New products from Beckman at Pittcon

Beckman Coulter has developed three products, the ProteomeLab IgG Purity/Heterogeneity assay; the Allegra X-12 Series benchtop centrifuges; and the AD 200 absorbance detector to be launched at Pittcon 2004.

The first is a new assay that automates the characterisation and purity evaluation of IgG compounds, widely used as diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies. The ProteomeLab IgG Purity/Heterogeneity assay is offered in a kit format with a validated standard operating protocol (SOP). It includes all the necessary chemistry components to resolve both native and reduced immunoglobulins by size and to quantify the heterogeneity and impurities present. This new assay, based on capillary electrophoresis (CE) technology, provides information critical to the development and quality control of IgG-based biologics. The IgG assay is validated for operation on Beckman Coulter's automated ProteomeLab PA-800 protein characterisation system.

'IgG-based products make up a high percentage of the biologics currently in clinical trials,' explains Jeff Chapman. 'Leading biotechnology companies were involved in both the definition and testing of this new assay to ensure that it would meet the industry's challenging demands.'

Gel electrophoresis has traditionally been used to characterise IgG, but these manual assays are not quantitative. On the other hand, the new assay is fully automated and provides reliable, quantitative results. It also features an antibody control engineered to contain a fixed percentage of impurities typically found in IgG production. This control is used to test the suitability of the assay prior to running unknowns. The assay's high-resolution gel resolves all major impurities including baseline resolution of the non-glycosylated heavy chain.

The Allegra X-12 series benchtop centrifuges can be used to streamline cell separations. The X-12R and X-12 spin up to 4 x 750 mL and feature new cell culture flask adapters, which enable direct centrifugation of cell culture flasks. By eliminating the transfer step to and from conical tubes for cell concentration, the adapters save time and expense and reduce the potential for contamination.

The Allegra X-12 series incorporates Beckman Coulter's exclusive Aries smart balance rotor technology, which automatically corrects imbalance (up to 50 grams in opposing loads) and continues the run without shutdown. Standard and Aries versions of the X-12 swinging bucket rotor are available. Optional adapters accommodate a range of popular labware including Corning 75cm² and 25cm² canted-neck cell culture flasks, 250 mL and 500 mL conical tubes, 15mL and 50mL conical tubes and vacutainer tubes. For biocontainment, covers and Aerosolve clear canisters for the round swinging buckets, as well as the 6x100mL fixed angle rotor, are all certified by CAMR , Porton Down, UK. An optional microplate carrier is also available.

Barbara Keeler, product marketing manager for Beckman Coulter, commented: 'As the flagship for our product line, this new benchtop centrifuge offers unique features that not only streamline cell and general separations, but also make the Allegra X-12 Series easy to use.'

The X-12 Series' interface ensures ease of use, with a numeric keypad that enables direct entry of values. The software provides up to ten user-defined programs and controls temperature for as long as ten minutes after the rotor stops. The series is offered in two models - refrigerated (for selectable temperature in the range of -10˚C to 40˚C) and constant controlled temperature (preset to ensure a temperature range of 18˚C to 22˚C).

Thirdly, Beckman Coulter has developed the AD 200 absorbance detector for pharmaceutical and life science research applications. This high precision monochromator-based system is ideal for assays requiring detection in the low UV range, including DNA quantitation and characterisation. The AD 200 can read 6- to 384-well microplates and cuvettes, and comes with preprogrammed cuvette assays for common applications such as DNA concentration and purity. The instrument's software provides spectral scanning capability as well as comprehensive analysis of endpoint, kinetic, linear scan and area scan measurements. The AD 200 features linear shaking and temperature control and is available in two models, a stand-alone instrument or one with remote PC control.

'The introduction of the AD 200 expands our growing line of flexible, high performance detection solutions and enables Beckman Coulter to better serve the dynamic needs of our customers,' explained Matt Maloney, product manager for Beckman Coulter.