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Beckman Coulter News

 

Beckman Coulter, Inc. to Distribute CompuCyte Laser Scanning Cytometers

Beckman Coulter, Inc. and CompuCyte Corporation have entered into a five-year global distribution agreement, under the terms of which Beckman Coulter will have the right to distribute CompuCyte laser scanning cytometers in cellular analysis markets worldwide. Beckman Coulter will maintain exclusive distribution rights for CompuCyte iGeneration technology outside of North America, and will share with CompuCyte the right to sell the instrumentation to research institutions and pharmaceutical companies within the U.S., Canada and Mexico. CompuCyte will continue worldwide direct sales of LSC instrumentation for automated tissue analysis.

"This agreement provides us with a sophisticated imaging platform that nicely complements our growing flow cytometry product portfolio," stated Brad Calvin, Beckman Coulter vice president for flow cytometry. "The iGeneration line of imaging cytometers will be an important addition to the range of products we are launching. This will enable us to provide researchers around the world with a broad range of technology for cell-based research from a single service provider, while further demonstrating our commitment to the research market."

Dr. Elena Holden, CompuCyte president and CEO, welcomed the new agreement: "Our distribution alliance is built on a great synergy between the two companies. Beckman Coulter is a renowned leader in flow cytometry instrumentation and CompuCyte is recognized as the first company to introduce solid-phase imaging cytometry technology (LSC) to the marketplace. LSC technology is complementary to flow cytometry and applies similar analysis principles to adherent cellular and tissue specimens, combining the resulting analytic data with high-quality imaging. The agreement with Beckman Coulter furthers CompuCyte’s commitment to the growing quantitative imaging cytometry market by enlarging the LSC technology distribution channel, and by bringing outstanding technical support to our customers worldwide."

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Kaluza Flow Cytometry Software from Beckman Coulter Revolutionizes Multiparametric Data Analyses

Beckman Coulter Inc. announces the introduction of its Kaluza Flow Cytometry Analysis Software, a package that greatly reduces processing and analysis times, allowing researchers more time to explore their data. Kaluza Software features new tools that simplify the management of multiple complex data sets, allows visualization of high-content data in different spatial dimensions on a single plot, and provides real-time analysis of high-content flow cytometry files.

A dynamic workspace facilitates automatic organization of plots, which combines with a zoom in/zoom out feature to provide an intuitive environment for data exploration. Auto-Layout intelligently reconfigures the workspace and minimizes the clicks required to create and maintain an analysis.

Data replay is made quick and easy with automatic loading of the original plots, gates, and colors from files with embedded analysis protocols. A radial menu provides fast access to all plot and region editing features.

Tree plots easily represent data that typically requires dozens of plots, gates and regions. Each phenotype can be used as a gate for further data exploration. Radar plots provide a multi-dimensional view of data without drawing a single gate. These plots reveal relevant and rare populations that are typically not seen using traditional bi-variate plots and gating strategies.

Sharlene Wright, flow cytometry strategic marketing manager with Beckman Coulter, noted, "Cytometrists can spend hours, days and even weeks formatting data to get the right information and presentation. With Kaluza Software, this can now be done in minutes, giving researchers the opportunity to spend more time in discovery and to get more information from their data."

Kaluza Flow Cytometry Analysis Software will readily scale to meet the expanding requirements of future instrumentation. Patented technology enables remarkably fast refresh rates for even large, complex data sets. The package works with the majority of FCS-compliant files and with most cytometers. It can be used with both network and stand-alone computers and is offered for research use only.

 

For further information or to get a free fully functional trial version of this exciting new system please contact us at infouk@beckmancoulter.com

 

Beckman Coulter and the stylized logo are registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. Kaluza is a trademark of Beckman Coulter, Inc.

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Beckman Coulter Expands Reproductive Menu with Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Assay

Access® SHBG Assay aids in the assessment of androgen disorders

Beckman Coulter expands its menu for reproductive disease state management with the introduction of the Access® Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) assay for use in the differential diagnosis of conditions of chronic or excessive androgenic activity. The Access SHBG assay may also be used in conjunction with the Access Testosterone Assay to provide a calculated free androgen index1.

"With the addition of the Access SHBG assay, Beckman Coulter continues to lead the industry in reproductive disease state management by offering essential reproductive assays on one platform," said John Blackwood, vice president and general manager of the Immunoassay Business Center at Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Access reproductive solutions are part of a comprehensive assay menu featured on Access and UniCel® Immunoassay Systems, including the i class family of integrated systems: UniCel® DxC 880i, UniCel DxC 660i, UniCel DxC 680i, the UniCel DxC 860i and the UniCel 600i. For more information, please visit http://www.beckmancoulter.com/products/testmenu/access.asp.

About SHBG
SHBG is responsible for the transport of testosterone and estradiol in the blood. Less than two percent of sex hormones are free, i.e., able to enter a cell and exert biological activity by activating their specific receptor, with the remainder bound with high affinity to SHBG and low affinity to albumin. The binding of sex hormones to SHBG inhibits their function. Therefore, bioavailability of sex hormones is influenced by the level of SHBG2.

For further information please contact us at infouk@beckmancoulter.com

1Vermeulen A, Verdonck L, Kaufman J. A critical evaluation of simple methods for the estimation of a free testosterone in serum. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Oct; 84 (10):3666-72.

2Burtis CA, Ashwood ER. Tietz textbook of clinical chemistry. Saunders, 2006. p. 2011-2.

     

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New Detection Cartridges Expand Applications of Beckman Coulter`s PARADIGM Platform

Beckman Coulter introduces four detection cartridges for its modular plate reader, the PARADIGM Detection Platform, that add new capabilities for widely used fluorescence and luminescence applications. The AlphaScreen*, GeneBLAzer*, and MultiTox-Fluor cartridges provide assay-specific settings and protocols to reduce setup time and speed research. These cartridges, and a new filter-based Fluorescence Intensity cartridge, join a line of 14 previously released cartridges that can be exchanged in the PARADIGM Detection Platform in less than five minutes and enable a range of cell and molecular biology assays.

The AlphaScreen cartridge utilizes a 680 nm laser diode to provide sensitive detection of protein-protein interaction, receptor-ligand binding, cAMP quantitation and kinase assays. Designed and optimized specifically for AlphaScreen and AlphaLISA products, this new detection cartridge employs a patent-pending design that reduces crosstalk while improving performance.

The GeneBLAzer detection cartridge, designed for use with Invitrogen Corporation's GeneBLAzer assay technology, provides FRET analysis for GPCR, ion channel, nuclear and cytokine receptor, signal transduction and kinase assays.

The MultiTox-Fluor cartridge, designed for use with MultiTox-Fluor assays (Promega Corp.), provides a dual-label fluorescence-intensity screen for multiplexed viability/cytotoxicity assays. This Dual Label Detection Cartridge, which enables efficient assay multiplexing, uses two high-powered LEDs to provide sensitive and simultaneous reads of two distinct labels. The dual-excitation, dual-emission functionality -- unique to PARADIGM -- results in faster reading times.

The new Fluorescence Intensity Detection Cartridge features a standard dual-emission design that is optimized for FRET measurements of the cellular fluorescence proteins CFP-YFP. The fluorescence intensity cartridge utilizes an energy intensity optimization technique that allows the user to read up to seven logs of sample concentration in a single pass without any manual intervention and provides uncompromised performance for both top and bottom reads. The unique optical design of the PARADIGM allows for direct excitation of adherent cell assays, improving signal-to-noise ratios for sensitive cell assays.

The array of detection cartridges offered for the PARADIGM is growing, and custom cartridges can be developed for researchers and vendors with specific assay requirements.

"Detection cartridges for the PARADIGM Platform enable researchers to cost-effectively perform prominent assays with high sensitivity and reduced setup time," explains Jim Barry, marketing manager, Beckman Coulter Life Science Automation. "Working together with researchers and the vendor community has allowed us to offer a single instrument that can run a wide range of tests out of the box."

The PARADIGM Detection Platform allows real-time system configuration in less than five minutes and incorporates two photomultiplier tubes to provide simultaneous detection of two labels. Single or dual excitation and emission modes address existing needs and future expansion. Z-Height focusing, in which the lens is adjusted to address low volumes or varied well geometry, is enabled for both top- and bottom-read configurations for all appropriate read modes.

For further information or to arrange a demonstration of this exciting new system please contact us at infouk@beckmancoulter.com

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Beckman Coulter Expands DAT Menu with Buprenorphine Assay

Buprenorphine Enzyme Immunoassay: A Rapid, Accurate Screening Solution

Beckman Coulter, Inc. has expanded its drugs of abuse test menu to include a Buprenorphine Enzyme Immunoassay. The test provides fast screening for the qualitative and semi-quantitative determination of norbuprenorphine (buprenorphine metabolite) in human urine.

Reagents and calibrators for the assay are liquid and ready-to-use, eliminating the need to mix, hydrate or pre-dilute reagents before testing. The assay’s cutoff value is 10 ng/mL for norbuprenorphine, and it delivers analytical sensitivity of 3 ng/mL for buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine (the active, dealkylated metabolite of buprenorphine). It cross-reacts at 94% with buprenorphine.

Drugs of Abuse Test (DAT) assays, available through Beckman Coulter, are formulated to deliver the critical elements of effective DAT analysis — speed, accuracy, ease-of-use and economy. When used in conjunction with Synchron,® UniCel® Clinical Chemistry Systems and i class Integrated Systems, these high quality assays provide timely, reliable and efficient DAT results.

About Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid that is often used as a substitution treatment for heroin addiction or opiate dependence. At low doses, it can help opioid-addicted individuals stop abusing opioids without experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. Therapeutically buprenorphine is as effective as methadone but exhibits a much lower level of physical dependence. However, though studies have shown that buprenorphine has abuse potential and may itself cause dependency it has a much lower likelihood or rate than methadone .

In addition to Buprenorphine, Beckman Coulter’s broad DAT menu includes: Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Barbiturate Serum Tox, Benzodiazapine, Benzodiazepine Serum Tox, Cannabinoid, Cocaine Metabolite, Ecstasy, Methadone, Methaqualone, Oxycodone, Opiates, Phencyclidine, Propoxyphene and Tricyclics Serum Tox.

Beckman Coulter also provides a wide range of test panels for anemia, autoimmune conditions, cardiac disease, diabetes, therapeutic drug monitoring, general chemistry, hepatic function, infectious diseases, inflammatory proteins, lipids, nutritional assessment, renal function, thyroid function, toxicology, specialty and STAT testing.

For further information please contact us at infouk@beckmancoulter.com

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Get a Complimentary pdf of Howard Shapiro's Practical Flow Cytometry, 4th Edition!

 

Widely known as THE Flow Cytometry Reference manual, Beckman Coulter are offering members of the Flow Cytometry community in the UK an opportunity to have your own copy. This key text explains the science and discusses the vast biomedical applications of Flow Cytometric Analysis and Cell Sorting. This latest edition has been expanded to provide full coverage of the broad spectrum of applications in molecular biology and biotechnology today. New topics also included are chapters on automated analysis of array technologies, compensation, high-speed sorting, reporter molecules, and multiplex and apoptosis assays, along with fully updated and revised references and a list of suppliers.
 
To request your copy just email your name, institution/company, address and telephone number to: infouk@beckmancoulter.com

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Beckman Coulter's CyAn™ Flow Cytometer Combines With IntelliCyt's HyperCyt® System To Set a New Standard for Processing Speed

Beckman Coulter is interfacing its CyAn* flow cytometer with IntelliCyt's HyperCyt system, a configuration that offers researchers the fastest flow cytometric cell analysis available. The CyAn provides acquisition rates of up to 70,000 events per second, which, combined with the continuous, rapid sampling capabilities offered by the HyperCyt autosampler and HyperView™ Data Analysis Software, enables 384-well plates to be processed in as little as 10 minutes.

The instrument package will allow high-speed processing to be used in many cell-surface and intracellular flow cytometry applications.

"The combination of these products will provide the capability for flow cytometry to reach an entirely new market segment where high throughput is essential," said Brad Calvin, vice president of Beckman Coulter's Flow Cytometry Business Center. "When the multi-dimensional cellular analysis capabilities of flow cytometry combine with high-throughput processing, more information can be generated from a single analysis than can be obtained with the drug discovery tools that are currently available."

"We are very excited about this opportunity to work with Beckman Coulter. They have an extensive global footprint for both sales and support, which allows our products to reach a large and diverse customer set," said R. Terry Dunlay, president and CEO of IntelliCyt. "With this relationship, we believe that HyperCyt will continue to advance and expand the use of flow cytometers to address the screening needs of modern drug discovery and life science research by delivering a new benchmark in the speed of sampling and data processing."

As announced recently, the companies have also reached an agreement on distribution of Intellicyt's Hypercyt® System. The partnership provides Beckman Coulter with exclusive distribution rights for the HyperCyt system outside of North America and co-exclusive distribution rights for the HyperCyt system for use on its CyAn flow cytometer in North America. IntelliCyt will continue direct sales and support of the HyperCyt system in North America.

*For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

For further information or to arrange a demonstration of this exciting new system please contact us at infouk@beckmancoulter.com

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Affymetrix and Beckman Coulter Join Forces to Provide Robust, Automated Target Preparation Solutions

Affymetrix, Inc., and Beckman Coulter announced recently they have entered into an agreement to offer researchers co-developed products from the market leaders in microarrays and automated liquid handlers. The collaboration will provide scientists with optimized, robust solutions for genomic research, fortified by end-to-end support.

The partnership will yield an expanding list of Affymetrix-validated automated target preparation methods developed on an Affymetrix-specific configuration of Beckman Coulter's precise and reliable Biomek FXp Dual Arm Multichannel-Span 8 Liquid Handler. This platform will provide researchers with standardized systems that include all components necessary to run Affymetrix genotyping and gene expression assays.

Major benefits of the solution will include the flexibility to process samples using Affymetrix GeneChip® Arrays or Array Plates with a single method, user-friendly interfaces, rapid implementation of new methods, a validated platform, elimination of costly mistakes and delivery of high-quality results.

"Beckman Coulter's long history in manufacturing quality automation platforms with proven reliability make the company the ideal partner for developing automated target prep assays," said Kevin King, president and CEO of Affymetrix. "These products not only provide a much needed target prep solution for our large installed base of GeneChip Array cartridge users, but very importantly, this agreement aligns with our strategic goals to reengineer the Affymetrix platform. With automated target prep robotics in front of our GeneTitan™ System, our customers will benefit from walk-away automation from prepared samples all the way through array processing and data generation."

"We chose to work with Affymetrix because their genomics expertise and technologies are a great match for Beckman Coulter's automation solutions," said Wing Pang, corporate vice president of discovery products at Beckman Coulter. "Customers will soon see the fruits of this collaboration with the availability of automated target prep solutions for microarrays that address a wide range of sophisticated genetic analysis assays."

Automated target preparation solutions from Affymetrix and Beckman Coulter are for Research Use Only; not for use in diagnostic procedures.

The Biomek FXp Dual Arm Multichannel-Span 8 Liquid Handler is for Laboratory Use Only; not for use in diagnostic procedures.

NOTE: Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo and GeneChip® are registered trademarks owned or used by Affymetrix Inc.

For further information about this exciting new sample preparation solution please contact us at infouk@beckmancoulter.com

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High–Definition Haematology Revolutionises Blood Testing in Hospital Labs

UniCel® DxH 800: Ten times more data with fewer moving parts – Reliable, Safe & Scalable

Beckman Coulter, Inc. ushers in a new era of cellular analysis with the release of the UniCel® DxH 800 Coulter® Cellular Analysis System, for mid-to-high volume laboratories. The new instrument features advanced technologies, including high-definition signal processing and multi-angle light scatter, which produce ten times more data than traditional haematology analysers. Moving parts are minimized to increase instrument reliability and technologist safety. The DxH 800’s modular design and small footprint make it the ultimate scalable solution for the LEAN lab.

“The UniCel DxH 800 will transform the hematology lab with unparalleled quality of results, innovative efficiency solutions and revolutionary scalability, reinforcing Beckman Coulter’s place at the forefront of cellular analysis.” said Cynthia Collins, group vice president of Cellular Analysis at Beckman Coulter.

The UniCel DxH 800 is built with a host of revolutionary and proprietary technologies that will improve efficiencies and significantly reduce the need for manual intervention; resolving issues that continue to vex traditional hematology processes. For example, theSpecimen Transport Module (STM) allows samples to move through the analyzer by magnetic force without the need for a track or additional software. It is configured with no exposed moving parts, making the UniCel DxH 800 one of the most reliable and safest hematology instruments available.

Leveraging Beckman Coulter’s expertise in Routine Hematology, Flow Cytometry, Chemistry, Immunoassay and Automation, the UniCel® DxH 800 Coulter® Cellular Analysis System, is the newest member of the UniCel family of laboratory solutions.
 

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Beckman Coulter Launches Premiere Instrument in New Flow Cytometer Series

Gallios™ Flow Cytometry System Offers New Standard of Performance for Researchers

Beckman Coulter introduces the Gallios Flow Cytometry system, an instrument that delivers analytical excellence, coupling extraordinary sensitivity, resolution and dynamic range with high-speed data collection. The instrument's unprecedented detection capabilities and easy-to-use software, combined with new dyes -- some with proprietary tandem dye technology -- facilitates superior performance of multi-color flow cytometry assays.

Developed for the research and biopharmaceutical markets, with input from a number of investigators, the multi-color, multi-laser Gallios is the first in a series of key flow cytometry instrument, software and reagent releases that Beckman Coulter plans to announce this year.

A particular emphasis on optical and electronics design, combined with powerful automation and software tools, allows Gallios to greatly enhance the efficiency and analytical capabilities of flow cytometry laboratories. Patented electronics provide accurate and efficient digital signal processing at high event rates over a wide dynamic range of fluorescence intensities. These benefits are packaged in a compact analyser that delivers stable performance over long periods of time and across a wide range of operating temperatures.

The Gallios houses up to three highly reliable, solid-state lasers in standard red and blue, with violet available as an option. Easily interchanged optical filters facilitate detection of a variety of dyes and wavelengths.

An innovative forward-scatter detector provides up to three measurements of cell size and visualization of particles down to 0.404 µm in diameter. A side-scatter detector incorporates an independently focused, high-performance photodiode with electronic attenuation. Six fluorescence detectors provide simultaneous acquisition of up to six fluorescence signals. Up to four fluorescence detectors can be added to the system, enabling concurrent reading of up to 10 colors. Simultaneous measurements of integral, peak and width are available for all parameters, including scatter and fluorescence signals. A selection of up to 62 parameters can be processed per analysis, at acquisition rates of 25,000 events-per-second, with high yield. Three scaleable configurations allow for the future addition of more lasers and fluorescence detectors as the applications for complex multi-color flow cytometry expand.

According to Brad Calvin, vice president of Beckman Coulter's Flow Cytometry Business Center, "Every aspect of Gallios' optics design increases application performance, sensitivity and resolution. Our systems have the potential to enhance flow laboratory efficiency by increasing productivity and improving the reliability and reproducibility of results, thus reducing the cost of flow cytometry testing."

Beckman Coulter is also launching http://www.coulterflow.com -- a web portal that will enrich cytometry research. Features of this resource include a variety of specially designed interactive tools, such as cell signaling maps, a fluorochrome spectral overlap viewer and an experimental design tool to help cytometrists set up applications. Users will be able to access the latest flow cytometry product information, view extensive reference resources and order reagents.

For further information or to arrange a demonstration of this exciting new system please contact us at infouk@beckmancoulter.com

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Beckman Coulter Expands Renal Menu: Offers State­ of­ the­ Art Cystatin C Assay

Beckman Coulter, Inc. has expanded its Renal menu with the addition of Gentian* Cystatin C Immunoassay (CYSX), an assay for the quantitative determination of cystatin C in human serum and plasma. When used on Beckman Coulter Synchron® and UniCel® Clinical Systems, the Gentian Cystatin C Immunoassay is used in the diagnosis and treatment of renal disease.

Reagents and calibrators for the Gentian Cystatin C assay are liquid and ready to use, eliminating the need for mixing, hydrating or pre-diluting reagents before testing.

A number of studies report that cystatin C assays are sensitive and cystatin C is an early indicator of decreased renal function and further, may be a superior marker over creatinine in the estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), the overall index of kidney function.

For further information please contact us at infouk@beckmancoulter.com

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Beckman Coulter Introduces New PA 800 plus Pharmaceutical Analysis System

Platform Provides Quantitative Determination of Biologic Purity and Heterogeneity

 Beckman Coulter introduces the PA 800 plus Pharmaceutical Analysis System, a next-generation capillary electrophoresis (CE) platform designed in collaboration with biopharmaceutical development and QC groups. System advances provide users with a robust and easy-to-use characterization platform that integrates quantitative, qualitative and automated solutions for analysis of protein purity, charge isoform distribution and glycan structure. An emphasis on the portability of assays between laboratories enhances system utility in multi-user/multi-instrument facilities.

"The PA 800 plus automated environment facilitates precise quantitation in SDS-gel analysis, isoelectric focusing and glycan characterization of monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutic proteins," said Mark Lies, PA 800 plus product manager. "Capillary electrophoresis is rapidly becoming the gold standard for these applications. This new platform will significantly increase operational efficiency for biotherapeutic characterization in development and QC."

 This system incorporates Beckman Coulter’s new advanced capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) technology. Universal methods address gradient stability and protein solubility, and new synthetic pI markers attain the highest levels of precision in pI calculation and isoform quantitation. "The cIEF solution enables biopharmaceutical researchers and technicians to easily implement quantitative isoelectric focusing in a QC environment," added Dr. Lies. Application bulletins detailing the validated cIEF methods and protocols are available for download at the Beckman Coulter capillary electrophoresis website www.celeader.com.

 If you would like more information on this brand new system please e-mail us at infouk@beckmancoulter.com.

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Beckman Coulter to Acquire Lab-Based Diagnostics Business From Olympus Corporation

Beckman Coulter, Inc. (NYSE: BEC), a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of products that simplify, automate, and innovate complex biomedical tests, and Olympus Corporation, a Tokyo-headquartered precision technology leader, creating innovative opto-digital solutions in healthcare, life science and consumer electronics products, announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Beckman Coulter will acquire the diagnostic systems portion of Olympus' Life Sciences business for 77.45 billion yen, or approximately USD $800 million.
 

This acquisition will broaden Beckman Coulter's Chemistry offering, establishing a leadership position with particular strength in larger hospital laboratories. In addition, the transaction will extend our broad chemistry customer base representing a valuable new customer set for Beckman Coulter's Immunoassay products.

 In 2010, the Olympus Diagnostics business is anticipated to increase Beckman Coulter's revenue by approximately $500 million on a full year basis and generate approximately $40 to $50 million in operating income (excluding FAS141R associated amortization). Beckman Coulter believes that 2010 pre-tax savings of between $50 and $60 million can be achieved from the combination of Olympus operating expenses of about $200 million and Beckman Coulter operating expenses of more than $1 billion. Savings are expected to be realized from leveraging existing global infrastructure and integrating sales, service, administrative and R&D activities. Excluding amortization costs related to FAS141R, a new standard guiding accounting for acquired businesses, the company believes that the acquisition will be substantially accretive to earnings in 2010.

 As part of the agreement, Beckman Coulter has the right to deliver up to 37.5% of the purchase price in the form of Beckman Coulter stock. Correspondingly, Beckman Coulter expects to finance the acquisition with a combination of newly issued Beckman Coulter common stock (approximately $300 million) and newly issued debt (approximately $500 million). Under the intended conservative financing structure, the company does not anticipate a change in its current investment grade ratings.

 Scott Garrett, Beckman Coulter's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "This compelling transaction combines the chemistry product lines of our two companies into a complete chemistry systems offering. It enhances Beckman Coulter as a leading provider of chemistry products with additional opportunities to expand our immunoassay reach into their chemistry installed base. Customers will benefit from the expanded range of products, particularly those large hospital and university laboratories where higher throughput systems are preferred. In addition, Beckman Coulter's strength in total lab automation will be complemented by Olympus' strong pre-analytical automation position in Europe and Asia.

 "We remain focused on creating shareholder value through growth, quality and operating excellence. The combination of Beckman Coulter and Olympus demonstrates our commitment to further expand chemistry and sustain our above-market growth in immunoassay. A foundation of stable markets, a defensive business model, well-recognized competencies in optimizing lab processes and an unyielding commitment to quality positions us for continued leadership in biomedical testing," Garrett concluded.

 This transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2009 and is subject to customary government approvals, the finalization of certain ancillary agreements and the disclosure schedules, as well as other customary conditions.

 

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Beckman Coulter Launches Scalable Series of Integrated Work Cells

UniCel® i class Integrated Systems with Closed Cap Technology Speed Turnaround Times

 Building on the success of the UniCel® DxC 880i and the UniCel DxC 600i, Beckman Coulter, Inc., has introduced three new chemistry/immunoassay integrated work cells, the UniCel DxC 660i, the UniCel DxC 680i and the UniCel 860i Synchron® Access® Clinical Systems. The company has dubbed the series of five work cells UniCel i class. 

 Each of the integrated systems is configured to meet a different level of throughput and features Beckman Coulter's unique ClozCap™ technology – automated closed-tube aliquotting and sampling, which frees laboratory staff from the labour-intensive task of de-capping, re-capping and sorting samples manually.

 "From moderate to very high volume workloads, with the UniCel i class series of integrated systems laboratories can choose a work cell to match their needs." said Jeff Mc Hugh, corporate vice president of Beckman Coulter's Chemistry Systems Business Center. "And our unique ClozCap technology will speed turnaround time and enhance lab safety," added Mc Hugh.

 Beckman Coulter's UniCel i class integrated systems receive samples from a single point of entry. Samples are automatically aliquoted and routed for analysis across both aspects of the platform. Chemistry analysis on the primary sample is concurrent to immunoassay analysis of the aliquot. Parallel processing of samples facilitates turnaround time efficiencies unachievable with traditional integrated work cells.

 UniCel i class integrated systems offer a comprehensive menu of more than 150 different tests, ranging from cardiac and tumor markers to tests for renal function, diabetes and more.

 Beckman Coulter customers with UniCel DxC chemistry systems and UniCel DxI immunoassay systems already installed in their lab may upgrade to a UniCel i class integrated system by adding the UniCel Closed Tube Aliquotter and supporting software. With this flexible approach, customers can be confident, knowing their integrated system can adapt to meet changes in workloads, over time.

 For more information on our range of UniCel work cells please click here - infouk@beckmancoulter.com

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FDA Approves Beckman Coulter Anaemia Test & Diagnostic Index

Access® sTfR Assay Helps in Treatment of Chronically Ill Patients with Anaemia

 Beckman Coulter, Inc. announces Federal Drug Administration approval for the Access® Soluble Transferrin Receptor (sTfR) Assay and the sTfR/log ferritin index (sTfR Index) as an aid in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and the differential diagnosis of anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) from IDA with or without ACD.

 The automated sTfR assay and the sTfR index, which is calculated on-board Beckman Coulter’s Access and UniCel® DxI® instruments, produces a recommended cutoff that can indicate the nature of a patient’s anaemia. The cutoff can assist a physician in determining the best course of treatment, especially for the chronically ill. Together, the Access sTfR assay and sTfR index are new and important diagnostic tools that aid in diagnosis, and simplify the complex etiology of anaemia.

 According to Dr. Robert Means, MD, University of Kentucky College of Medicine : “While it is fairly easy to diagnose the cause of anaemia in an otherwise healthy population where iron deficiency is generally the most common cause – such as in a prenatal care clinic, the difficulty comes with that large segment of the population with significant concurrent illnesses, where ferritin, transferrin and iron are all altered as part of the inflammatory response, and where the anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) is a major contributor. The sTfR index will allow the separation of ACD from both simple iron deficiency and iron deficiency in patients with concurrent inflammation.”
 sTfR is intended (with other indicators of iron status) as an aid in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia, especially in patients with chronic disease. Beckman Coulter offers an array of diagnostic tools in chemistry, haematology and data management that, when used in conjunction with the Access sTfR assay, provide a comprehensive diagnostic solution for anaemia disease management.

 “With Access sTfR, labs can confidently provide physicians with information that can reduce the cost of care associated with anaemia, while benefiting the patient’s outcome,” said John Blackwood, vice president and general manager of the Immunoassay Business Center at Beckman Coulter, Inc.

 A clinical trial was conducted to show the effectiveness of Access sTfR and the sTfR/log ferritin index in differentiation in this group of difficult to diagnose patients. A total of 145 patients were enrolled: 57 with ACD; 27 with IDA; 61 with ACD + IDA. The study demonstrated that subjects with IDA or ACD + IDA had significantly higher sTfR/log ferritin index values than subjects with ACD (p<0.0001). In another study, the use of sTfR and the sTfR/log ferritin index is shown to be a good indicator of subclinical iron deficiency, which strongly predicts bacterial vaginosis in early pregnancy. 

 For further information on sTfR and our complete anaemia panel please click here - infouk@beckmancoulter.com
 

 1.  Dr. Means participated as an investigator on a study of the utility of sTfR in the 1990s. He has been a speaker at symposia sponsored by Beckman Coulter, Inc.
2. Skikne, Punnonen, et al. (manuscript in preparation).
3. Verstraelen H, Delanghe J, Roelens K, Blot S, Claeys G, Temmerman M. Subclinical iron deficiency is a strong predictor of bacterial vaginosis in early pregnancy. BMC Infectious Diseases. 2005; 5: 55.

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DxC 880i Integrated Work Cell Streamlines Tameside Blood Sciences Auto Lab

Since 1 February 2008, Tameside General Hospital in Greater Manchester has been an NHS Foundation Trust dedicated to serving the communities of Tameside and Glossop. Collectively, the hospital medical and patient care teams are proud of their improving service and standards. In fact, this progress in terms of standards of care was formally noted by the Department of Health earlier this year in its official review.

The hospital is undergoing a metamorphosis, with the construction of a new £100 million medical complex - now nearing completion. In June, the new Department of Laboratory Medicine was officially opened.

The multi-million pound investment has not only allowed the laboratory service to develop and modernise, but to integrate effectively. On the ground-floor, the diverse disciplines of clinical chemistry, immunoassay and haematology have been amalgamated and share a sample reception area. This now forms a newly automated blood sciences unit, led by chief biomedical scientist and biochemistry departmental manager Janet Hewitt. In April, it became the first UK laboratory - and one of the first globally - to install the Beckman Coulter UniCel DxC 880i Synchron® Access® clinical system.

The integrated UniCel DxC 880i system enables the lab to provide an improved and far more consistent turnaround time to the medical teams and GPs relying on its service. It is able to handle larger workloads, confident that staff safety is protected by the closed tube technology on all its analysers. Long-term, there is also likely to be a significant impact on patient care, adding value to the overall diagnostic service provided its community by this North Manchester lab. Significantly, this is the underlying objective for any hospital electing to move towards Foundation status, as Tameside implemented, earlier this year.

For a copy of the full article originally printed in Pathology in Practice, click here - infouk@beckmancoulter.com 

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Beckman Coulter’s Clear Pipette Tips Promote Sample Visibility on the Biomek® Platform

New Resin and Packaging Enhance Environmental Benefits

 Beckman Coulter, Inc., a leading manufacturer of automated laboratory workstations, introduces new pipette tips made with an ultra-clear resin to heighten sample visibility and designed for use on the company's Biomek liquid handling platforms. Multichannel tips are packaged in new cases that simplify handling and storage and facilitate recycling. Biomek Tips are designed exclusively for, and validated for use on, Biomek liquid handlers.

 Overall, 31 Biomek Tips will be made with the new clear resin. Available in maximum volumes ranging from 20 to 1000 µL, the non-conductive tips are certified to be free of RNase/DNase and are offered in sterile, sterile-with-barrier and non-sterile versions. Clear Biomek Tips contain no radiation-blocking resin additives and are processed using efficient and effective ethylene oxide sterilization. All Biomek Tips are available online at www.beckmancoulter.com/estore or through sales representatives.

 The newly designed multichannel tip case, which can be completely recycled, is easy-to-open, easy-to-close, printed with biodegradable dyes and made using 30 percent less source materials. The packaging is easily flattened, further promoting recycling efforts. A 35 percent reduction in size reduces storage requirements and materials usage, resulting in a product that is economically and environmentally efficient to ship. Each newly designed multichannel tip case holds 10 racks of AP96 or AP384 tips for use with Biomek 3000 tools or with the 96- or 384-multichannel heads used on Biomek FXP and Biomek NXP liquid handlers.

 Part numbers for the Biomek tips are unaffected. The tips continue to support the published pipetting performance guidelines. Biomek users are not required to make any changes to their pipetting protocols in order to use the clear tips.
 

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Borders Hospital Installs Two UniCel DxC880i Integrated Systems

Beckman Coulter UK announces that the Borders General Hospital has installed Scotland’s first UniCel DxC 880i Synchron® Access® clinical system – its integrated work cell which consolidates chemistry and immunoassay testing targeted to high-volume laboratories.

 The laboratory has been completely redesigned - to accommodate two DxC 880i systems - as part of a major work-flow analysis project. Its objective is to automate and streamline processes; and reduce the time valuable biomedical staff currently spend handling samples. The DxC 880i systems each combine a UniCel DxC 800 chemistry analyser (capable of running up to 1,400 tests per hour), and the industry’s highest- throughput immunoassay system, the UniCel DxI 800 (up to 400 tests per hour).

 Jag Grewal, marketing manager for Northern Europe, commented: “The DxC 880i advances our strategy of delivering standardised work cell solutions for greater laboratory efficiency. With the Beckman Coulter system, it is possible to integrate the testing process by running different tests in parallel and to do this without removing sample caps and exposing the blood to contamination. We are the only company to do this.”

 The laboratory currently runs around 1.2 million tests a year and serves a widely dispersed catchment area. Its workload has increased by 8% for each of the last five years. As the lab’s chief biomedical scientist, Jackie Scott, explained: “The single most important difference the DxC 880i will make is to free up staff time and improve the flow of the sample through the analysing process. This will enable the lab to handle its ever increasing workload with greater efficiency without adding to staff pressures. Not having to remove sample caps during the process also plays an important part in making this possible - helping reducing time and improving overall standards of safety.”
  

 

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Portsmouth Opens Flagship NHS Blood Sciences Unit

Laboratory services in Portsmouth’s flagship Queen Alexandra Hospital have been amalgamated to form one of the UK’s largest NHS blood science units, processing over 5,000 core samples a day through the automated tracking systems alone, with links remotely to a satellite lab and serving a diverse and wide spread community of half a million people.

The planning started almost four years ago when Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust first joined forces with three other trusts in the South of England to procure equipment in order to fully automate their core laboratory processes. This led to their appointing Beckman Coulter UK to handle the seven-year managed service automation contract. At Portsmouth, the new configuration of equipment includes a Power Processor, with two centrifuges, a decapper, aliquoting module, two UniCel DxI 800 immunoassay systems, four clinical chemistry UniCel DxC 800 analysers, a recapper and a 3060-sample refrigerated stockyard.

The Queen Alexandra site is currently undergoing a major redevelopment to create a modern and '''fit for purpose'' hospital, due for completion by the end of 2009. This work is being done in partnership with ''The Hospital Company'', a consortium of Carillion plc and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The blood sciences unit was one of the first to move into the new complex the second half of 2007. The result is a dynamic, automated 24-hour operation occupying a floor space of more than 1100 square metres.

As head biomedical scientist Martin Stroud explained: “The transfer of the system from the old laboratory to the new purpose-built complex had to be planned like a military operation to ensure that vital services were maintained. The move itself was done in stages over two days and we had only a 10-minute downtime before we were fully operational again.”

The new combined blood sciences unit at Portsmouth demonstrates the effectiveness of automation and the contribution it can make towards streamlining the diagnostic process. It provides the lab with the means of delivering accurate and consistent results, alongside a faster turnaround time.

For a copy of the full article originally printed in Pathology in Practice, click here -  infouk@beckmancoulter.com

 

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Beckman Coulter Expands Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Menu, Adding QMS® Amikacin and QMS® Quinidine Assays

Beckman Coulter has expanded its therapeutic drug monitoring test menu to include two new assays: QMS® Amikacin and QMS® Quinidine.

The QMS Amikacin assay (AMKX) measures aminoglycoside concentrations in human serum or plasma to guide and monitor dosing regimens and to evaluate toxicity and efficacy of Amikacin, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.

The second new assay, QMS Quinidine, measures concentrations of the drug Quinidine in human plasma or serum. Quinidine is a major antiarrhythmic agent used to treat and prevent arrhythmias. Careful monitoring of this drug is important due to its narrow therapeutic index and similarity in patient response to sub-therapeutic and toxic amounts of the drug.


Reagents and calibrators for both new assays are liquid and ready-to-use, which helps laboratory staff save time by eliminating the need for mixing, hydrating or pre-diluting reagents before testing.

The Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) assays available through Beckman Coulter are specifically engineered and packaged to provide speed, accuracy, ease-of-use and economy for the most effective TDM analysis. When used in conjunction with a UniCel® or Synchron® clinical system, these high quality assays provide timely, reliable and efficient TDM results.
 

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Beckman Coulter Acquires Rights to Hepatitis C Virus

Beckman Coulter UK has announced that it has licensed certain rights to testing for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. Under the agreement, Beckman Coulter can develop, manufacture and sell a quantitative viral load HCV blood test for use on the company’s molecular diagnostic instrument, which is in development.

HCV viral load testing is essential for managing patients affected by the hepatitis C virus and is used to monitor therapy for the duration of the infection. An estimated 180 million people are chronically infected with the hepatitis virus and an additional 3 to 4 million people are newly infected each year. A hepatitis C infection can cause acute hepatitis and chronic liver disease including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Two thirds of all liver transplants in developed countries are the result of these diseases.

Scott Garrett, chairman, president and CEO of Beckman Coulter, commented: “We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to meet our customers growing needs for HCV testing. Our access to this intellectual property will expand the served market for our ‘sample-to-result’ molecular diagnostics system, expected to launch in 2010.”

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Automated Single Site Blood Sciences Facility Opens in Chester

The flagship Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire has appointed Beckman Coulter UK as their managed service provider for the next 10 years. The hospital’s NHS trust is one of only six in the UK to have won official Three Star Status for five years running. Its partnership with the global automation experts will spearhead the lab’s transformation into a fully automated, single-site blood science facility.

Chester already runs 3.1 million tests a year and needed a solution which was custom designed to the laboratory’s exact requirements. After an extensive tendering process, it chose a total automation solution, installing two separate lines of tracking, including a fully integrated aliquotting module and a 3,000 sample refrigerated stockyard. The Beckman Coulter Power Processor carries samples to two UniCel DxI 800 ® immunoassay analysers and three UniCel DxC 800 clinical chemistry systems. The haematology line provides a connection to coagulation, enabling all samples to be loaded and directed to either one of the two Coulter LH 780 analysers or the coagulation system from third party partner Stago. The entire system is networked with the Remisol data management system linked to the hospital’s LIS.

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New National Sales Manager for Beckman Coulter UK

Beckman Coulter UK has appointed Lisa Truslove as national sales manager across the company’s expanding clinical diagnostics business. She joins the company as it launches the next generation of its integrated chemistry and immunoassay family of systems, the UniCel® DxC 880i.

Lisa has a background which spans both research and diagnostics, with a particular track record of building sales in immunoassay - one of Beckman Coulter’s fastest growing sectors in clinical diagnostics. She started her career at what is now the world-famous Roslin Institute in Edinburgh. Lisa moved into sales and clinical diagnostics in 1989 when she joined DPC. After six years as national sales manager, Lisa more recently oversaw the harmonisation of the newly acquired companies into the Siemens portfolio, as head of integration.

Commenting on her new role, Ms Truslove said: “This is a competitive marketplace with increasing challenges from the new procurement polices of the NHS. Beckman Coulter has recently strengthened its top management team and I will be playing my part in reminding customers of our success in handling managed service contracts.”

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Cisbio Certifies Beckman Coulter's PARADIGM Plate Reader

Beckman Coulter, Inc. announced today that Cisbio has awarded its homogenous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF*) certification to the PARADIGM™ Detection Platform. Cisbio’s certification verifies that the detection platform meets or exceeds performance criteria for HTRF assays. A new HTRF detection cartridge is now available for the unique, modular PARADIGM platform, bringing the growing total selection to 10. These detection cartridges can be interchanged in less than five minutes to meet different assay needs.

PARADIGM, introduced earlier this year, is the first user-upgradeable and -configurable multimode reader. It is ideal for labs with multiple users and applications. The high-throughput detector reads on the fly, in formats from 6 to 1,536 wells.

Cisbio’s patented HTRF technology is incorporated into a growing selection of assays and reagents for drug discovery and screening. These popular assays produce superior results and are easily miniaturized and automated.

Cisbio is a global developer of products and technologies used in nuclear medicine, in vitro diagnostics and assay development for drug screening procedures. The company pioneered the field of homogenous fluorescence methodologies via its proprietary technology, HTRF, a highly sensitive, robust technology for the detection of molecular interactions and widely used by the pharmaceutical industry for the high-throughput screening stage of drug development. In addition, Cisbio produces a selection of biological reagents and methods used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as contract research organizations (CROs).

For more information on the Paradigm plate reader go to - www.beckmancoulter.com/products/instrument/automatedsolutions/integsystems/paradigm.asp

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Automation Improves Quality of Service Delivery for Laboratory Medicine in Southampton

The department of laboratory medicine at Southampton General Hospital, part of the Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, operates one of the flagship in vitro diagnostic testing services in the NHS. In the last four years, it has undergone a quiet revolution in the way it operates.

Productivity levels are up more than 90 percent in spite of budget and staffing constraints. It aims to outperform its targets while still insisting on delivering consistent results and improving turnaround times. At the same time, staff are carrying out enhanced roles - taking on a multidisciplinary function, better able to use their biomedical scientific expertise to improve service delivery. The lab now handles 700,000 samples and delivers 6.5 million test results a year, with workloads showing a fairly consistent ten percent increase each year since 2002.

Integral to the laboratory’s continued expansion and its ability to meet future targets has been the decision to install high throughput analysers and remove manual processes wherever possible. Under a managed service contract, Beckman Coulter UK has supplied advanced clinical chemistry analysers, high throughput immunoassay systems, as well as pre and post-analytical automation solutions to the trust. Partnership was key to the success of the automation project – willingness to collaborate with colleagues in other laboratories, and with Beckman Coulter to deliver the solutions. But John Wood and his team make it clear they are motivated by one key objective. The department of laboratory medicine at Southampton is determined to provide a consistently high level of service to all customers, and ultimately patients – and to be able to do that in the most time and cost efficient manner.

For a copy of the full article originally printed in Pathology in Practice, click here - infouk@beckmancoulter.com
 

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