Clinical chemistry analyser installed to bring Strathclyde University Department of Applied Physiology backl on stream just nine months after fire destroyed the entire biochemistry laboratory
In late 2003 a catastrophic fire destroyed the entire biochemistry laboratory at Strathclyde University's Department of Applied Physiology.
Just nine months later the department had a new arrival in the form of the newly launched ABX Pentra 400 bench top clinical chemistry analyser from Horiba ABX.
The new analyser will support the team whose research focuses on human and exercise physiology.
Richard Ferguson, lecturer of exercise physiology, explained the key types of measurements for which the Pentra 400 will be required: "Our team is investigating a number of different topics, such as skeletal muscle energetics and metabolism, and thermoregulation.
"They all require highly accurate analyses of a range of muscle and blood metabolites, and even solutes in sweat from people who have been subjected to differing interventions.
"For such analytes the system's ISE module will prove invaluable".
Since a number of the team's assays require analyses from human skeletal muscle biopsies, where sample volumes are extremely low, high sensitivity of the analyser was crucial.
In addition, the ability to validate and reproduce results for comparative studies was also of great importance to the researchers.
A number of other key factors were taken into consideration during the university's selection process.
"The Pentra 400 will be used for intensive periods of time following completion of experiments where hundreds of samples maybe collected at once.
"As a consequence the department required a system that was suitably reliable and robust to cope with periodic intensive usage", added Ferguson.
"Since the analyser will be used by a number of different researchers at varying time intervals, it has to be easy to use.
"The set up on the computer is very straightforward and with its user programmable channels, the system will allow us to modify assays of our own.
"Now that the lab is back up and running from the ashes, we look forward to pressing 'go' and seeing 400 samples processed an hour following our first experiment in our new facilities very soon," he concluded.
"With over 200 systems already placed around Europe, the new Pentra 400 is proving a great success with users and is enhancing Horiba ABX's position in the field of clinical chemistry," said Cleve Wright, UK manager of Horiba ABX.
"We are very pleased to welcome Strathclyde University into our rapidly expanding ABX Pentra 400 user group."
