Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies and Applied Biosystems, have introduced the Agilent SureSelect Target Enrichment System, which is optimised for the SOLiD System, a next-generation advanced genomic analysis sequencing platform. As part of the agreement, the companies are co-marketing the SureSelect system, a research tool for efficiently re-sequencing specific regions of interest in the genome. The tool saves researchers tremendous amounts of time and expense, often enabling them to conduct studies that would otherwise not be feasible. In advance of the commercialisation, the SureSelect Target Enrichment System was made available to a number of research scientists using the SOLiD System on an early-access basis, including Dr. John McPherson, Cancer Genomics director at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR).

Agilent Technologies has announced the availability of pesticides and toxicology application kits to improve workflow and productivity in food, environmental and forensic markets. During the past four decades Agilent has taken an active role in developing methods that have evolved into global industry standards. More than 60 quick-start application kits bring this knowledge into labs, improving workflows and accelerating the implementation of new technology with minimal disruption to current laboratory operations. The new application kits include the latest techniques to improve productivity in the laboratory such as GC capillary flow technology, deconvolution reporting and large GCMS and LCMS screening databases to speed up data review and analysis. The application kits include a method of analysis, the analytical column and a documentation pack with a quick-start guide.

Agilent Technologies has announced the introduction of its SurePrint G3 Microarrays. These third-generation Agilent microarrays contain up to one million probes on a standard 1” x 3” glass slide. Initial applications are array-based comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH) and copy number variation (CNV), with other applications to follow. “We’re excited to launch the new SurePrint G3 Microarrays as they will address our customers’ needs for higher resolution CGH/CNV data while providing a lower cost per data point,” said Chris Grimley, Agilent senior marketing director, Genomics. “In addition, with the launch of this product we’ve significantly increased our manufacturing capacity, enabling us to meet the rapidly growing demand for Agilent’s microarrays.” The new generation SurePrint G3 arrays continue to deliver the sensitivity and flexibility that Agilent microarrays have become known for.

Agilent Technologies has introduced a major upgrade to its electronic lab notebook (ELN). Kalabie ELN version 4.0, contains new functions to: expedite decision-making, manage analytical requests, and increase collaboration between colleagues. Kalabie 4.0 contains a new Smart Import function, enabling users to automatically import data from a wide range
of chromatography data systems (CDS), including Agilent’s ChemStation and any ACAML/ANiML based CDS. Kalabie 4.0 is also compatible with Agilent OpenLAB Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system for additional calculations such as correction factors or purity determination. This is designed to help analysts make faster and better decisions, reducing time between experiment and final result.

Agilent Technologies has introduced Agilent Functional Verification Service (FVS) for users of Agilent gas chromatographs (GC) or liquid chromatographs (LC) who are seeking or maintaining accreditation under ISO/IEC 17024 or similar quality management conditions. “Agilent has the industry’s most extensive experience providing compliance services for regulated pharmaceutical QA/QC labs,” said Angel Martin,
compliance product manager, Agilent Services and Support Division. “There is tremendous value in making this expertise available to labs in other sectors who must meet today’s demanding requirements for testing and calibration.” Agilent’s
new FVS provides factory-recommended equipment maintenance of Agilent GCs and LCs, followed by metrology testing that confirms the accuracy and calibration of critical system functions.

Agilent Technologies introduced SampliQ QuEChERS kits that simplify sample preparation for analysing pesticide residues in fruits, vegetables and processed food products. “QuEChERS,” developed by USDA scientists in 2003, stands for “Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe.” Agilent’s SampliQ QuECh-ERS Kits make these methods even faster and easier with premeasured reagents designed for specific food sample types and screening protocols. These include extraction kits and dispersive solid phase extraction (SPE) clean-up kits. Agilent provides kits for the original non-buffered QuEChERS method, European standard (EN 15662) method and a standard recognised by the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC 2007.01).

Agilent Technologies has announced that its recently introduced Direct Drive Robot was recognised by the Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA) as one of the top three outstanding new products at LabAutomation2009. The Direct Drive Robot advances high-throughput screening for drug-discovery research and can also be used in genomics applications, including DNA extraction and PCR sample preparation. The direct drive technology combined with powerful VWorks
Automation Control software enables best-in-class automation solutions. “We are very pleased to be recognised by the Association for Laboratory Automation with this prestigious award,” said Michael Nemzek, head of marketing, Agilent Automation Solutions Division. “This acknowledgement by our peers is a testament to the innovative spirit and
passion that drives our division.”

Agilent Automation Solutions, formerly Velocity11, has released a technical note (http://www.chem.agilent.com/Library/technicaloverviews/
Public/5990-3558EN.pdf) that describes a new
automated method for isolation of total RNA in a 96-well format using their Bravo Automated Liquid Handling Platform and Absolutely RNA96 Microprep Kit from Strategene. The Strategene Absolutely RNA Microprep Kit allows high
throughput isolation of total RNA from small samples of cultured cells. This simple method eliminates toxic phenol-chloroform extractions and time-consuming ethanol precipitations
by selectively binding RNA from cell lysate on 96-well silica fibre matrix plates. The Bravo Platform is shown to provide a reliable, efficient solution for automatically handling the multiple steps in total
RNA isolation using the Absolutely RNA 96 Microprep kit.

Agilent Technologies has announced a new low thermal mass (LTM) system for rapid heating and cooling of its 7890A gas chromatograph (GC), greatly increasing productivity by
significantly reducing analytical cycle times. This option is also available for the older Agilent 6890 GC. Agilent acquired this proprietary LTM technology with the purchase of RVM Scientific in June 2008. The patented design involves wrapping heating elements and temperature sensors directly around the GC column, enabling dramatically faster emperature cycles compared to standard oven-based configurations. “Customers constantly tell us they want to run more samples per shift, and our new LTM delivers this in a big way,” said Shanya Kane, Agilent vice president and general manager, Gas Chromatography Systems and Workflow Automation.

Available from Velocity11, an Agilent Technologies company, is a datasheet (www.velocity11.com/files/File/DNAPurification-
Sequencing.pdf) that describes an automated system for DNA purification and sequencing based on the company’s popular BioCel platform. The long and complex pipetting protocols needed for DNA preparation present a challenge for many laboratory automation systems. Velocity11 has designed a Bio-Cel system configuration that addresses these challenges using an automation system built around its VPrep high-speed precision pipetting technology. With its versatile shelf configuration options, the VPrep is ideally suited for complex pipetting sequences, while at the same time delivering very high throughput.

Agilent Technologies has announced the release of eArray 5.4 online microarray design tool, which enables users to design custom microRNA (miRNA) microarrays. Researchers can use Agilent’s pre-designed human, mouse or rat miRNA probes, or access miRNA sequences for all 87 species in Sanger 12.0 in the designs of their miRNA microarrays. Agilent also announced updates to its human and mouse microarrays, miRNA Release 12.0, which contain the latest probes from Sanger miRBASE 12.0 database. Like all Agilent miRNA microarrays, these include about 15,000 features and are printed eight-arrays-per-slide. “The miRNA community is eager to profile more miRNAs and we’re enabling researchers to do this rapidly on a proven microarray platform with robust, user-friendly protocols,” said Sangita Parikh, Agilent miRNA product manager.