July 17, 2007 — WESTBROOK, ME — Data taken at Yellowstone National Park during Mission #2 of the ARTEL Extreme Pipetting Expedition show that pipettes deliver volumes inaccurate by up to 37 percent when handling fluids at temperatures different from the pipettes. Called thermal disequilibrium, this source of error is prevalent in today’s laboratories, as many assays and tests require the addition of liquids that are warmer or colder than the laboratory environment and the actual pipettes. Yellowstone was selected for Mission #2 of the Expedition because it is emblematic of thermal variation and disequilibrium. The Extreme Pipetting Expedition is a multi-phase, year-long scientific study to investigate and illustrate the impact of laboratory conditions on data integrity.

ARTEL is releasing the results from Mission #2 of the Extreme Pipetting Expedition at the 2007 AACC Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, San Diego, CA, July 17-19, Booth #4143. The data will also be published at www.artel-usa.com/extreme.

“From our testing at Yellowstone, it is clear that pipettes show a bias in volume delivery when dispensing fluids at different temperatures, and the error is especially significant when handling small liquid quantities,” says George Rodrigues, PhD, senior Scientific manager at ARTEL and Expedition leader. “Laboratories must account for this variation to ensure good accuracy and precision in test results.”

Data taken at Yellowstone show that error caused by thermal disequilibrium was most significant when using smaller volume pipettes at their minimum volumes. For example, a 2-microliter variable-volume pipette set to deliver 0.2 microliters over-delivered cold liquid (3 degrees Celsius) by 37 percent and under-delivered warm liquid (45 degrees Celsius) by 24 percent, compared with liquid at room temperature (21 degrees Celsius). When set to deliver its maximum volume (2 microliters), the pipette over-delivered cold liquid by one percent and under-delivered warm liquid by 7 percent.

As expected, error was present, but smaller, when working with larger liquid volumes. The 20-microliter pipette set to deliver two microliters over-delivered cold liquid by 4 percent. When the pipette was set to deliver its maximum volume of 20 microliters, the over-delivery amounted to 0.6 percent.

“There are not many laboratory managers who would knowingly accept error of more than a few percent, let alone error of 37 percent,” says Doreen Rumery, quality control manager at ARTEL and Extreme Pipetting Expedition member. “Yet many technicians frequently pipette warm and cold liquids in critical testing and assay work without accounting for volume variation.”

The aim of the Extreme Pipetting Expedition is to raise awareness about common laboratory extremes that can affect data quality, including the thermal disequilibrium phenomenon. Restriction enzymes used in nucleic acid work, for example, are frequently handled at ice temperature (0 degrees Celsius), and higher temperatures are encountered when handling mammalian cell cultures (37 degrees Celsius) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) solutions (60 degrees Celsius or higher).

The resulting volume differences can be explained by the air displacement operation of pipettes. The dead air volume in pipettes acts to pull liquid into the pipette tip. When inserting the pipette tip into warm fluid, the air inside the tip is at ambient temperature. During aspiration, the pipette tip heats up, causing the air to expand and push liquid out of the tip. This causes less liquid to be dispensed, leading to variation between the target and delivered volumes. The opposite occurs when pipetting cold liquids.

“Since the magnitude of error is dependent on a number of protocol-specific details, such as pipetting speed and type of sample container, a one-size-fits-all correction factor does not currently exist,” says Rodrigues. “ARTEL will continue to study thermal disequilibrium to help laboratories develop strategies to minimize this source of error.”

The naturally unstable conditions at Yellowstone exemplified the challenges laboratories face with sometimes unpredictable or uncharacterized changes in the testing environment. For example, humidity and ambient air temperature greatly fluctuated through stages of the testing, leading to volume variation and, in some cases, inability to isolate fluid temperature as the source of error. Affected data were not reported. To reduce environmental variation, ARTEL repeated the testing in a controlled laboratory and summarized the results in a poster entitled “Errors Associated with Pipetting Warm and Cold Liquids,” which is available for download at www.artel-usa.com/extreme.

Volumes were measured using the ARTEL PCS(R) (Pipette Calibration System), a portable, robust measurement technology based on ratiometric photometry. The system is unaffected by the environment and is highly accurate and precise, even at small volumes.

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. For more information, contact ARTEL at 25 Bradley Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092; Tel: 207-854-0860; Fax: 207-854-0867; web site: www.artel-usa.com.

July 17, 2007 — SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Following its change of ownership in May 2007 from The Linde Group, BOC Edwards announced today at SEMICON West that it will become Edwards, effective immediately.

“As a leading supplier of vacuum, abatement, chemical management equipment, and services to the world’s semiconductor OEMs and fabs, Edwards will continue to provide superior technology and global service and support to its customers worldwide,” says Nigel Hunton, CEO, Edwards. “With the support of our new owners, CCMP Capital, we intend to invest in growing Edwards as a newly independent, privately owned company, offering greater responsiveness and flexibility to surpass our customers expectations.”

Edwards is the global vacuum technology company that industry has known and trusted for nearly 100 years. Founded by F.D. Edwards in 1919, Edwards High Vacuum International was acquired by The BOC Group in 1968 and became BOC Edwards in 1997. The BOC Group was acquired by The Linde Group in September 2006.

CCMP Capital purchased BOC Edwards’ equipment business from The Linde Group in May 2007. This newly independent, privately owned company will now be known to the industry as Edwards — a global company with more than 4,000 skilled employees.

visit www.edwardsvacuum.com for more information about the company.

About Edwards
Edwards (formerly BOC Edwards) is a leading supplier of integrated solutions for the manufacture of microelectronics devices, including semiconductors and flat panel displays. It is also a world leader in vacuum technology for industrial, scientific, process, and R&D applications. Edwards employs around 4,000 people globally, in the design, manufacture and support of high technology vacuum equipment. Edwards invented the concept of the commercial oil-free “dry” vacuum pump and now supplements this with a wide range of other pumping technologies as well as related products and services.

July 17, 2007 — /PRIME NEWSWIRE/ — CHASKA, MN — Entegris, Inc. announced today a major win from a large semiconductor manufacturer based in Asia for approximately 16,000 units of its Spectra(TM) front-opening unified pod (FOUP). The customer will use the FOUPs, which are slated for delivery beginning in the current quarter, to protect and transport silicon wafers throughout its manufacturing process.

The Spectra(TM) line of 300 mm wafer carriers allows semiconductor manufacturers to increase yields by decreasing the contamination that contributes to yield loss. The carrier, which holds up to 26 wafers, limits contact to the wafer edges, thus avoiding potential damage to the back sides of the wafers. The high-performance unit is made from ultrapure materials and features an extremely precise interface to other semiconductor equipment. It is purge-capable and has an electro-static discharge shell option for added wafer protection.

“Semiconductor manufacturers recognize Entegris as a proven partner in helping them protect the integrity of their products,” says Jean-Marc Pandraud, COO for Entegris. “The Spectra FOUP continues that reputation by offering the most robust wafer transport at a time when manufacturers are facing increased challenges with smaller linewidths and greater contamination potential. Spectra delivers a clean and secure environment and optimum automation integration at a low cost of ownership.”

About Entegris
Entegris is the global leader in materials integrity management, delivering a wide range of products for purifying, protecting and transporting critical materials used in processing and manufacturing in semiconductor and other high tech industries. Entegris is ISO 9001 certified and has manufacturing, customer service and/or research facilities in the United States, China, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Additional information can be found at www.entegris.com.

July 18, 2007 — /PRWEB/ — MANSFIELD, MA — Proven Process Medical Devices, a contract R&D and manufacturing firm specializing in electromechanical medical devices and equipment, including active implantable devices, has relocated its U.S. headquarters to a new 43,000-square-foot facility in Mansfield, MA. The location represents an 80 percent increase in total facility area over the company’s former location in East Walpole, MA.

“The strategic move to dramatically increase our research, engineering and manufacturing space — inclusive of a state-of-the-art Class 10,000 (ISO Class 7) cleanroom — comes at a time of unprecedented demand for our categorical expertise, and growth in every area of our company,” says Kenneth Fine, president of Proven Process Medical Devices. “This facility will allow us to service every need of Tier 1 medical device OEMs well into the future.”

Located in Mansfield’s Cabot Business Park, Proven Process’s expanded facility joins a “neighborhood” occupied by world-class biotech and medical device OEMs such as Tyco Healthcare Kendall and Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, which just last year dedicated an expanded campus in the business park.

Founded in 1994, Proven Process Medical Devices has provided innovative solutions for a wide variety of companies from high-profile clients such as C.R. Bard, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer to emerging companies poised to make their names in the industry.

Proven Process is an FDA-registered and ISO 13485:2003 certified full-service outsourcing partner that provides exceptional design, development, validation and contract manufacturing services, exclusively for the medical device industry.

Visit Proven Process Medical Devices on the web at www.provenprocess.com.

July 19, 2007 — /PRNewswire/ — REDWOOD CITY, CA — Codexis, Inc., a private biotechnology company and leading developer of clean manufacturing technologies, today announced it has acquired BioCatalytics, Inc., Pasadena, CA. BioCatalytics is a private company that has produced custom and off-the-shelf enzymes used in chemical process manufacturing by pharmaceutical and fine chemical companies for nearly a decade. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and has closed.

The acquisition combines two companies focused on biocatalysis, a high-growth clean technology that uses specialized enzymes to accelerate and improve the economics and environmental impact of chemical reactions. Resulting new manufacturing processes are shorter, faster, and cleaner than those using conventional chemical synthesis technology. The U.S. enzyme market is expected to increase from $1.6 billion in 2005 to $2.2 billion by 2010, according to industry estimates. This growth is driven in part by increasing demand for renewable fuels and cleaner, less costly ways to manufacture pharmaceuticals.

“This acquisition creates a market leader in biocatalysis, bringing the power of clean biobased manufacturing technology to customers seeking alternatives to undesirable or unsustainable chemical processes,” says Alan Shaw, PhD, president and CEO. “Codexis has built a worldwide track record of leadership developing novel, efficient manufacturing process technologies used by major industrial companies. BioCatalytics, one of the most respected companies in this growing industry sector, offers a broad catalog of enzyme catalysts and technology services long used by the life science industry in chemical synthesis. Our expanded company will provide a broad product and service platform to serve the pharmaceutical industry worldwide, and will also offer exciting new enzyme technologies to our bioindustrial partners.”

“Joining Codexis is an important strategic step for our company,” says David Rozzell, PhD, president of BioCatalytics. “We are combining the extensive enzyme product lines of BioCatalytics with Codexis’ powerful technology for enzyme customization and improvement. This combination will allow us to bring green chemistry alternatives to an unparalleled range of chemical reactions and offer our customers the broadest range of enzyme products and services in the world.” Rozzell is joining Codexis as vice president, enzyme products and services, in the Pharma Services Group, reporting to Peter Seufer-Wasserthal, PhD, vice president and general manager, Pharma Services Group. BioCatalytics employees will remain at the current location in Pasadena. For more information on BioCatalytics, see http://www.biocatalytics.com/.

Codexis, Inc. is a leading developer of biocatalytic process technologies that can substantially reduce the cost of manufacturing across a broad range of industries. Codexis’ proprietary directed evolution technologies enable novel solutions for efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly processes for pharmaceutical, energy and industrial chemical applications. In 2006, the company was recognized by the U.S. EPA with a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. Codexis is a registered trademark of Codexis, Inc. For more information, see http://www.codexis.com/

Source: Codexis, Inc.

July 16, 2007 — /PRWEB/ — SAN JOSE, CA — The personal protective equipment industry is encountering new challenges as production processes are increasingly automated. The market for personal protective equipment (PPE) has matured from a base of plain equipment and components into a business for sophisticated system solutions, including intelligent management systems.

A staggering array of products and solutions are being offered, with an option for customization wherever required. Regulatory controls, along with a rise in costs associated with workplace accidents, have resulted in higher compliance standards worldwide. Increasing instances of terror attacks and epidemics have resulted in a generally higher level of awareness regarding protective equipment. Leading players in the PPE industry are broadening their product portfolio and seeking new markets, driven by saturated demand and intense competition in developed markets.

Europe is the largest market worldwide, worth an estimated US$9.9 billion in 2007. United States is the second largest regional market followed by Japan at third position. Collectively, the U.S., Europe, and Japan account for close to 80 percent of the global personal protective equipment market. Significant Euro-Dollar exchange rate fluctuations resulted in a relatively higher year-over-year growth in the case of European markets over the recent past. The global and regional markets are expected to grow at CAGRs ranging between 3 percent and 6 percent. Traditional workwear represents the largest market segment with sales estimated at US$7.7 billion in 2007. Protective clothing, the second largest market segment, is expected to reach US$6.7 billion by 2010. The protective gloves and footwear market is projected to grow at a CAGR of more than 4 percent through 2010.

The global marketplace is fragmented and characterized by several well established players as well as small, niche companies. Market participants include 3M Company, Aearo Company, Alpha Pro Tech Ltd., Ansell Healthcare Products LLC, Bacou-Dalloz Group, BartelsRieger, Bekina, Bjornklader AB, Capital Safety Group, Defense Industries International, Draegerwerk AG, E.D. Bullard Company, Eurodress GmbH, Gateway Safety, Inc., International Safety Instruments Inc., Interspiro, Jackson Products Inc., Jallatte Group, Johnstone Safety Products, Kwintet A/S Group, Latchways Plc, Louis M. Gerson, MAPA Spontex, MCR Safety, Mine Safety Appliances, Moldex-Metric, Inc., Norcross Safety Products LLC, Oy Silenta Ltd, Pacific Helmets, Pammenter & Petrie, Pro-Guard Technologies, Respire Ltd., Safety Equipment America, Saf-T-Gard International, Sioen Industries NV, Schuberth Helme GmbH, Scott Health & Safety, Skylotec, SpanSet (UK) Ltd, The heightec Group, Tractel Group, Uvex Winter Holding, Vandeputte and Wells Lamont Industry Group.

“Personal Protective Equipment: A Global Strategic Business Report” provides a comprehensive review of market trends, drivers, challenges, product profile, players, competition, technological developments, recent developments, mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic industry activities. Analysis is presented for major geographic markets such as the United States, Japan, France, Germany, the U.K., Italy, Spain, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Analytics are provided in terms of product segments including traditional workwear, protective clothing, respiratory protection equipment, eye and face protection equipment, hearing protection equipment, head protection equipment, fall protection equipment, and gloves and footwear.

For more details about this research report, please visit www.strategyr.com/MCP-1171.asp.

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.:
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world’s largest market research publishers. The company employs more than 700 people worldwide and publishes more than 880 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers a range of more than 60,000 smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports, and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Tel.: 408-528-9966
Fax: 408-528-9977
Web site: www.StrategyR.com

July 16, 2007 — IRVING, TX — Carrington Laboratories, Inc. announced on July 13 that its wholly owned subsidiary DelSite Biotechnologies, Inc. took delivery of several thousand doses of the H5N1 influenza (bird flu) antigen from a secured source and is preparing to initiate America’s first clinical program of a nasal powder bird flu vaccine, combining the H5N1 antigen with DelSite’s novel GelVac(TM) dry powder delivery platform.

An IND filing for Phase I human safety study is planned later this year pending successful results of toxicology studies, which are scheduled to begin within 30 days.

Successful development of a nasal dry powder bird flu vaccine may fill key needs in national preparedness against an influenza pandemic, accelerating the swiftness by which people could be inoculated against a potentially deadly threat. The Carrington-DelSite technology allows for stockpiling of vaccine supplies and shipment without refrigeration. The dry powder-based vaccine may also be self-administered without the use of needles or the need for attending healthcare professionals.

The GelVac(TM) powder contains the unique GelSite(R) polymer, also developed and manufactured by DelSite. The GelSite(R) polymer enables in situ gelling of the vaccine powder when introduced into the nasal passages; the polymer adheres to the mucosal lining and provides prolonged residence time that, in turn, increases antigen delivery. Other unique features of the delivery platform include room temperature stability, prolonged shelf life, and needle-free administration. Because refrigerated transportation and storage are not required, GelSite(R) technology could greatly enhance vaccination programs in developing countries where conventional therapies and preventives are not practical, thus contributing to greater worldwide pandemic preparedness.

A Phase I safety study of the GelVac(TM) powder delivery system without antigen was successfully completed, and it serves as the basis for the upcoming clinical testing of the system with the bird flu antigen.

Dr. Yawei Ni, DelSite’s chief scientific officer, stated, “During the past year we’ve honed our manufacturing process for the GelVac(TM) formulation and are now able to produce greater quantities in less time, with consistent results. We anticipate the toxicity studies with the antigen will produce the desired results, and are eager to move forward to the human clinical testing phase. We’ve worked very diligently over the last several years to bring this technology to fruition, and it is most gratifying and exciting to test its capability in a human clinical setting. I commend DelSite’s dedicated scientific staff for all they have done to bring our technology closer to a proven means which may benefit people around the world.”

About DelSite
Carrington’s wholly owned subsidiary DelSite Biotechnologies, Inc., is developing its proprietary GelSite(R) technology designed to provide controlled release of peptide and protein-based drugs and vaccines. DelSite is currently developing a nasal powder vaccine using its GelVac(TM) formula with the H5N1 avian flu antigen. This work is partially funded by two grants from NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) of NIH (National Institute of Health) under the Department of Health and Human Services.

About Carrington
Carrington Laboratories, Inc. is an ISO 9001-certified, research-based, biopharmaceutical and consumer products company currently utilizing naturally occurring complex carbohydrates to manufacture and market products for mucositis, radiation dermatitis, wound and oral care, as well as to manufacture and market the nutraceutical raw material Manapol(R) and cosmetic raw material Hydrapol(TM). Carrington also manufactures and markets consumer products and manufactures quality products for other companies. Manufacturing operations comply with cGMP standards. Carrington’s technology is protected by more than 130 patents in 26 countries. Select products carry the CE mark, recognized by more than 20 countries around the world. For more information, visit http://www.carringtonlabs.com.

FDA testing confirms presence of salmonella contamination

July 13, 2007 — /FDA News/ — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today confirmed that a strain of Salmonella Wandsworth bacteria found in Veggie Booty snack food is responsible for the disease outbreak that occurred between March and June 2007.

Laboratory testing conducted by the Minnesota Agricultural Lab previously confirmed initial epidemiologic evidence that implicated Veggie Booty snack food as the source of the outbreak. The results of FDA’s own testing added further confirmation.

Veggie Booty is marketed by Robert’s American Gourmet, of Sea Cliff, NY.FDA continues to advise consumers not to eat any Veggie Booty and to throw away product they have. FDA also advises consumers not to eat Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks, and to throw out any supplies they have, because this product also may be contaminated.

No illnesses have been associated with any other Robert’s American Gourmet products.

Salmonella typically causes diarrhea (may be bloody), often accompanied by abdominal cramps and fever. Symptoms typically begin within one to four days after exposure to the bacteria. In infants and persons with poor underlying health and those with weakened immune systems, salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections.

Individuals who have recently eaten Veggie Booty or Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks and who have experienced any of the symptoms described above should contact a doctor or other health care provider immediately. Both products may appeal to children, so parents should be especially vigilant and seek medical care if they observe signs of illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified 60 persons, mostly toddlers, from 19 states who have become ill. Five persons were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. States reporting illnesses include: California (seven cases), Colorado (five), Connecticut (two), Georgia (one), Illinois (one), Indiana (one), Massachusetts (four), Minnesota (two), New Hampshire (two), New Jersey (two), New York (15), Oregon (one), Pennsylvania (four), Tennessee (one), Texas (two), Virginia (one), Vermont (three), Washington (four), and Wisconsin (two).

FDA, the States, and CDC are continuing the investigation. Preliminary testing suggests that the seasoning mix used in Veggie Booty may be the source of the contamination. FDA will continue to trace back the ingredients and processing methods used for the seasoning mix, seeing to determine whether the seasoning actually is the source of the problem.

Veggie Booty is sold in a flexible plastic foil bag in four ounce, one ounce and one-half ounce packages. Some gift baskets available for purchase on the Internet include Veggie Booty or Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks.

Robert’s American Gourmet ceased distributing Veggie Booty and began recalling the product on June 28. The company has also voluntarily recalled all lots and sizes of Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks snack food because the same potentially contaminated seasoning may have been used in making that product, too. In addition, the manufacturer of Veggie Booty and other products for Robert’s has ceased production until this investigation is complete. Robert’s American Gourmet and its contract manufacturer are fully cooperating with FDA’s investigation into the cause of the contamination.

FDA will provide additional updates as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available.

Contact:
888-INFO-FDA