The virology laboratory at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has selected the Biomerieux Nuclisens Easymag for extraction of total nucleic acids from samples requiring viral screening using PCR quantitation.
The user-friendly Easymag demonstrates improved extraction of RNA viruses and is said to be faster and more flexible than the laboratory's previous equipment.
Pauline Furness, senior biomedical scientist, said: 'Our last instrument seemed to have a problem extracting RNA viruses and, although it could extract 48 samples at a time, it would take four and a half hours to complete a run.
'We have two Easymag instruments, each capable of extracting 24 samples in an hour, which are both in daily use.
'Since we began using them we have seen a considerable increase in sample throughput and a definite improvement in our results,' she added.
Furness said: 'The Easymag reagents are supplied in ready-to-use bottles, eliminating the need for liquid transfer, reducing preparation time and contact with toxic reagents.
'Having the ability to alter the volume of sample picked up and the volume of eluate provides us with more flexibility.
'We chose the Easymag because it was delivering good results in other laboratories, fitting in well and proving flexible.'
