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International Stem Cell launches human cell culture products into commercial research markets

International Stem Cell Corporation, announces that it has launched fifteen new human cell culture products into the commercial research markets over the last twelve months through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology, (Walkersville, MD), leading to a 12-month average month-to-month revenue growth of 50%. ISCO, the parent company, is the first company to create human “parthenogenetic” stem cells from unfertilized eggs.

14 Oct 2009

New Ultra Sensitive facemasks to protect against seasonal and swine flu

BIOSAFE, Inc., a company that manufactures and sells a novel antimicrobial polymer, has announced that they are launching in specific markets outside the United States through a unique facemask treated with BIOSAFE(®). Crosstex' new BIOSAFE-treated Ultra Sensitive facemasks begin to reduce microorganisms such as MRSA, VRE, and Staph immediately upon contact, and have further proven to be effective against Influenza A strains such as seasonal flu and the novel H1N1 virus.

14 Oct 2009

Vioguard launches the first self-sanitizing computer keyboard

Vioguard LLC, www.vioguard.com, is introducing the world’s first self-sanitizing computer keyboard to kill MRSA and other healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) at the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) 91st annual meeting, October 12-17 in Toronto. The event marks the first availability of the innovative keyboard for medical market uses and consumers in Canada.

13 Oct 2009

Wood pallets tested positive for three types of food poisoning bacteria

Wood pallets used to ship food in the Washington Metropolitan Area tested positive for three types of deadly food poisoning bacteria, raising new concerns about the risks wood pallets pose to the nation's food supply.

13 Oct 2009

The Automation Partnership's ambr technology to be previewed at the Bioprocess International Conference

The Automation Partnership (TAP), a world leader in the design and development of innovative automation for life science applications, is exclusively previewing its Advanced Microscale BioReactor (ambr™) technology on Booth 914 at the Bioprocess International Conference in Raleigh, USA.

13 Oct 2009

HAAN provides swine flu tips

While Americans anxiously await the arrival of the H1N1 Flu Vaccine in their area, many are seeking new methods to try to keep their homes germ free and their families healthy during this flu season.

13 Oct 2009

Contaminated pre-filled heparin and saline syringes cause bloodstream infections

An outbreak of bloodstream infections appears to have been caused by the contamination of pre-filled heparin and saline syringes made by a single company, according to a report in the October 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The subsequent investigation revealed that the company was not in compliance with safety regulations and identified challenges and areas for improvement in medication monitoring systems.

13 Oct 2009

Swisher Hygiene launches free online course on H1N1

Swisher Hygiene, leading provider of commercial cleaning and sanitizing products and services, today announced the launch of H1N1 Basics, a free online course offering practical guidance to minimize the opportunity for transmission of H1N1 in the workplace.

13 Oct 2009

U.S. army Phase I STTR contract for Intralytix

Intralytix, Inc. announced today that it has received a U.S. Army Phase I STTR contract supporting the development of a bacteriophage-based probiotic preparation for managing Shigella infections.

9 Oct 2009

TFAH urges U.S. Senate to reform the nation's food safety system without delay

To mark Food Safety Action Day, Trust for America's Health (TFAH) calls on the U.S. Senate to act expeditiously to reform the nation's food safety system.

8 Oct 2009

WHO emphasizes H1N1 vaccine safety

The WHO on Tuesday continued to express confidence in the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine as few mild adverse effects have been reported by patients participating in China's vaccine campaign, the Associated Press reports. Out of the 39,000 people in China who received the H1N1 vaccine, four reported experiencing side effects such as muscle cramps and headache, according to WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl (Higgins, 10/6).

8 Oct 2009

Researchers validate a technique capable of quick TB diagnosis

The team headed by Doctor Manuel Casal, head of Microbiology at Reina Sofia Hospital in Cordoba has validated in patients a technique, originally produced by a German company, capable of diagnosing tuberculosis in only one day and determining whether or not it is resistant to two of the drugs used to treat this disease.

7 Oct 2009

Fully validated assay to detect the presence of Calicivirus 2117 in biological samples

BioReliance Corporation announced today that it has launched a fully validated assay which can sensitively detect the presence of Calicivirus 2117 in biological samples. The test is designed to provide manufacturers of biological therapeutics and other biologically based products the ability to detect this potential contaminant of mammalian cell culture based systems.

7 Oct 2009

Ventilation mask leakage may contaminate hospital setting

New research shows that certain noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) masks may leak exhaled air up to a distance of 1 m from patients receiving treatments.

6 Oct 2009

Change in Heparin manufacturing - expected to decrease the potency

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today alerted health care professionals to a change in heparin manufacturing that is expected to decrease the potency of the common blood-clotting drug.

1 Oct 2009

Social shame works better than Government subsidies: Study

Government subsidies persuade some people to change habits, but social shame works even better, suggests a recent study of efforts to reduce elevated childhood death and disease rates blamed on the microbial pathogens that cause diarrhea in rural India.

1 Oct 2009

FDA-regulated product information for consumers and health care professionals

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued its Strategic Plan for Risk Communication, which outlines the agency's efforts to disseminate more meaningful public health information.

1 Oct 2009

Study shows students do not follow proper hygiene routines

Thousands of bacteria lurk in college dormitories, but students are not following proper hygiene routines to help protect themselves from serious illness, according to a study released today from the Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community, sponsored by an educational grant from LYSOL® brand products.

1 Oct 2009

Good hand hygiene can eliminate bacterial contamination in computer devices

Although hospital computer equipment can act as a reservoir for pathogenic organisms, including MRSA, researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Infectious Diseases found that bacterial contamination rates from computer equipment were low, possibly as the result of good hand hygiene.

1 Oct 2009

Protection of front-line healthcare workers compromised

According to George Kappler, "If hospitals were subjected to the same protection standards as factories, many would have been shut down a long time ago." Those are tough words for healthcare workers to hear as they brace for an onslaught of H1N1 patients, but the CEO of Kappler, Inc., a 33-year veteran in the protective garment business, knows of what he speaks.

29 Sep 2009