Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched its updated Clearvue coverslipper.
The instrument is said to provide increased ease of use and enhanced tissue positioning to improve consistency in cytogenetics, immunohistochemistry and cytology laboratories.
The latest instrument ensures that coverslips are positioned correctly in relation to the slides and tissue without user intervention, improving laboratory workflow and increasing throughput.
By enabling a smoother workflow, coverslipper enhancements help ensure that patients receive faster, more accurate diagnoses for diseases such as cancer.
The Thermo Scientific Clearvue coverslipper works by covering the portion of the slide containing tissue using a thin glass coverslip and applying a clear synthetic mounting medium to act as a bond.
The latest instrument has the capability to manage up to 11 slide racks simultaneously and automatically adjusts mountant volume, allowing a smooth workflow.
The upgraded Clearvue coverslipper ensures the correct positioning of slides by featuring an enhanced gripper return plate with an extended front face.
Consistent coverslip dispensing is enabled by a steel motor pulley that also increases durability.
Software upgrades allow the easy adjustment of slide visibility levels and the dependable covering of all slides.
The instrument offers particular benefits to the cytology industry by minimising bubble formation without the need for excessive mountant.
This makes the Clearvue instrument suitable for the coverslipping of thin-layer, liquid-based cytology slides that have raised fiducial marks.
The Clearvue coverslipper is a complete coverslipping system in one instrument and is accompanied by a range of approved laboratory consumables, including the Clearvue mountant and 1.0 coverglass hoppers.
By utilising pre-filled hoppers, the loading and changing of coverslips is quick and easy, negating the risk of environmental contamination, fingerprints or glass cuts.
Clearvue coverslips are designed to ease dispensing and reduce the risk of jamming caused by moisture contamination.
Thermo Fisher offers training and maintenance services to Clearvue product users.
Training is provided on operation and best practices for daily and weekly maintenance, and is documented and certified for laboratory records.
The company also performs pre-demo checks to ensure the use of the correct slide baskets, mountant and coverslips, as well as the existence of a xylene-rich atmosphere, which must be maintained to prevent drying and guarantee consistency.
