Informatics for water and environmental testing labs!

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced a new informatics solution specifically developed for laboratory professionals working in water and environmental testing laboratories. The new LIMS is preconfigured to enable customers to comply with water and environmental regulatory guidelines and requirements, and it is built on the comprehensive functionality provided by the company’s flagship laboratory information management system, Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS. They will showcase the Water and Environmental LIMS at their booth (# 4145) during WEFTEC 2011 ( held 17/19 Oct'11 Los Angeles CA).

Water and environmental testing laboratories face unique challenges with delivering accurate, consistent and traceable results. In the current economic environment, it’s more important than ever to standardize workflows and processes that facilitate regulatory compliance, ensure public safety and monitor quality throughout the entire sampling, testing and reporting process. The US Safe Drinking Water Act, and the subsequent release of the US EPA’s Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment, puts pressure on municipal, state and privately owned water facilities to remain in compliance with mandatory limits for an increasing array of contaminants. This LIMS offers tools and functionality to enable lab managers to deliver the defensible data necessary to meet the compliance requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Thermo Scientific Water and Environmental LIMS helps laboratory professionals make faster, more informed decisions at all levels of the organization, delivering information needed to manage laboratory processes and respond to the most current regulatory and business demands. Purpose-built functionality helps labs:


• Establish protocols and documentation methods that meet NELAC compliance requirements and ISO 17025 guidelines
• Automate reports and records to ensure full traceability
• Improve lab and workflow efficiencies

Developed in conjunction with environmental experts for ISO 17025 and NELAC requirements, Thermo Scientific Water and Environmental LIMS has built-in functionality designed for workflows found in water and environmental labs. Pre-defined test methods, batch sequences, regu¬latory reports and other templates allow customers to reduce administra¬tion overhead, cost and implementa¬tion time. In addition, comprehensive dashboard functionality ad¬dresses the regulatory and operational needs of three distinct but interrelated aspects of a laboratory’s business: personnel, quality assur¬ance and the customer.

Companies working within the environmental and water and wastewater sectors face many challenges in improving efficiencies, processes and traceability while ensuring regulatory compliance. To assist the industry in meeting these challenges, a series of five educational on-demand webinars is now available for viewing at www.thermoscientific.com/waterandwastewater. Developed in collaboration with industry experts from EM2 Solutions, Pilgrim Software and the Winvale Group, the webinars address topics relevant to professionals working in the environmental and waste testing industries.

“The pace of regulatory change in the water and environmental industry is sometimes faster than the adoption of new technologies to meet those new requirements,” said Dave Champagne, vice president and general manager, Informatics, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “With the EPA establishing compliance parameters for five new contaminants every year, the cycle of certification for state, municipal and privately owned water supplies is in a constant state of oversight. Our Water and Environmental LIMS will help industry professionals meet these ongoing challenges. And by developing this on-demand webinar series with our industry and technical partners, we are able to deliver an overview of the key issues to the industry and contribute to the adoption of newer technologies which can enable easier and more cost effective regulatory compliance.”

New total Nitrogen and Sulphur analyser

Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched a new Total Nitrogen and Total Sulfur (TN/TS) analyser, which features an innovative direct injection design providing the capacity to analyze both heavy and light hydrocarbons without changing introduction modules. As a result of the versatility, precision and accuracy offered by the their iPRO 5000 series analyser, scientists in petrochemical and commercial testing laboratories, oil refineries, R&D centers and chemical plants, will benefit from significant time savings and productivity advantages, in addition to total ASTM compliance.

This analyser features the proprietary Thermo Scientific jetPRO direct spray injector, which enables automatic analysis from ppb levels up to percent levels for both nitrogen and sulfur on just one instrument and without changing introduction modules. As a result, it is now possible to quantify nitrogen and sulfur in heavy hydrocarbons within just three minutes. Compared to the standard boat method, this is a dramatic reduction in the time spent from analysis to viewing results, which provides an immediate cost-saving and productivity increase. Offering exceptional precision of two percent or better when analysing light hydrocarbons at ultra-low concentrations, the analyzer ensures high accuracy, as well as reproducibility and repeatability of analysis. Providing meticulously controlled combustion processes, the analyser also contains a proprietary pre-soot detection technology which ensures complete combustion that is soot-free. The iPRO 5000 series analyzer is also the smallest and most compact total nitrogen and total sulfur analyzer currently available.

Developed for a wide range of applications, the iPRO 5000 series analyser offers an ideal solution for the diverse requirements of petrochemical analyses. The instrument provides the capacity to analyze virtually any refinery sample from raw crude to end product, while ensuring ASTM compliance and enabling optimisation of refinery processes. For commercial testing laboratories requiring ASTM compliant results quickly and cost-effectively over a wide range of applications, the iPRO 5000 series analyzer is four times faster than previous methods which enables a significant increase in productivity and cost-efficiency. In addition, the instrument’s exceptional precision makes it the ideal choice for high performance applications such as those conducted by research and development centers.

The iPRO 5000 series analyzer is controlled by Thermo Scientific NSX Visual software, which supports Microsoft Windows 7 and has been developed to adapt to the specific workflows of users who require ease–of-use and flexibility. The NSX Visual software assures total ASTM compliance through pre-loaded ASTM method templates, which enable the user to simply select the required method and start the analysis. The software is also programmed to proactively alert the user if method parameters are changed to a value which is outside the scope of the official ASTM methods.

Rapid analysis of precious metals & high concentration elements

Thermo Fisher Scientific has a new software module to enable high-precision and automated analysis of precious metals and high concentration elements. 

The Thermo Scientific iTEVA Precision software seamlessly integrates with the Thermo Scientific iCAP 6000 Series of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometers (ICP-OES) to deliver analytical results with high precision. Designed specifically for the metallurgy industry, the new module enhances the Thermo Scientific iTEVA software solution and delivers a simple and efficient workflow for high-precision analysis with real-time data processing using the bracketing standards approach.

ICP-OES is one of the most popular elemental analysis techniques due to its rapid, robust and multi-element capabilities. It can, however, be challenging to analyze elements in samples of high financial value, or with analytes at high percentage concentrations on a daily basis. The unique iTEVA Precision software module meets this challenge by using bracketing algorithms (as stipulated by the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) for data processing) to generate high-quality ISO-compliant data in real-time.

The software features advanced data processing, which routinely enables relative standard deviation (RSD) values of <0.3 percent between sample aliquots, a notable enhancement in analytical precision for the ICP-OES technique. Furthermore, the powerful automated data processing capability makes labor-intensive external calculations unnecessary and eliminates the potential for human transcription errors associated with performing manual ”off-line” calculations. An added benefit of the new software module is its ability to perform required post-run data reprocessing without re-analyzing samples; this accelerates workflows and conserves high-value samples.

The iTEVA Precision software provides flexible options for unit sets that are user-definable on a per analyte basis. Customizable data filtering and reporting tools are also available, enabling users to maintain their preferred workflow while automating current sample analysis processes. In addition, the software offers multi-language support, including English, German, French, Chinese, Japanese and Russian.

LIMS development

Eastman Chemical Company uses Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS to streamline business processes and deliver enhanced automation benefits

Eastman Chemical Company, a large global manufacturer of chemicals, fibers and plastics, has expanded its deployment of Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS (laboratory information management system), which it has used since 2000 in its manufacturing quality control laboratories, to its Corporate Technology Analytical Laboratories. For the implementation, Eastman Chemical Company also chose Thermo Scientific Connects, which enables the LIMS to be fully integrated with the laboratory's instruments and can be integrated with other proprietary databases and ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems enterprise-wide.

Eastman Chemical Company manufactures chemicals, fibers and plastics materials used by its customers to make common consumer products. The company is the first manufacturer in the U.S. to develop and commercialize technology that derives chemicals from coal rather than petroleum. With 2010 sales revenue of $5.8 billion, the company has 13 major manufacturing facilities around the world.

Eastman Chemical Company selected Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS for its ability to operate a certified interface with SAP, and the system has integrated seamlessly with it since implementation. Based on the successful deployment of SampleManager LIMS at its quality control laboratories across 13 sites in eight countries, Eastman Chemical extended the LIMS implementation to its Corporate Technology Analytical Laboratories, located at its Tennessee headquarters.

“The Technology division selected Thermo Scientific SampleManager because it was easy to use and could be easily configured and managed in-house at Eastman Chemical,” said James Watson, systems analyst at Eastman Chemical Company. “We have reduced costs by eliminating paper reports, working electronically and involving sample submitters in the process by giving them access to results in real-time. LIMS standardization is the solution required in today’s high throughput analytical laboratories.”

To achieve optimal quality control, Eastman Chemical needed a coherent strategy that would integrate data between the LIMS, ERP multiple instruments and ELNs (electronic laboratory notebooks) across the enterprise. “The overall integration of our connected informatics solutions provides a seamless and secure quality control environment at Eastman Chemical Company,” added James Watson.

“The world’s largest manufacturing and petrochemical organizations rely on our integrated LIMS solutions to help them maintain their quality and production standards,” said Dave Champagne, manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific Informatics. “We are excited to be working with Eastman Chemical, making it easier for them to work in a pressured environment with increasing requirements to conduct projects professionally, on-time and within budget. Thermo Scientific Connects assisted in the effort, integrating application-specific workflows and helping transform laboratory data into relevant business information that maximizes enterprise system investments and better supports critical management decisions in a resource-constrained environment.”

Ultra-fast Iinclusion analysis in steel

Thermo Fisher Scientific has a new ultra-fast method for characterizing steel cleanness by analyzing inclusions using optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The method, which uses the Thermo Scientific Spark-DAT option on the Thermo Scientific ARL 4460 Metals Analyzer, significantly enhances the capabilities of the instrument and offers a faster and more cost-effective alternative to existing methods of characterizing steel cleanness.

Inclusions can affect the properties and the quality of steel, making their control vital. The Spark-DAT option enables steel manufacturers to identify, characterize and count inclusions in only a few seconds, making it highly effective for steel production. The advanced Spark-DAT option features a unique methodology and software technology and offers a range of innovative applications for the characterization of steel cleanness. These applications include the determination of inclusion size and distribution and the quantitative analysis of total oxygen content at concentrations of 30ppm and below in killed steel samples.

The Spark-DAT option offers a range of advantages for steelmaking plants. By enabling the fast determination of steel composition, inclusion characterization and accurate total oxygen content simultaneously on a single OES instrument, initial investment costs are significantly reduced. In addition, as analysis times are almost unchanged compared to standard OES, up to 30 samples can typically be analyzed per hour. The sample and its surface preparation, as well as the instrument maintenance and consumables, are also unchanged, ensuring low operating costs.

The Spark-DAT option on the Thermo Scientific ARL 4460 Metals Analyzer considerably enhances the OES technique and increases the versatility of the spectrometer. From routine use to research, Spark-DAT provides a quick, simple and cost-effective solution for inclusion analysis in the steel industry.

New partner for global alliance

Pilgrim Software has joined the Thermo Fisher Scientific's Informatics Global Partner Alliance. Pilgrim Software will provide integrated risk, compliance and quality management solutions to Thermo Fisher’s informatics customers operating in highly regulated environments.

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a proven integrated portfolio of informatics solutions, including laboratory information management systems (LIMS), chromatography data systems (CDS) desktop spectroscopy, document management systems (DMS) and electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN) to customers in regulated industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and clinical and diagnostic laboratories, as well as regulated process industries such as food and beverage processing and water and environmental testing.

Thermo Fisher’s informatics solutions are designed to provide customers with state-of-the-art systems for helping to mitigate risk and maintain compliant processes while producing safe and secure products that meet regulatory requirements and industry standards. Pilgrim’s risk, compliance and quality management software integrates fully with existing laboratory and enterprise systems, providing a natural end-to-end solution for Thermo Fisher’s customers seeking to remain compliant, minimize risk, reduce costs, and operate more effectively.

Thermo Fisher offers its customers comprehensive solutions to manage and document the risk management process both before and after product are delivered to consumers. Pilgrim Software solutions support this effort. These include Internal and External Audit Management for raw materials and reagents to assist with regulatory requirements; SOP and secure Document Management Systems; Employee Training and Certification records tracking; Root Cause Analysis of Process of Non-Conformance or Deviation; a Supplier Quality solution, documenting vendor processes and tracking performance by scorecard; as well as instrument maintenance, change management and ad hoc inquiries reporting.


“By extending its proven solution to Thermo Fisher Scientific customers, Pilgrim can serve an expanded range of organizations with its globally recognized process automation platform," said Prashanth Rajendran, chief operating officer of Pilgrim Software. "We look forward to building a productive relationship between our two companies, tapping into complementary product knowledge and industry expertise so we can offer an expanded portfolio of customers a more proactive and predictive quality, compliance and risk management solution framework.”

“Our goal is to provide our customers with the most complete solutions possible so that each stage of their operations is defined by seamless and integrated systems that enable faster and more informed decision making,” said Dave Champagne, vice president and general manager for the Informatics business at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “By partnering with Pilgrim, we bring compliance full circle by enabling our customers to manage risk and quality processes both before and after the product is delivered to consumers. For our customers in regulated industries, this end-to-end solution will greatly improve their ability to respond to regulators, government overseers and the public during recalls or when their customers complain.”

Simplifying regulatory complience

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that Nova Biologicals, one of America's largest providers of laboratory testing and consultancy services to the water, environmental, medical device and pharmaceutical industries, has implemented an integrated Thermo Scientific LIMS (laboratory information management system) and NextDocs DMS (document management system) solution. The solution automates time-consuming, paper-based laboratory data management processes, ensures compliance with stringent industry regulations and enables it to deliver premier customer service. The comprehensive solution demonstrates Thermo Fisher’s ability to provide customers with the most comprehensive Informatics offerings that solve the industries ever-growing and expanding needs.

(The detailed Nova Biologicals case study.)

“Our mission is to deliver value to our customers by minimizing risk, increasing efficiencies and validating and improving their products through Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), regulatory compliance and laboratory data management,” said Dr. Pearce, CEO and founder of Nova.

In the wake of more stringent regulations for environmental testing introduced by the US National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in recent years, Nova required stronger compliance through record keeping, demonstration of capability (DOC), document control, reagent and standard traceability and reporting. Because its manual, paper-based system could no longer support this, Nova selected Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS integrated with the NextDocs DMS. In addition to more efficiently meeting industry regulations, the company can now serve their customers more effectively.

Nova offers comprehensive diagnostic testing for the presence of infectious disease organisms, processing around 10,000 water samples each month to ensure compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In addition to helping Nova comply with regulatory requirements, Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS has also improved laboratory efficiencies and sample throughput, delivering significant cost and time savings in Nova’s laboratory by automating previously lengthy, manual document management processes. Dr. Pearce comments, “We are delighted with the tangible benefits that the new solution has delivered, including significant cost and time savings. Since its introduction into our laboratory, the SampleManager and NextDocs DMS solution has been instrumental in helping Nova maintain its NELAC accreditation in the state of Texas. The solution has also refined work processes and improved reporting to customers in terms of both quality and speed.”

Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS is offered in combination with NextDocs DMS, creating a fully-integrated and highly configurable solution. Thermo Fisher Scientific is well-positioned, via Thermo Scientific CONNECTS, to offer the most comprehensive Informatics solutions for laboratories consisting of a combination of Thermo Scientific instruments, LIMS and chromatography data management (CDS) software and services. The company also partners with technology leaders to extend its Informatics capabilities, working with well-known companies such as Microsoft and SAP and with leading solutions such as NextDocs’s Document Management System and Accelerys’s Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN).


“By integrating Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS with NextDocs DMS, we are able to create a more comprehensive, personalized, seamless solution that works better together, offering greater benefit to our customers,” said Dave Champagne, vice president and general manager, Informatics at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Integrated instrument control with multi-vendor compatibility

Thermo Fisher Scientific adds new Atlas CDS Software Control for Shimadzu Prominence HPLC

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the availability of a new Thermo Scientific Atlas Chromatography Data System (CDS) instrument control software for the Shimadzu Prominence® and Prominence XR HPLC. Seamless control of Shimadzu's Prominence is now possible at no extra cost as no connection license is required. Award-winning Atlas CDST provides chromatographers with a client/server chromatography-based software solution available for controlling multi-vendor instruments.

Within regulated industries, data management is a crucial part of the quality control process. Consequently, there is great demand for a single CDS that can integrate chromatographs from a variety of manufacturers. In response to customer needs and current market demand, Thermo Fisher and Shimadzu have collaborated to provide full instrument control and chromatography data handling within Atlas for the Shimadzu Prominence; a network-ready HPLC.

"This collaboration combines the strengths of both companies and will benefit customers by providing a truly integrated solution for users that require multi-vendor compatibility," said Dave Champagne, vice president and general manager for Thermo Fisher's Informatics business. "The Shimadzu Prominence (20A) LC control delivers added functionality to allow multiple instruments to be controlled on one PC. The integrated auditing capabilities of Atlas provide full audit trails of all instrument methods and data processing actions. This gives users confidence that our systems will enable them to satisfy applicable compliance regulations such as GMP and 21 CFR Part 11."

The new Shimadzu Prominence (20A) LC control allows the Shimadzu Prominence systems to be used with Atlas software with seamless control, supporting up to four instruments per 247 IC or DataServer. The Shimadzu Prominence (20A) control provides an instrument status screen, delivering direct feedback to the user on current instrument conditions. Developed with the Atlas DDK (device development kit), the control follows the user interface design followed by the Shimadzu VP instruments. The Shimadzu Prominence is a LAN-based instrument and can be connected to the laboratory network or private instrument network to provide data integrity by network buffering.

"We have received numerous requests from customers who use our LC and GC systems to enable control with Atlas CDS. I am pleased to see that control of Prominence is now possible through collaboration between Thermo Fisher and Shimadzu. This milestone will certainly benefit our mutual customers, and we look forward to continuing our relationship to further extend the control capability," said Teruhisa Ueda, Ph.D., corporate officer and deputy general manager, Analytical and Measuring Instruments Division, Shimadzu Corporation.

Thermo Scientific Atlas CDS provides a highly scalable client/server environment for laboratory LAN and WAN networks in pharmaceutical drug development, discovery, QA/QC laboratories and academia, as well as process industries such as oil and gas, food and beverage safety, water and wastewater treatment and chemicals manufacturing. Designed as a multi-user, multi-instrument data system, it enables remote network access to many instruments so data can be fully collected, secured and protected - enabling organizations to make more informed decisions faster. In addition, Atlas CDS provides seamless integration of results with enterprise-wide laboratory informatics management systems applications including the full range of Thermo Scientific LIMS.

Laboratory information management system

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the Thermo Scientific SampleManager 10..0 LIMS (laboratory information management system), a solution that delivers significant new time and cost savings for scientists and lab managers across the broadest range of process industries. SampleManager 10.0 improves access to data across the enterprise; delivers key business metrics to management; facilitates compliance with ISO, GLP and other regulatory requirements; and optimizes workflows and quality management. Thermo Fisher is showcasing SampleManager 10.0 within Thermo Scientific booth 2835 during Pittcon 2011 (March 13-18, Atlanta GA US).

SampleManager LIMS is the corporate standard at leading organizations in oil and gas, food and beverage, environmental and water, metals and mining and other process industries. It provides an intuitive user interface and logical workflow for laboratories looking to optimize their operations by standardizing processes across geographies and streamlining data exchange across enterprise systems. It is designed to integrate with existing ERP, PIMS and MES systems and with other applications and instruments in and out of the laboratory, providing one standard user interface and allowing for easier standardization for global enterprises. Users will gain greater efficiency with integrated solutions that deliver a new kind of connected productivity regardless of the analytical challenge.

Thermo Scientific SampleManager 10.0 reflects more than 25 years of knowledge, experience, customer input and successive version releases. The company developed this fea¬ture-rich release with key business metric (KBM) dashboard functionality that addresses the critical business and operating needs of three distinct but interrelated parts of a company’s infrastructure: lab personnel, IT and systems administrators and management.

For lab managers and users, SampleManager includes built-in functionality, including instrument calibration, operator training records and stock/inventory dashboard that deliver improved efficiencies, compliance and resource management.

For IT and systems administration, a new Microsoft .NET development environment provides a comprehensive and intuitive tool kit for making system extensibility simple, delivering time and cost savings that is critical to process sustainability, including rapid prototyping and easier integration.

For management, data visualization tools deliver the functionality necessary to integrate and connect all parts of the organization so that man¬agement can monitor and measure performance against key business metrics; user decisions are more responsive and informed.

The need to fully integrate lab-generated data with existing enterprise systems requires organizations to optimize existing investments in laboratory and enterprise systems. Management must have continuous access to all of the data necessary to make informed decisions and monitor the health of their operations.

“Businesses want to standardize processes, reduce energy use, centralize data capture and more fully automate processes, delivering real-time information to management for more informed decision-making,” said Dave Champagne, vice president and general manager for Thermo Fisher’s Informatics business. “SampleManager 10.0 enables companies to utilize data that is generated across their organization while making better use of resources, harmonizing processes, reducing risks and improving process. The ultimate benefit is that these companies are able to maintain profitability while maximizing their lab and enterprise investments.”

New faster natural gas analyser

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the new Thermo Scientific C2V-200 micro GC gas analyser, designed for rapid analysis of natural gas composition. The C2V-200 micro GC gas analyzer is used both inside laboratories and on-line, offering improved performance at a reduced cost. The unique compact cartridge design and integrated microchip technology in the analyzer make it easier to use with greater control and productivity. Theywill showcase the new C2V-200 micro GC gas analyzer within Thermo Scientific distributor booth 3725 during Pittcon 2011, being held March 13-18, in Atlanta (GA US).

Natural resource scarcity is creating higher demand for faster and more reliable analyzers. The C2V-200 micro GC increases productivity by accurately analyzing the calorific value of natural gas, providing reliable results in seconds. Based on proprietary Thermo Scientific micro GC technology, the core of C2V-200 is a unique cartridge, the size of a credit card. It includes an injection system, column and detector in a highly compact, more efficient gas analyzer that reduces maintenance costs and consumes less gas. Exchangeable column cartridges can be easily installed for flexible configuration and ease of use.

Enhancements in temperature control allow the micro GC columns to be programmed with a speed of 240ºC per minute for the analysis of a wider range of components. An integrated stream selector for auto calibration provides excellent, on-line, reliable analytical results. The C2V-200 micro GC is delivered with dedicated instrument control and data handling software to run on a system, generating rapid results from the time the C2V-200 is installed. Reporting is available in compliance with current ISO, ASTM and GPA methods.

Fast and accurate analysis of food samples in Italian research facility

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that Gruppo CSA, a leading Italian environmental research institute, has implemented the Thermo Scientific FLASH 4000 nitrogen/protein analyser to enable efficient and accurate nitrogen/protein determination in animal feed and human food samples. The analyser has set new standards for the efficiency of analyses at the institute and has provided unmatched precision while also facilitating increased sample capacity and high sample throughput. As a result of the increase in speed and throughput of analyses, Gruppo CSA has been able to expand its range of services to customers.

Located in Rimini, on the Adriatic coast, Gruppo CSA houses a food laboratory division which performs a broad range of analyses including nitrogen/protein determination in animal feed and human food samples. The institute has seen a surge in the number of animal feed analyses that it performs due to a recent European Commission initiative that provides a financial incentive for farmers producing dehydrated alfalfa with levels of protein above 15 percent. In response to customer demand, Gruppo CSA is required to conduct rapid nitrogen/protein analysis on high quantities of dehydrated alfalfa in adherence with the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) 992.23 method. To address the growing analytical requirements while also remaining compliant with industry regulations, Gruppo CSA selected the Thermo Scientific FLASH 4000 nitrogen/protein analyzer.

Prior to implementing the FLASH 4000 instrument, Gruppo CSA utilized the traditional Kjeldahl method for its nitrogen/protein analyses. However, the method suffers from a number of challenges, namely that it is extremely time consuming, requiring more than four hours to complete a single analytical cycle of just 20 samples. As a consequence, the institute could not provide high quantity alfalfa analysis as a key service. The method also requires the use of acids at extremely high temperatures, posing a significant safety risk. Working with the Dumas combustion method for protein analysis, the FLASH 4000 overcomes these challenges, increasing overall productivity and cost-efficiency while also eliminating the use of corrosive acids, which improves health and safety conditions within the institute.

The FLASH 4000 now enables Gruppo CSA’s team to process up to 50 samples in a single cycle, while the four-hour cycle time has been dramatically reduced to just 10 minutes. In contrast to the Kjeldahl method, which requires constant monitoring, the FLASH 4000 can run unattended and overnight, saving time for the institute’s technicians and increasing overall throughput. The elimination of dangerous acids and toxic reagents has also meant that the instrument is much easier to clean and maintain, particularly with the inclusion of a self-cleaning filter, saving both time and money.

“After conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the FLASH 4000, it became clear that the analyzer is unmatched in terms of capacity for accuracy, sample throughput and sheer efficiency when facilitating the Dumas technique,” said Dr. Pierpaolo Tentoni, chairman of Gruppo CSA. “Since the implementation of the instrument, our sample throughput has increased by more than 50 percent and we are now able to analyze large quantities of samples at low cost. With the high sample capacity and cost-efficiency of the FLASH 4000, for the first time ever we have been able to provide animal feed analysis as a key service.”

Faster analysis of inclusions in aluminum

Thermo Fisher Scientific has an improved method for ultra-fast analysis of inclusions in aluminum using optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The method, which utilizes the Thermo Scientific Spark-DAT option, significantly enhances the capabilities of the Thermo Scientific ARL 4460 metals analyzer, offering a faster and more accurate alternative to existing methods of characterizing inclusions in aluminum.

Inclusions can affect the properties of aluminum, including mechanical strength, gas porosity, machinabilty, surface quality and fluidity, making their control vital in many cases. The Spark-DAT allows ultra-fast counting of inclusions and identification of their type in a few seconds, making it highly effective for controlling inclusions during aluminum production. Furthermore, when combining the inclusion analysis with the standard analysis in concentration, only a few seconds of additional time are necessary. This ability to obtain elemental analysis information and inclusion contents with a single OES instrument greatly reduces investment cost. Moreover the inclusion analysis is carried out under the same conditions as the regular elemental analysis. Sample surface preparation, instrument maintenance and consumables are unchanged compared to a standard OES instrument, ensuring very low operating cost.

The Spark-DAT option on the Thermo Scientific ARL 4460 Metals Analyzer increases the versatility of the spectrometer. From routine use to research, Spark-DAT provides a quick, simple and cost-effective solution for inclusion analysis in the aluminum industry. An application note has been developed to demonstrate the benefits of the Spark-DAT option.

Reliable and efficient sulfur detection in proteins

 Lucía López Fernández and Daniel J. Kutscher, members of the Analytical Spectrometry Research Group at the University of Oviedo use Thermo Scientific ICP-MS for sulfur detection in proteins

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that the University of Oviedo’s analytical spectrometry research group has implemented the Thermo Scientific XSERIES 2 ICP-MS to perform reliable and interference-free sulfur detection in proteins. In the past, interference from gas-based polyatomics has made the accurate determination of sulfur isotopes particularly challenging for the research group. The XSERIES 2 ICP-MS has overcome these issues, offering high levels of accuracy while also optimizing the efficiency of analyses.

The analytical spectrometry research group at the University of Oviedo (ES) aims to solve the analytical challenges encountered by science and technology. Within this framework, a small sub-group has been established focusing on the development of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) based analytical methods for the quantification of biopolymers such as DNA and proteins. One of the principal issues faced by the group is the interference from gas-based polyatomics such as oxygen in the determination of sulfur when using a low resolution instrument. To eliminate these problems, the group selected the Thermo Scientific XSERIES 2 ICP-MS with collision/reaction cell technology (CRC).

Quantitative protein analysis is currently one of the most demanding applications in analytical chemistry. Mass spectrometric techniques such as electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) have traditionally played a key role in protein analysis. However, the potential of ICP-MS has recently been recognized for the determination of proteins. Although ICP-MS detection does not provide any structural information, its outstanding capability to quantify most of the elements proves valuable for accurate protein quantification. Keeping pace with the latest technological developments, the University of Oviedo’s research group has coupled the XSERIES 2 ICP-MS with a reversed-phase capillary liquid chromatography (μLC) system to facilitate precise determination of sulfur isotopes in standard proteins.

Dr. Jörg Bettmer of the University of Oviedo’s analytical spectrometry research group comments, “The Thermo Scientific XSERIES 2 ICP-MS was chosen because no other quadrupole-based system matches its capabilities in terms of accuracy, reliability and overall efficiency. The implementation of the instrument has allowed us to achieve reliable, interference-free detection of sulfur isotopes. It has enabled us to determine sulfur-containing standard proteins in an accurate and efficient manner that had not been previously possible.”

The XSERIES 2 offers outstanding productivity in a quadrupole ICP-MS for both routine and high-performance analytical applications. By using the system, laboratories can achieve their analytical objectives faster, with greater confidence and less hands-on time from the operator. The innovative ion lens design of the instrument enables simple field upgrade to collision cell technology (CCT) performance without affecting the normal (non-CCT mode) sensitivity or background. The cell is also compatible with a range of reactive gases, such as pure oxygen for interference suppression in challenging matrices.

Winter Conference Award in Plasma Spectrochemistry

Thermo Fisher Scientific will play a key role in the organization of the 2012 Winter Conference Award in Plasma Spectrochemistry.  At the 2012 biennial Winter Conference, the company will present the award to the scientist who has made the most noteworthy contribution to the field of plasma spectrochemistry. Prof. Ramon Barnes, who received the award during the 2010 Winter Conference, will chair the scientific committee for the 2012 award. Thermo Fisher Scientific announces that it has extended the deadline for scientists worldwide to submit their applications for the next award in 2012. The closing date for submission is now March 31 2011.

The Winter Plasma Award recognizes achievements in conceptualization and development of novel instrumentation as well as the elucidation of fundamental events or processes involved in plasma spectrochemistry. It also acknowledges the authorship of significant research papers or books that have had an influential role in new advancements as well as outstanding applications that open new fields of use for plasma spectrochemistry. In addition to having their contribution to the field recognized by the scientific community and the industry, the selected scientist will also receive an award of $5000.

The award ceremony will take place during the 2012 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry. The conference will showcase the latest advancements in plasma spectrochemical analysis. The event brings together international scientists experienced in applications, instrumentation and theory to examine recent progress in the field. The conference offers the ideal platform to discuss and examine the continued growth in popularity of plasma sources for atomization and excitation in atomic spectroscopy and ionization in mass spectrometry, and the developments of these discharges.

The inaugural Winter Conference Award in Plasma Spectrochemistry was presented to Ramon Barnes PhD (middle) at the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry in January, 2010 by Gary M. Hieftje, Indiana University (left), and Lothar Rottmann, Thermo Fisher Scientific (right).

Lothar Rottmann, global support manager inorganic mass spectrometry at Thermo Fisher Scientific, commented: “Thermo Fisher Scientific is the leader in plasma spectrochemistry instrumentation and our company is pleased to sponsor this industry award. The Winter Conference award complements our objectives for advancement and innovation, and we look forward to honoring scientists who are making significant breakthroughs in this field.”

Is honey always pure?

Reliable method for rapid and accurate analysis of trace elements in honey

Thermo Fisher Scientific has a new robust, reliable method for analysis of trace elements in honey by atomic absorption. The Thermo Scientific iCE 3500 atomic absorption spectrometer offers a unique dual atomizer design which allows automatic, efficient and safe switching between flame and graphite furnace analyses without the need for user intervention or alignment adjustment. By utilising the system’s flame and furnace methods, users can undertake both high level and low level analyses on the same instrument. The flame sample introduction system is able to efficiently run dissolved honey samples without blockage or contamination, while the furnace system handles acid digested samples with ease. The method is described in a new application note, entitled “The Analysis of Trace Elements in Honey by Flame and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry,” available for download at www.thermoscientific.com/App-Note-43060.  

Honey is a natural product produced by bees in widely differing vegetation zones and climates worldwide. In the European Union, honey must adhere to strict composition criteria, including sugar, moisture and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content to ensure the quality and safety of products for consumption. In addition, honeys from certain geographical regions or botanical sources merit higher prices than others and checking the product’s authenticity is now a significant area of analytical testing. Generally, in Western Europe, the United States and Japan, honey imported from the Far East or South America has a lower price than locally produced honey and is therefore prone to mislabeling. It is the primary responsibility of the industry to ensure that honey intended for exports is processed and analyzed to ensure that it does not contain any elements that can pose health risks.

The viscous and sugary nature of honey makes it a difficult substance for quantitative trace elemental analysis. This new application note demonstrates how flame and graphite furnace absorption spectrometry can be utilized to facilitate faster analysis while reducing operational costs. The iCE 3500 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer is a permanently aligned, true dual atomizer enabling rapid switching between flame and furnace methods without user intervention resulting in improved productivity. The instrument is also the only spectrometer on the market to offer both Deuterium and Zeeman background correction providing guaranteed performance and flexible interference-free furnace analysis. The advanced integrated furnace autosampler also speeds up analysis by automatically preparing working standards from a single master standard and adds matrix modifiers to samples prior to analysis.

The iCE 3500 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer provides outstanding performance and flexibility in an easy-to-use and compact system. The Graphite Furnace TeleVision (GFTV) furnace vision system offers high definition images of the events taking place inside the graphite furnace cuvette for optimized sample deposition and method development. Concurrent operation of the furnace, and autosampler sampling procedures minimizes the overall furnace cycle, while the high precision, double beam optics of the iCE 3500 provide low detection limits and analytical stability.  

New biobank poster

The benefits of integrating comprehensive solutions for biobanks
Thermo Fisher Scientific is offering a new technical poster demonstrating its comprehensive portfolio of offerings for biobanks and biorepositories. Thermo Fisher Scientific has the world's largest breadth of offerings for biobanks, from biospecimen collection, processing, testing and storage to sample and data management. The new poster, The Cure for Your Biobanking Informatics Challenges, was authored by senior technical managers from Thermo Fisher Scientific and highlights the growing need for modern biobanks to find efficient and cost-effective methods of storing and accessing samples.

The new poster outlines how the company's work with some of the world's most renowned biobanks, including UK Biobank and HUNT Biobank, has enabled it to feature a range of expertise in its biobanking module. It also demonstrates how Thermo Fisher Scientific solutions allow customers to get up-to-speed quickly with the flexibility to meet individual requirements and business needs. The company's end-to-end portfolio for biobanks includes centrifuges,
concentrators, freezers, robotics, 2D barcodes, microplate readers, mass spectrometers and comprehensive services that enable turn-key biobanking solutions.

In addition, the poster highlights the company's innovative services and software for biorepositories, including laboratory information management systems, laboratory equipment and storage and related services. The emergence of biobanking modules that facilitate integration with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) provide biobanks with the tools needed to manage sample login, tracking and shipping as well as securely store critical donor information. Thermo Scientific Nautilus LIMS biospecimen tracking software is specifically designed for data capture, location management, chain-of-custody and handling assurance requirements. Furthermore, this information can be integrated with laboratory instruments, assay/test request, and results capture and reporting.

LIMS in Northern Ireland

Thermo Fisher Scientific Implements Enterprise-Level LIMS for Northern Ireland Water

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that Northern Ireland Water (NI Water), the sole provider of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland, has standardized on Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS (laboratory information management system) across its laboratories as part of its continuous focus on improving sample management and maintaining the highest quality water. SampleManager LIMS is used to manage more than 150,000 samples per year taken from reservoirs, water treatment works and directly from the taps in consumers' homes. NI Water's state-of-the-art laboratories carry out the necessary testing to ensure that drinking water is safe for consumption and meets all regulatory and quality standards.

Standardizing on SampleManager LIMS across its laboratories allows NI Water to maintain the highest levels of testing and consistency in results. To enhance the quality of the test methods and to reduce time associated with collecting and logging field samples, NI Water has integrated a new handheld remote sampler with SampleManager LIMS. This allows field samples to be taken, results recorded and input directly into the LIMS, saving time, ensuring the quality of the sample at log-in, and reducing manual transcription errors as well as providing a secure record of sampler locations.

Remote Sampler, developed by CSols, is already in pilot usage with customers across Europe and in British-based water companies, who are using Remote Sampler with existing SampleManager LIMS installations. The introduction of Remote Sampler at NI Water extends the use of SampleManager LIMS to field applications, thus allowing more samples to be processed by in-the-field sampling. Because Remote Sampler reduces the time necessary to collect and log-in a sample, it enables more efficient use of laboratory resources, as well as consistent compliance with various regulatory requirements for documented processes, such as those defined by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) for the Water Industry.

"We have introduced Remote Sampler in the field for all our water quality samplers. Remote Sampler runs on rugged handheld computers and integrates seamlessly with Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS. The use of Remote Sampler allows us to ensure that all samples taken in the field are accurately recorded, taken where they are claimed to be, and inputted into the LIMS at source. This saves time and facilitates data management," said Gareth Maxwell, LIMS and Compliance Reporting Manager for NI Water. "With SampleManager LIMS in place and our investment in remote sampling, NI Water is setting the benchmark in the future of water testing in Europe. This solution puts NI Water in the leading edge of extracting real benefits from our quality testing programme. NI Water will have better sampling audits than most other UK water utilities currently."

"We're delighted with the working relationship that we have with Gareth and the rest of the staff at Northern Ireland Water. It has enabled us to focus on exactly what is required to make our sampling software work effectively in a busy routine environment which is tightly regulated," said Dr. Phil Goddard, CEO of CSols. "Integration with SampleManager LIMS has proved to be straightforward and robust."

NI Water is a Government Owned Company (GoCo) set up in April 2007 to provide the water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland. It supplies 625 million liters of clean water every day for nearly 1.7 million people and treats 134 million m3 of wastewater each year. NI Water has equipped its laboratories with the technologies and infrastructure that allow it to deliver the highest quality water which consistently meets all regulatory and quality standards for consumption. SampleManager LIMS integrated with Remote Sampler has improved the efficiency and security of data entry as samples are taken in the various field locations, and greatly assisted sample identification and tracking. As all samples are now recorded on a single electronic database, the integrated solution has provided NI Water with a means to retrieve and report data in a way that would not have been previously possible, while also ensuring the integrity of the field samples at log-in.

"The integration of the Remote Sampler with SampleManager LIMS illustrates the broad partnership opportunities inherent in any collaborative relationship with Thermo Fisher Scientific," says Dave Champagne, vp and general manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific - Informatics. "Thermo Fisher's long standing partnership with CSols enabled this solution to be delivered to NI Water, a solution which now serves as a template for other water agencies or public service companies around the world. And the configurability of SampleManager LIMS, allowing for workflow customization in any industry setting, as well as its ability to be easily integrated with any kind of laboratory instrumentation or ERP system, further enabled this new Remote Sampler solution to be realized. The ultimate benefits belong to NI Water and other companies at the forefront of solving pressing industry challenges."

Another global informatics partner

Thermo Fisher Scientific has extended its reach across Central Europe by making Vialis AG the latest member of its Informatics Global Partner Alliance. Vialis AG, based in Switzerland, will provide local services and support for the full range of Thermo Scientific informatics solutions, including laboratory information management systems, chromatography data systems, electronic laboratory notebooks and spectroscopy software, as well as comprehensive laboratory automation and integration solutions.

Vialis has built a unique business consultancy based on providing technology and support solutions that deliver on the goal of creating a “paperless lab.” By understanding their customers’ business processes and goals, Vialis offers a complete solution to meet objectives. Through its partnership with Thermo Fisher, they can now provide world-class Thermo Scientific informatics solutions to customers that are assembling a paperless lab. The company will provide full sales, operational and administrative support for the complete portfolio of Thermo Scientific informatics products.

"Our customers will benefit from this new partnership with the global service and sales teams at Thermo Fisher Scientific. By offering best-in-class Thermo Scientific Informatics software, we are able to provide our customers with a comprehensive solution for managing their data and helping ensure that their laboratory workflow meets the demanding business and regulatory requirements in life sciences and other industries,” said Dr. Ulf Fuchslueger, CEO, Vialis AG (pic right).

Dave Champagne, vice president and general manager for Thermo Fisher’s Informatics business, said: “Thermo Fisher’s Global Partner Alliance Program brings together the expertise of sales and services organizations around the world, allowing Thermo Scientific Informatics solutions to be delivered to private and public sector businesses across the broadest range of industries. Vialis offers expertise in life sciences process optimization, specifically in the paperless lab concepts, integrating many normally stand-alone solutions in a single workflow. Our partnership with Vialis will allow us to offer local support and service to an important scientific center in Europe and help us build on our commitment to provide leadership and innovation to the industry.”

Microanalysis in Britin

New sales and support office for microanalysis business in Britain

Thermo Fisher Scientific has established a sales and support office for microanalysis products sold in Great Britain. It is located at the company's headquarters in Hemel Hempstead, and will focus on providing local customers with superior sales and service support within the British marketplace.

This announcement is particularly relevant to electron microscopy laboratories operating within the area that seek maximum productivity and accuracy from microanalysis and who require systems that are intuitive and easy to use. The entire microanalysis product line including Noran System 7, Ultradry, MagnaRay and QuasOR, will be supplied and supported via this office through a direct sales team of five technical sales specialists and a local, fully trained service group.

The Thermo Scientific microanalysis product range offers a complete portfolio of analytical instrumentation required for electron microscopy from the Noran System 7, to the recently launched QuasOr EBSD. The new system is an industry first combining Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy (WDS) capabilities in a single software interface. The QuasOr is fully integrated into the Noran System 7 platform, ensuring ease-of-use for new users already familiar with EDS and WDS and providing simultaneous collection of EBSD, EDS and WDS. The capacity of this combined system to perform analysis, data collection and report generation without switching between programmes will facilitate a significant improvement in speed, reporting and overall efficiency.

Mike Jost, vice president and general manager of molecular spectroscopy and microanalysis, Thermo Fisher Scientific, comments: "The new sales and support office for microanalysis products signifies our commitment to supporting customers in the region. Thermo Fisher Scientific has a long history of innovation that has led to the first truly integrated microanalysis system, providing our customers with the optimal combination of detectors, software and electronics."

The new QuasOr EBSD allows the industry, for the first time, to combine the use of EBSD, WDS and EDS platforms in one system. The sales office will be integrated into the Elemental Analysis group which currently sells and supports similar technologies including ICP, ICP-MS and XRF.

Metals analysis

New integrated OES and X-ray solution for rapid and accurate metals Analysis
Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched an integrated solution for the metals industry combining the power of wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) with optical emission spectrometry (OES). The solution optimizes the their ARL OPTIM'X WDXRF slag analyzer in combination with the 3460 Advantage OES metals analyzer. This unique pairing for foundries and metal processing companies offers effective analyses of metallurgic slags and alloys by WDXRF, and quick and accurate investigation of solid metals by OES. With this new Thermo Scientific product offering primary and secondary metals producers are able to utilize two techniques at once and undertake total quality analyses with ease.

Thermo Scientific products offer the most comprehensive systems for the complete analysis of metals and non-metals in iron and steel production. OES provides rapid analysis of carbon and low nitrogen along with all other alloying elements in irons and steel while XRF offers most reliable and repeatable analysis of metallurgical slags, raw materials, including iron ores and sinters and cast irons. In addition, XRF assures high repeatability which makes the technique effective for the control of major elements and expensive alloying elements.

The ARL OPTIM'X spectrometer is a compact, cost effective and reliable XRF solution for all non-metallic samples as well as major and minor elements in metals. As well as providing lowest cost of ownership for a WDXRF instrument with practically no peripheral support (neither internal nor external water cooling, nor compressed air), the ARL OPTIM'X slag analyzer allows quick sample preparation and fast analysis. In addition to common oxides such as CaO, SiO2, MgO, Na2O, Al2O3, S, K2O, Fe2O3, the instrument is capable of analyzing fluorine in slags wherever needed. Slags can be analyzed both as directly cast slags and as pressed pellets after grinding and pelletization. Fusion beads can also be used for ultimate accuracy and control.

The ARL 3460 Advantage spectrometer is one of the most established OES instruments in the metals industry. Based on decades of experience and continuous improvements, this instrument provides an ideal solution for foundries and metal producers. Offering increased reliability and stability, the ARL 3460 Advantage ensures trouble-free operation with minimal maintenance costs over the entire lifetime of the instrument. With optical configuration optimized to cover most of the analytical requirements in a foundry, users benefit from the highest quality technology to ensure improved metals analysis in terms of quality and productivity in addition to low operational costs.

The ARL OPTIM'X and ARL 3460 Advantage are delivered with factory calibrations for immediate operation and use. Both instruments are driven by Thermo Scientific Windows 7-based OXSAS analytical software helping the user quickly learn and operate the two instruments. Comprehensive training can be provided on both instruments after installation eliminating the need for two separate interventions. They can also be fully automated with ARL SMS solutions for on-line unattended analysis when fast 24/7 throughput is required.