new databases · Clustering allows molecular profi ling and tracking of change or evolution · High performance MS for large molecule analysis · MS / M LABBook 2024 / 2025 17
Microbiology Mass Spectrometry Shimadzu – MALDI-8030 Dimensions: Weight: 450 × 1055 × 745 mm (w × h × d) 86 kg Highlights: The Maldi-8030 is a benchtop, linear-only MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer designed to meet the needs of laboratories requiring a cost-effective MALDI-TOF platform. This newly designed MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer is functionally simple but provides out- standing MS performance in a compact footprint. Art Director Friedrich Oertel, Melitta Cipes Subscription Simone Sesselmann kundenservice@mgo-fachverlage.de Subscription rate: € 22.– plus postage Printed by mgo360 GmbH & Co. KG, Bamberg Disclaimer The information and opinions expressed in artic- les and product entries published in LABBook are solely those of the manufacturers / companies, their authors and contributors, for which the publisher holds no responsibility. All trademarks, product names, company names and logos in this publication are the property of their respective holders. Users must obtain permission from those holders before copying or using the owner’s trademarks, product and company names or logos. Errors and omissions excepted. Not all products are available in all European countries. Medical devices placed on the market in the EU must bear a CE mark. Information on their clas- sification, notified body number and authorised European representative can be obtained from the respective manufacturer. Please note that the manufacturers’ websites may contain further product disclaimers. © 2024 by mgo fachverlage GmbH & Co. KG. All rights reserved. A brand of Mediengruppe Oberfranken mgo fachverlage GmbH & Co. KG E.-C.-Baumann-Straße 5 95326 Kulmbach, Germany Phone: +49 9221 949-311 Managing Directors Eva-Maria Bauch, Stephan Behrens Editor Tim Hofmann t.hofmann@mgo-fachverlage.de Advertising Toni Lauterbach t.lauterbach@mgo-fachverlage.de 18 LABBook 2024 / 2025
Microbiology The strain typing technologies of tomorrow Report: Wolfgang Behrends Introduction Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit hospital and medi- cal research institution that serves the Los Angeles community and surrounding areas. With pioneering medical research achievements, healthcare-defining education programs, and wide-ranging community benefit activities, Cedars-Sinai is setting new standards for quality and innovation in patient care. Among their many achievements is the successful typing of Candida auris species which could prove crucial in protecting patients from infection outbreaks caused by these microbes in healthcare settings. The first reports of C. auris in the US came in 2015, but ongoing local transmission has since led to over 1,000 cumulative cases in Los Angeles County.1, 2 Infection with C. auris is associated with high mortality rates, and it is often resistant to multiple classes of antifungal drugs.3 It spreads easily in hospital environments via colonized patients and contaminated surfaces or equipment. The first step in fighting these infections is to identify the microbe responsible. Fast species identification followed by strain typing – to reveal clonal relations or differentiate genetic lineages – is beneficial. Traditional strain typing technologies like pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multi-locus sequence typing, latex agglutination, and whole-genome sequencing, however, are time-consuming and resource-intensive. These technologies are also not readily available in all microbiology labs, which raises the question: could alternative emerging typing technologies fill the void? New strain typing technologies Microorganism strain typing is vital for infection control. Modern strain typing strategies tend towards molecular fingerprinting technologies.4 Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy has shown promise as a rapid and non-invasive tool that requires minimal training to master. This technology delivers rapid strain-level discrimination of microbes, starting from culture, to provide a simpler alternative to next-generation sequencing strain typing. IR spectroscopy measures the molecular vibrations associated with the absorption of IR light. Different chemical structures vibrate at different frequencies when this absorption happens. For example, the carboxyl group in fatty acids and lipids vibrates at 2800–3000 cm–1 and the amide group in proteins vibrates at 1500–1800 cm–1. IR-based strain typing works by combining the information from these absorption ranges to produce a molecular fingerprint for a given sample. Microorganisms can be identified through the recognition of motifs in the finger- print, particularly those belonging to carbohydrates. IR-based strain typing is relatively simple when compared with more traditional methods and achieves results faster, taking just 30 minutes for a single sample. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai are capitalizing on the benefits of these technologies to find strategies to combat the threat presented by C. auris. Targeting C. auris Work conducted at Cedars-Sinai has helped guide the way in clinical applications for IR spectroscopy in California. The insti- tute was the first in the US to evaluate a newly available FT-IR spectroscopy system for strain typing. Initial work focused on outbreaks of Gram-negative rod bacteria (such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive cocci (like Staphylococcus aureus), but the team soon turned its attention to C. auris. By 2021, IR spectroscopy was well-established for routine C. auris testing at Cedars-Sinai. When the pandemic hit, the team sought to find a way to conduct surveillance for C. auris and prevent its transmission to at-risk individuals before admission to hospital. The initial real- time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) platform for C. auris identification worked, but the hospital wanted to implement another layer of surveillance – and turned to IR technology. Today, researchers at Cedars-Sinai are pioneering a first line of defense system. The first step is to detect C. auris via axilla or groin swabs using PCR to identify at-risk patients quickly and place them under the appropriate contact prevention precau- tions. The second step is to identify the strain type of the fungus via IR spectroscopy, starting from culture, for positive samples. Identifying C. auris with PCR can provide an early warning system and help guide clinical decisions at the early stages of infection. Speed at this stage is critical to improve patient outcomes and, so far, the results have been promising. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai found that 4% of more than 700 at-risk patients (28 patients) at the center tested positive for C. auris5, with low numbers of genomic variation indicating local and ongoing transmission within the Los Angeles area, not exclusively within the hospital setting. The institute has built a database of everyone admitted to Cedars-Sinai who tested positive for C. auris. This valuable resource will help to identify possible future outbreaks rapidly. LABBook 2024 / 2025 19
Microbiology Two-tier clinical surveillance diagnostic algorithm for the detection of C. auris . © Contreras DA, Morgan MA, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 2022 (CC BY 4.0) 20 LABBook 2024 / 2025
Microbiology PROFILE Dr. Margie Morgan is the Medical Director of Clinical Microbiology for Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Morgan oversees clinical testing within the microbiol- ogy laboratory, guides staff conducting diagnostic tests, provides teaching services for residents and fellows, and participates in researching new diagnostic techniques within microbiology. PROFILE Dr. Deisy Contreras is the Clinical Associate of the Clinical Microbi- ology Laboratory in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. Dr. Contreras researches the application of diagnostic techniques within laboratory workflows. PROFILE Markus Meyer, PhD is head of the Business Unit Hygiene/ Epidemiology at the Microbiology and Infection Diagnostics (MID) Division of Bruker Daltonics GmbH & Co. KG in Bremen, Germany. He has been with Bruker Daltonics since 2010 as a product manager for various life science mass spectrometry instruments before joining the Microbiology & Infection Diagnostics team as global product manager for consumables in 2018. LABBook 2024 / 2025 21 Application of samples on a microtiter plate © Bruker Looking forward Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered one of the greatest health threats facing humanity.6 Despite the rapid global spread, it is difficult to predict the actual burden of the infection as the standard laboratory methods fail to correctly identify the fungi.7 This emphasizes the importance of the strain typing work that is ongoing at Cedars-Sinai, and targeting C. auris is only the beginning. The Cedars-Sinai team is now evaluating IR spectroscopy for the identification of Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies. Validation of this application could facilitate strain typing and clarithromycin susceptibility testing for Mycobacte- rium abscessus in a shorter time than current methods. What factors will ensure the success of tomorrow’s typing technologies? Outside-of-the-box thinking, innovative instru- mentation, and clear communication are among the most important qualities to consider. Central to this will be increasing awareness and advancing the diagnostic methods for early disease detection and control. Note: The testing procedure was developed by the researchers for the specific use in the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center only. The IR Biotyper is not intended for the examination of specimen from human body to define or monitor therapeutic measures. References 1 Chow NA, et al. Lancet Infect Dis 2018;18(12):1377–1384. 2 County of Los Angeles Public Health. Mitigating the Spread of Candida auris in Los Angeles Country. Available at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/docs/ MitigatingSpreadofC.aurisLAC.pdf (Accessed April 2023) 3 Ademe M & Girma F. Candida auris: From Multidrug Resistance to Pan-Resis- tant Strains. Infect Drug Resist. 2020 May 5;13:1287-1294. doi: 10.2147/IDR. S249864 4 Franco-Duarte R, et al. Microorganisms 2019;7(5):130 5 Contreras DA & Morgan MA. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022;12:887754 6 World Health Organization. Antimicrobial resistance 2021. Available at: https:// www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance (Accessed April 2023) 7 Ademe M & Girma F. Candida auris: From Multidrug Resistance to Pan-Resis- tant Strains. Infect Drug Resist. 2020 May 5;13:1287-1294. doi: 10.2147/IDR. S249864
POCT Blood Glucose Blood Gases / Electrolytes / Metabolites / Oximetry Endochrine Clinical Chemistry Other Blood Glucose Blood Gases / Electrolytes / Metabolites / Oximetry Nova Biomedical – StatStrip Glucose / Ketone* Nova Biomedical – Prime Plus Critical Care Analyser Highlights: The only glucose meter technology cleared by the US FDA across all professional and healthcare settings, including critical care. · Measures and corrects glucose errors caused by abnormal haematocrit levels · Measures and corrects errors caused by electro- chemical interferences · Measures blood beta-hydroxybutyrate, the preferred ketone for diagnosing ketoacidosis · Available as a fully connected, wi-fi meter, or a smaller Xpress* style meter *StatStrip Glucose only in the US Assays: PO2, PCO2, pH, Hct, tHb, MCHC, Na, Cl, K, iCa, TCO2, iMg, Glu, Lac, Urea (BUN), Creat, ePV, SO2%, O2Hb, COHb, MetHb, HHb, HbF*, tBil* Highlights: Stat Profi le Prime Plus offers a complete test menu panel in about one minute, along with bidirectional connectivity, a robust data management system, and comprehensive cybersecurity protection. This comprehensive critical care menu includes iMg, urea and creatinine and calculated tests for ePV, MCHC and OI. *Not available in the US or Canada 22 LABBook 2024 / 2025
Blood Gases / Electrolytes / Metabolites / Oximetry Blood Gases / Electrolytes / Metabolites / Oximetry KABE Labortechnik – Consumables for blood gas analysis KABE Labortechnik – Pipette-Adapter for Capillaries (PAC) POCT Highlights: The best sampling system in every situation Plastic blood gas capillary: · Unbreakable plastic · Fast drawing · Crystal clear · Numerous drawing volumes and diameters available · Minimum gas permeability for oxygen and carbon dioxide · Comprehensive range of accessories Blood gas tube: · Rapid anticoagulation thanks to liquid preparation · Optimal filling with special piston geometry · Individual sterile packing Both sampling systems are prepared with balanced heparin and are ideal for blood gas and electrolyte analyses on all common blood gas systems. Highlights: Assists in the handling of capillaries and their targeted draining on POCT-analysers and test strips or into vessels · Suitable for different capillaries regarding measure- ments and preparations · Available individually or completed with capillary Handling: · Fix capillary in the PAC while using oneway gloves · The capillary is filled as usual – afterwards the thump is put gently on the upper mouth of the PAC · The (dropwise) draining is carried out by generating a slight gauge pressure with the thumb Endocrine Clinical Chemistry Nova Biomedical – Allegro* – a fast simple capillary blood analyser Nova Biomedical – StatSensor Creatinine Assays: HbA1c, Lipids panel, PT/INR, CRP, blood glucose and creatinine, urine albumin and creatinine Highlights: Allegro* offers a clinically important menu of 10 mea- sured and individually selectable tests, plus 7 calculated tests. All tests are measured with disposable, ready-to- use cartridges or test strips, and are easily performed by non-technical personnel. · Capillary fingerstick samples for all blood tests · Immediate test results during the patient visit · Reduces patient follow-up visits and costs *Not available in the US or Canada Highlights: Fingerstick capillary testing for creatinine The StatSensor Creatinine is a handheld analyser and miniaturized, single-use biosensor for whole blood creatinine testing. StatSensor Creatinine’s advanced technology enables simple, rapid, and accurate assessment of renal function by fingerstick capillary blood sampling at the point of care. Available as a fully connected meter, or a smaller Xpress* style meter. · Capillary sampling · Creatinine and eGFR results in 30 seconds · 1.2uL sample · Calculates eGFR by CKD-EPI and MDRD equations *Not available in the US and Canada LABBook 2024 / 2025 23
POCT Other Other Nova Biomedical – EMS Stat* Nova Biomedical – StatStrip Lactate / Haemoglobin / Haematocrit* Highlights: Lactate, haemoglobin, haematocrit, glucose, and ketone for early patient assessment and treatment · Fingerstick capillary sample · Results as fast as 6 seconds · Laboratory-quality accuracy · Durable carrying case holds meters, single-use bio- sensors, controls, and lancets EMS Stat* offers simple, fast, and accurate testing in the fi eld. Two meter systems are available. One provides patient data storage plus wireless connectivity to exter- nal data managers, the other provides data storage only. * Not available in the US and Canada Highlights: Fingerstick capillary testing for Lac, Hb, and Hct The StatStrip LAC / Hb / Hct is a handheld, easy-to-use meter that measures lactate, haemoglobin and haematocrit at the point-of-care using two disposable biosensors and tiny capillary blood samples for all tests. Available as a fully connected, wi-fi meter, or a smaller Xpress style meter. · Capillary sampling · Measured Hb and measured Hct in 40 seconds from 1.6μL blood · Measured lactate in 13 seconds from 0.6 μL blood *StatStrip Lactate only in the US and Canada p r o d u c s a l s n l i n e F i n d a l For more information, visit healthcare-in-europe.com 24 LABBook 2024 / 2025
Information Technology E-skin patches How “intelligent” skin could highlight cardiac conditions Two companies are combining their unique expertise to develop intelligent e-skin patches to “self-sense” cardiac events in patients. The fl exible patch platform will deliver a comprehensive understanding of both electrical and mechanical heart activities and has the potential to enable cardiologists to better monitor their patients. Report: Mark Nicholls The initiative, which sees STMicroelectronics and DuPont Liveo Healthcare working to develop the wearable platform, was outlined during a presentation by Oriana Di Marco from STMicroelectronics and DuPont’s Jennifer Gemo at Medica in Dusseldorf in November. Speaking to European Hospital after the conference, Di Marco, who heads EMEA Strategic Business Development for Health &Well-being at STMicroelectronics, said: ‘The companies’ respective contributions to this development is our long-term Smart biosensing patch concept © Liveo vision for an intelligent electronic skin patch that can self-sense a cardiac event and act immediately at the point of need.’ For the e-skin project, STMicroelectronics provide a smart, fl exible electronic board with innovative sensing, low power management, processing, and in-sensor and microcontroller AI capability embedded in a single module. This technology pairs with the DuPont Liveo silicone technology with electrically conductive properties. Durable, but gentle Gemo, who is Global Strategic Marketing Leader with DuPont Liveo Healthcare, explained how medical professionals can use Liveo Soft Skin Conductive Tape as a skin electrode for biosignal monitoring. She emphasised that good skin conformability, no drying over time, and repositionability with gentle adhesion and atraumatic removal are vital. ‘The conductive tape can be used in single electrodes for short-term monitoring, as well as in medical wearable patches for long-term monitoring lasting seven or more days,’ she continued. DuPont – which carried out the full design, processing, and assembling of the patch prototype solution – also provides a toolbox for wearable medical devices that includes biomedical grade elastomer for hardware encapsulation and soft skin adhesive for skin gentleness, repositionability, and long wear time of the patch onto the body. Synchronized and contextualized measurements Synchronized and contextualized measurements Di Marco outlined how the fl exible patch platform prototype Di Marco outlined how the fl exible patch platform prototype supports heart monitoring. As electrocardiography (ECG) and seismocardiography (SCG) signals are detected in the same sensor, they are fully synchronized as they occur. ‘Moreover, by using the artifi cial intelligence capabilities embedded in the sensor and in the micro- controller, it’s possible to contextualize the measurement within the wearer’s daily activities as well as supporting the derivation of other vital signs like non-invasive blood pressure, in addition to respiration rate and heart beats,’ said Di Marco. LABBook 2024 / 2025 25
Information Technology Clinicians benefit from a better understanding of the heart rhythm and main vital signs during a patient’s visit and once they have left the doctor’s practice. ‘The patch’s intelligence lets it detect changes in normal patterns and alert the patient, who can share the data with the physician,’ she added. Catering to cardiologists’ requirements Patient benefits are related to the characteristics of the wearability of the patch. The patch can be worn longer without irritating the skin and it is flexible, lightweight, and can be repositioned easily. In terms of how this is advancing the field and patient care, Gemo said: ‘The cardiac market is one of the most advanced in technological adoption, with cardiologists demand- ing longer wearability, better data, and superior design. They are clamouring for small, flexible, and waterproof patches that deliver improved comfort, longer wear, and higher signal quality over time.’ Such requirements are driving the trend for continuous and remote cardiac monitoring outside of the hospital and in patient’s homes, where patient comfort leads to improved compliance. The two companies have provided a toolbox of technologies to address these needs and delivered a prototype that improves signal quality and patient comfort over time. Next step The patch is also suited to applications beyond cardiac monitor- ing. It can be positioned in various places of the body and use different algorithms to detect other biological functionalities. For DuPont Liveo, the next step is to build prototype patches for further testing and to provide reference designs and compo- nents to build similar patches to monitor other functions. While acknowledging that vital-sign monitoring is a high-growth market, Gemo said its key needs are improved signal quality and patient comfort. STMicroelectronics and DuPont have portfolios suited for wearables and electronic skin patch applications. DuPont Liveo Healthcare enables next-generation wearables through its toolbox of technologies, including medical-grade elastomers, adhesives, resins, and thermoplastics; while ST is developing a new class of motion sensors with an embedded vertical analog front end that opens new categories of human-centric applications. 26 LABBook 2024 / 2025 Soft skin conductive tape © Liveo PROFILE Oriana Di Marco is Head of EMEA Health & Well-being Vertical, Strategic Business Development at STMicroelectronics. With a master’s degree in Biological Science and an Executive MBA, Di Marco has a distinctive scientific background combined with advanced semiconductor knowledge from 20 years at ST. She is a recognized expert in molecular diagnostics, drug delivery for diabetes, microfluidics technologies and medical devices. PROFILE Jennifer Gemo is Global Strategic Marketing Leader for DuPont Liveo Healthcare at DuPont Industrial Solutions. She is responsible for developing and driving the global growth strategy for DuPont Liveo and supports the development and commercialization of several growth innovation platforms for Liveo. Prior to her current role, she was the global segment leader for Medical Devices.
Other Applications Blood Collection Centrifuges Incubators Histology Equipment Blood Collection Blood Collection KABE Labortechnik – Capillary Blood Collection GK KABE Labortechnik – KABEVETTE® G Highlights: Capillary Blood Collection GK – for small amounts of blood Highlights: The system offers special advantages for the collection of blood samples from new-borns, children, elderly people and emergency patients, thus everywhere, where only small amounts of blood are available · The test vessel is prepared on the entire inner surface. Besides it can be used as centrifugal vessel · The capillary is coated on the entire inner surface and guarantees an exact fi lling volume · The attached stopper, which is optionally available with an integrated elastically resealable rubber membran, offers perfect tightness · Different measurements and preparations are available The closed, drip-free system with rubber membrane for single and multiple collection · Aspiration technique for all vein conditions · No dripping after single or multiple collection · High-quality rubber membrane closure guarantees absolute leak-tightness · Vacuum technique possible · Available in different tube sizes and preparations · Adapter with safety catch provides a safe connection between tube and cannula LABBook 2024 / 2025 27
Other Applications Centrifuges Hettich – Mikro 220 | 220 R Dimensions: 330 × 420 × 313 mm (w × h × d) Weight: 21 kg / 42 kg Rotational frequency: 18,000 min-1 Relative centrifugal force: 31,514 Centrifuges Hettich – Universal 320 | 320 R Dimensions: 401 × 529 × 346 mm (w × h × d) Weight: 31 kg / 52 kg Rotational frequency: 16,000 min-1 Relative centrifugal force: 24,900 Highlights: · Compact, high-performance microlitre centrifuge · Choice of seven rotors · IvD-conform according to directive 98 / 79 / EC · Impulse key for short cycle mode · Nine program memories for more individuality · Nine individual acceleration and deceleration stages · Model 220 R coolable from –20 to +40 °C with pre-cooling function · Max. number of tubes: 60 × 2.0 ml Highlights: · The universal choice among the benchtop centrifuges · Choice of 18 rotors · IvD-conform according to directive 98 / 79 / EC · Impulse button for short centrifugation · Impulse key for short cycle mode · Nine program memories · Nine individual acceleration and ten deceleration stages · Model 320 R coolable from –20 to +40 °C with pre-cooling function · Max. number of tubes: 4 × 200 ml / 6 × 94 ml Centrifuges Hettich – Rotina 420 | 420 R Dimensions: 506 × 650 × 423 mm (w × h × d) Weight: 75 kg / 108 kg Rotational frequency: 15,000 min-1 Relative centrifugal force: 24,400 Incubators Hettich – HettCube 600 R Dimensions: 710 × 825 × 1990 mm (w × h × d) Weight: 175 kg Temperature range: 0 °C to +65 °C Internal volume: 520 l Energy consumption at 37°: 0.056 kWh / h Highlights: · High-performance with fi rst-class equipment · Choice of fi ve rotors · IvD-conform according to directive 98 / 79 / EC · Max. noise level of 51 dB(A) with rotor 4790-A · 98 program memories for more individuality · Nine individual acceleration and deceleration stages · Model 420 R coolable from –20 to +40 °C with pre-cooling function · Max. number of tubes: 4 × 600 ml 28 LABBook 2024 / 2025 Highlights: · Only 0.6 m2 footprint · Up to 67 percent of usable volume · Fast and easy access, one-hand operation door · Perfect conditions with unique temperature regulation · Real-time calendar · Week programming with holiday function · Flexible alarm settings · Wide range of program functions (Start after time, start after temperature etc.) · Up to four shelves included in standard · Automatic door closure with magnetic seals · Low noise level of ≤ 44 dB(A)
Histology Equipment KABE Labortechnik – Consumables for Pathology/Histology Other Applications Highlights: Test tubes for pathology and histology in various dimensions · Prefi lled with 4 % formaldehyde solution · Screw caps for absolute leak-tightness · Tubes available with (individual) label with / without barcode and tear-off label · Untreated tubes with enclosed lid also available Furthermore: precise fi lling of customers’ reagents possible on in-house fi lling-systems YOUR ADVERTISEMENT OR ADVERTORIAL Please cnac ur media cnsulan Diana Thümmel Tel.: +49 (0)9221 949407 t.thuemmel@mgo-fachverlage.de LABBook 2024 / 2025 29
y r t s i m e h c o n u m m I & y r t s i m e h C ■ l y g o o n h c e T n o i t a m r o f n ■ I s n o i t a c i l p p A r e h t O ■ T C O P ■ l y g o o t a m e H ■ l y g o o h t a P ■ A N D ■ l i y g o o b o r c i M ■ Companies & Suppliers g n i s s e c o r P e l p m a S ■ n o i t a m o t u A ■ Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG Föhrenstraße 12 78532 Tuttlingen, Germany phone: +49 7461 705-0 info@hettichlab.com www.hettichlab.com KABE-Labortechnik GmbH Jägerhofstr. 17 51588 Nümbrecht phone: +49 2293-596 info@kabe-labortechnik.de www.kabe-labortechnik.de NGNY DEVICES, S.L Av. de Cornellà 144 E-08950 Barcelona phone: +34 931 205 748 info@ngny.tech www.ngny.tech/ Nova Biomedical 200 Prospect Street Waltham, MA 02454-9141, USA phone: +1 781 894-0800 info@novabio.com www.novabiomedical.com Shimadzu Europa GmbH Albert-Hahn-Str. 6–10 47269 Duisburg phone: +49 203 76870 info@shimadzu.de T&O LabSystems GmbH & Co. KG Leibnizstraße 7 24568 Kaltenkirchen, Germany phone: +49 4191 9913883 info@to-labsystems.com www.to-labsystems.com 30 LABBook 2024 / 2025
Notes LABBook 2024 / 2025 31
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