November 13, 2007 — /PRNewswire/ — MOORESVILLE, NC — Anpath Group, Inc. reported today that its wholly owned subsidiary, EnviroSystems, Inc. (ESI) announced the selection of its disinfectant EnviroTru(TM) for use by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro).

EnviroTru(TM) is a multi-purpose disinfectant and deodorizing cleaner effective against numerous organisms and also meets EPA requirements for Toxicity Category IV (no harmful dermal, ocular, inhalation, or ingestion effects). ESI reported that Metro recently placed an initial order for more than 600 gallons of the disinfectant.

“It is especially gratifying for our product/technology to be chosen by the transit system serving our nation’s capitol,” states ESI president and CEO J. Lloyd Breedlove. He continues, “EnviroTru(TM) is ideally suited for use in a transit system environment. As a result of its biocidal efficacy combined with its favorable materials compatibility and environmental profile EnviroTru(TM) is a natural choice for heavy traffic areas.”

Metro is the tri-jurisdictional government agency authorized by Congress to operate the transit service in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including the Metrorail and Metrobus; totaling more than 11,000 rail cars, buses, and special means transport vehicles. Metro is also part of the public-private partnership that operates the DC Circulator bus system. Polly Hanson, assistant general manager of Safety, Security and Emergency Management with Metro, states, “We are pleased to have identified and selected a product with the characteristics of EnviroTru(TM). It is important that we make every effort to protect our customers and employees against the spread of infectious diseases without exposing them to harmful chemicals, while also taking into account our equipment and the environment in general.”

ESI states that in addition to daily application of EnviroTru(TM) on high hand contact areas such as door handles, hand rails, fare card machine buttons, etc., in the event of a pandemic flu or other infectious disease outbreak Metro is prepared to use EnviroTru(TM) with the Foster-Miller, Inc. Electrostatic Charged Aerosol Decontamination System (ECADS) (www.fostermiller.com/ecadsproduct.htm) to spray rail cars, buses, and other vehicles daily. ESI worked with Foster-Miller, Inc. to validate the use of its disinfectant with ECADS.

According to Foster-Miller, Inc. representative, Rick Lusignea, “Metro purchased 17 high efficiency air assisted ECADS sprayers from Foster-Miller to dispense EnviroTru(TM).” Lusignea explains, “The ECAD decontamination and remediation system disperses fine electrically charged droplets of decontaminant into the air. Because of the static charge imparted to aerosol particles, ECADS provides a much higher amount of disinfectant on surfaces than conventional air assisted spray systems, approximately 60 percent of the total disinfectant dispensed on the surface for the ECADS sprayer, versus less than 15 percent for conventional sprayers. We think the combination of our ECADS devices and the ESI disinfectant formulation is an extremely strong weapon against disease for Metro.”

About Anpath Group, Inc.
Anpath Group, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary EnviroSystems, Inc., produces cleaning and disinfecting products that it believes will help prevent the spread of infectious microorganisms while minimizing the harmful effects to people, equipment, or the environment. EnviroSystems, Inc. is focused on safe infection prevention technologies that the company believes will position the company in the forefront of the industry at a time when there is rapidly growing awareness of the critical need to prevent biological risks — both natural and man-made.

Source: Anpath Group, Inc.

Visit www.anpathgroup.com

Recall — Firm Press Release

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

November 6, 2007 — /FDA Digest/ — BACONTON, GA — The Hartz Mountain Corp. is voluntarily recalling one specific lot of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats due to concerns that one or more bottles within the lot may have been potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Hartz is fully cooperating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in this voluntary recall.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, all of whom are at particular risk from exposure and should avoid handling these products. Salmonella symptoms may include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea in both cats and humans. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek immediate medical attention. Owners of cats exhibiting these symptoms should also seek veterinary assistance.

The product involved is 3600 bottles of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats, lot code SZ- 1637 1, UPC number 32700-97701, which was manufactured by a third party manufacturer, UFAC (USA), Inc., in Baconton, GA. While normal testing conducted by Hartz and UFAC has not revealed the presence of Salmonella in any Hartz products, sampling conducted by the FDA did detect the presence of Salmonella. Hartz is aggressively investigating the source of the problem.

Although the company has not received any reports of animals or humans becoming ill as a result of coming into contact with this product, Hartz is taking immediate steps to remove the product from all retail stores and distribution centers. Cat owners should check the lot code on their bottles, and, if the code is not visible, or if the bottle has lot code SZ- 16371 imprinted thereon, they should immediately discontinue use of the product and discard it in a proper manner.

Consumers can contact Hartz at 1-800-275-1414 with any questions they may have and to obtain reimbursement for purchased product.

Visit www.fda.gov

November 6, 2007 — /PRNewswire/ — WEST CHESTER, PA — VWR International, LLC, a leading supplier to the global research laboratory industry, today announced that it has acquired Omnilabo International B.V., a Netherlands-based laboratory supply distributor. Omnilabo has 42 employees based in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Manuel Brocke-Benz, senior vice president and managing director of VWR’s European Operations, says, “The acquisition of Omnilabo is a great fit with our Dutch and European distribution operations. Omnilabo is recognized for its considerable expertise in the clinical and laboratory consumables segments, among other areas, which complements our distribution coverage in the Netherlands, Belgium, and throughout Europe. We are very pleased and excited to expand our team with a group of very talented associates who we expect will make an immediate impact on future growth.”

About Omnilabo International B.V.
Located in Breda, the Netherlands, Omnilabo was founded in 1979 in the Netherlands and since 2003 has been owned by Nimbus, a Dutch private equity firm. The business has been engaged throughout its history in the distribution of laboratory and clinical consumables, life science reagents and chromatography products. Omnilabo offers a strong, recognized brand name among healthcare, environmental and industrial scientific customers, in both the public and private sectors. Omnilabo offers a wide portfolio of value-added services in addition to distribution of products and prides itself on its value proposition of providing a “Flexible, Reliable and Personal” service to its customers.

About VWR International, LLC
VWR International is a leader in the global research laboratory industry with worldwide sales of $3.3 billion US dollars. VWR’s business is highly diversified across products and services, geographic regions, and customer segments. The company offers products from a wide range of manufacturers, to a large number of customers primarily in North America, Europe, and other locations. VWR’s principal customers are major pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, technology, clinical, food processing and consumer product companies, universities and research institutes, governmental agencies, environmental testing organizations, and primary and secondary schools. VWR distributes a diversified product mix, including chemicals, glassware and plasticware, equipment and instruments, furniture, protective apparel, production and safety products, and other life science and laboratory products and supplies. VWR supports its customers by providing storeroom management, product procurement, supply chain systems integration, technical services, and laboratory benchtop delivery. VWR maintains operations in over 20 countries and employs over 6,000 people worldwide. VWR International is headquartered in West Chester, PA.

Visit www.vwr.com

Source: VWR International, LLC

November 7, 2007 — LOS ANGELES, CA — At Death Valley for Mission #3 of the Extreme Pipetting Expedition, ARTEL found that pipettes under-deliver by up to 35 percent in dry and hot environments. While volume delivery errors were partially reduced by pre-wetting pipette tips, under-delivery still persisted, and the pipettes were found to operate out of specification in most instances.

Laboratory technicians commonly encounter dry heat in their own work environments, which, although not as extreme as Death Valley, can nonetheless affect pipette performance and compromise assay results. For example, laboratories using analytical instruments, ovens, incubators, freezers, and other devices requiring high power or open flames are prone to heat and low humidity. Heating and air-conditioning systems not equipped with humidifiers may also contribute to dry heat. To ensure pipetting accuracy and precision and strengthen data integrity, it is essential that laboratory scientists understand and compensate for this source of error.

“Laboratories often experience changes in humidity and temperature throughout the course of a year and data may be at risk,” says George Rodrigues, PhD, senior scientific manager, ARTEL. “Humidity and temperature can also vary across laboratories in different regions, between laboratories on different floors, and even in different sections of the same laboratory.”

Like in previous missions, error caused by the environmental conditions at Death Valley was greater when pipettes were set to their minimum volumes than when they were set to their maximum volumes. A two-microliter pipette set to deliver its minimum volume of 0.2 microliter without pre-wetting under-delivered by 34.7 percent. Pre-wetting reduced the error to 30.9 percent, but the pipette was still operating outside its minimum-volume accuracy specification of 12 percent. When set to its maximum volume of two microliters without pre-wetting, the pipette under-delivered by 7.0 percent without pre-wetting and by 4.8 percent with pre-wetting, both outside of the manufacturer’s accuracy specification.

When working with larger liquid volumes, errors were also induced by the hot and dry conditions, but on a smaller magnitude.

Without pre-wetting, a 20-microliter pipette at its minimum volume under-delivered by 16.8 percent, which is a significantly lower inaccuracy than exhibited by a non-pre-wet two-microliter pipette at its minimum volume (34.7 percent error).

Pre-wetting the 20-microliter pipette prior to dispensing its minimum volume of two microliters reduced error to 7.4 percent.

“Based on data taken at Death Valley, we highly recommend pre-wetting pipette tips to reduce volume loss when pipetting in dry and hot environments,” says Doreen Rumery, laboratory technical manager and quality control manager, ARTEL.

Liquid handling error experienced in dry heat is largely due to evaporation. The evaporation of a miniscule amount of liquid inside the pipette tip has a large effect on pipetted volumes, especially when target volumes are in the microliter range.

When one microliter of liquid evaporates, it converts into more than 1,000 microliters of gas, expanding by a factor of 1,250 to 1,450 depending on temperature. This expansion prevents the pipette from aspirating the desired target volume.

A 3.3 million acre desert, Death Valley was selected as the site for Mission #3 because of its iconic hot and dry climate. Surrounded by mountains, the valley captures and retains extreme amounts of heat to create one of the hottest environments on earth, commonly exceeding 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). Death Valley is also the driest locale in the United States, receiving fewer than two inches of rain annually.

The Extreme Pipetting Expedition is a multi-phase, year-long scientific study to illustrate the impact of laboratory environmental conditions on pipetting performance and data integrity. Previous missions explored how barometric pressure and how pipetting warm and cold liquids affect data integrity. More information can be found at www.artel-usa.com/extreme.

About ARTEL
ARTEL is the worldwide leader in liquid handling quality assurance. ARTEL manufactures the most accurate, precise, and easy-to-use systems for ensuring data integrity in liquid volume measurement. ARTEL systems, based on proprietary Ratiometric Photometry, conform to ISO 8655-7 and provide NIST-traceable results. In addition, ARTEL provides liquid handling quality assurance support and consultation services including on-site pipetting technique training and certification for pipette users and laboratory managers, as well as Liquid Handler Performance Verification services for automated laboratories. Since 1982, ARTEL technology has been proven in daily use in thousands of laboratories including pharmaceutical, clinical, forensic, public health and environmental. Leading institutions such as Amgen, ARUP, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Centers for Disease Control, DuPont, Eli Lilly, FBI, Genentech, Genomic Health, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Merck, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble and U.S. FDA depend on ARTEL technology to help them meet their objectives for quality and productivity.

Visit www.artel-usa.com

November 6, 2007 — /PRNewswire/ — GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — STMicroelectronics, one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers, laid the first stone at the site of its future chip packaging and test facility in Longgang, Guangdong Province, China yesterday, in the presence of senior officials of the Shenzhen Municipal government (Xu Zong Heng, Mayor of Shenzhen City and Liu Ying Li, Senior Executive Vice Mayor) and other dignitaries.

ST’s Longgang site has been designed to house up to 40,000 m² of manufacturing space, with a capacity for approximately 5,000 employees, when fully built out. The first 20,000-m² building is expected to be completed by the end of September 2008, followed by the installation of the manufacturing equipment in 4Q08. When complete, the Longgang plant will be among ST’s largest packaging and test facilities worldwide.

In its first year of operation, the Longgang packaging and test plant is expected to produce more than 800 million units. The output can scale to more than 10 billion units per year at full ramp-up, which would represent around 20 percent of ST’s current total backend production. The Longgang plant will primarily assemble and test ST’s industry-leading power conversion devices for use by ST’s customers worldwide.

“The Longgang plant will further strengthen ST’s presence and influence in the world’s fastest growing economic zone, enabling us to better address the expanding needs of both local and foreign customers’ operations in China, in the region, and around the world,” said Alain Dutheil, COO and vice chairman of the corporate executive committee, STMicroelectronics. “The new backend facility will significantly reinforce ST’s world-class manufacturing machine and enhance our competitiveness by expanding our presence in China’s exciting market.”

STMicroelectronics is a long-time leader in the China semiconductor market with a strong integrated presence of manufacturing, design, research, sales, and marketing operations. In 2006, ST was the fourth largest semiconductor supplier in Greater China (China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan).

China is the world’s fastest growing semiconductor market, expected to make up one fifth of the global semiconductor market within the next five years.

About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, intellectual property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the company at the forefront of system-on-chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today’s convergence markets. The company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2006, the company’s net revenues were $9.85 billion and net earnings were $782 million. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

Source: STMicroelectronics

November 6, 2007 — /PRNewswire/ — WASHINGTON, DC — ICx Technologies, a developer of advanced technology solutions for homeland and military security, announced today a contract award to procure its AirSentinel(R) ambient aerosol sensors for detection of airborne biological threats. The AirSentinel sensors, developed with support from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), will be deployed as part of the protective capability for the Department of Defense.

“Timely identification and containment of airborne biological agents is essential to protecting people from dangerous threats,” says Colin Cumming, president of ICx Detection. “By working closely with DARPA and DTRA, we have developed a ground-breaking bio-threat detection technology that is both affordable and effective for critical infrastructure protection.”

AirSentinel is a continuous monitoring system that quickly detects changes in concentration of ambient aerosol particles that have characteristics indicative of a potential bio-threat. In addition, AirSentinel is capable of collecting a concentrated sample of those aerosols for subsequent identification when an aerosol event is detected. Networks of sensors are able to quickly and effectively detect when a release of a biological agent occurs, pinpoint the location of the source of that release, and trace the spread of contamination.

Easily integrated into building monitoring and control systems, AirSentinel provides a cost-effective bio-threat detection solution for commercial facilities, operating within a network configuration to form the frontline of a building’s bio-threat detection system.

ICx received official notice from the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) on Sept. 4, 2007, that its patent number 7,265,669 B2 has been issued. This patent covers AirSentinel’s core technology, which is based on ultraviolet light-induced fluorescence of aerosols. Also covered is the use of these sensors in a sensor network.

About ICx Technologies(TM)
ICx develops advanced technologies for effective security solutions. ICx sensors detect and identify chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) materials. ICx surveillance products discern people and objects invisible to human senses and conventional cameras. ICx software and systems connect, command and control these security devices, while its intelligence and special-operations experts provide the unique insight that drives the company’s innovation. ICx has manufacturing and research facilities in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Source: ICx Technologies

November 6, 2007 — PARSIPPANY, NJ — DSM Pharmaceuticals Inc., a leading global supplier of pharmaceutical manufacturing services, announces today that it has expanded its service offerings to include formulation development and clinical trial manufacturing (CTM ) for solid dosage form products.

Averaging more than 20 product launches per year, DSM has a 37 year history of successfully manufacturing complex solid dosage forms for the commercial pharmaceutical market. “This expansion of services will have significant value-added
benefits to our customers in terms of reducing cost and accelerating time to market as they will be able to avoid the high cost of tech transfers required for commercial launch by conducting development, CTM and commercial manufacturing all at DSM’s Greenville, NC facilities,” says Terry Novak, president and business unit director of DSM Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

DSM Pharmaceutical Development Services will include:

• Preformulation
• Analytical Development
• Stability studies
• Formulation Development
• NCE formulation development
• Reformulations for line extensions
• Controlled and Modified release
• Controlled Substances
• Clinical Trial Supply

November 3, 2007 — /USDA News/ — WASHINGTON, DC — Cargill Meat Solutions Corp., a Wyalusing, PA, firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,084,384 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 80/20 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.
• 3-pound packages of “Century Farm 80/20 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.
• 1-pound packages of “Century Farm 80/20 Ground Beef.” Each
  package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.
• 1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 85/15 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.
• 3-pound packages of “Century Farm 90/10 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.
• 1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 90/10 Ground Beef Patties.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.
• 1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 90/10 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.
• 1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 93/7 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

[Editor’s note: For a complete list of products included in the recall, please visit www.usda.gov or www.cargill.com.]

Each package or label bears the establishment number “Est. 9400” inside the USDA mark of inspection. As the use/freeze-by dates for products subject to this recall have expired, consumers are urged to look in their freezers for these products and return or discard them if found.

In addition to the above listed products, there are various weights and varieties of ground beef, ground chuck, and ground sirloin product that are distributed for further processing and repackaging and will not bear the recalling firm’s establishment number on the package.

The ground beef products subject to recall were produced between Oct. 8 and 11, 2007, and were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.

The problem was discovered by FSIS through follow-up investigation and sampling after a positive E. coli O157:H7 at another federal establishment. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company toll-free hotline at (877) 455-1034. Media with questions about the recall should call company Director of Media Relations for Cargill Lori Fligge at (952) 742-2275.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at www.AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

Note:
USDA RECALL CLASSIFICATIONS
Class I — This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.
Class II — This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.
Class III — This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.

——-
Preparing ground beef for safe consumption

Wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Wash cutting boards, dishes, and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

Keep raw meat, fish, and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry, and egg products and cooked foods.

Consumers should only eat ground beef or ground beef patties that have been cooked to a safe internal temperature of 160