Contamination News and Research

RSS

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

New measles vaccination methods to reduce costs and improve safety

Worldwide, there are estimated to be 10 million cases of measles and 197,000 deaths from the disease each year. While vaccines exist to protect children against measles, the vaccines are often difficult to store, costly to transport and may be prone to contamination when shipped to developing countries.

29 Sep 2009

Excelsior's SwabCap launched at the 23rd Association for Vascular Access conference

Excelsior Medical, one of the leading manufacturers of pre-filled catheter flush syringes and syringe pump systems, announced that it has launched a major new product: the SwabCap™ Luer Access Valve Disinfection Cap.

28 Sep 2009

U.S. underfunds climate change health-related research

A recent commentary suggests that the U.S. should spend roughly $197 million more than it currently does to research the impact of climate change on public health.

28 Sep 2009

Neogen announces first-quarter results of fiscal 2010

Neogen Corporation announced today that its revenues for the first quarter of FY 2010, which ended Aug. 31, increased 12% from the previous year's first quarter to $32,347,000. First quarter net income increased 18% from the prior year's $3,733,000 to $4,395,000, or to $0.29 per share in the current year compared to the previous year's $0.25.

25 Sep 2009

Dust Alert sensor to monitor quality of air

Worried that dust from a nearby construction zone will harm your family's health? A new Tel Aviv University tool could either confirm your suspicions or better yet, set your mind at rest.

23 Sep 2009

NIST collaborates with private industry to release a new reference material for beryllium

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in collaboration with private industry and other government agencies, have produced a new reference material for beryllium. Beryllium, an exotic rare-earth metal used as a hardener in high-performance alloys and ceramics, can cause berylliosis-a chronic, incurable and sometimes fatal illness.

23 Sep 2009

Bioscreen Instruments to be Labcyte's partner in India

Labcyte, the developer of acoustic liquid transfer, with systems in all top 10 pharmaceutical companies, today announced the selection of Bioscreen Instruments Pvt. Ltd. as its exclusive distributor in India.

23 Sep 2009

Sterile cord blood collection bag now from PacifiCord

Dedicated to serving the private cord blood banking needs of Southern California, PacifiCord (www.pacificord.com) today announced it has secured Pall Corporation’s sterile cord blood collection bag. Since April 2006, this industry-best sterile bag has been unavailable for purchase due to prior limiting agreements with its manufacturer; no longer.

23 Sep 2009

Cyntellect releases new cell cytometry system

Cyntellect, Inc., a privately-held life sciences company commercializing products to advance life science and stem cell research, biopharmaceutical production, and drug discovery, today unveiled its Celigo™ adherent cell cytometry system, the Company’s new platform for non-invasive in situ live cell imaging.

21 Sep 2009

Researchers to develop a safer and synthetic alternative to current heparin

With a $4.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (under the Bioengineering Research Partnership program), research led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will make its important final steps toward the development of a safer, synthetic alternative to current heparin. The researchers believe that kilogram quantities of the new drug could be developed in under five years.

18 Sep 2009

New Healthier Habits Rewards Program educates families on healthy hygiene routines

LYSOL((R)), the number one pediatrician recommended brand, announced today the launch of the Healthier Habits Rewards Program, an initiative to educate families on healthy hygiene routines. Through the Healthier Habits Rewards program, parents can learn valuable tips to help protect themselves and their children from potential illness-causing germs at home or at school.

18 Sep 2009

Foundation launches public service campaign

The Word-OUT! Awareness Foundation, a member of the Congressional District Program 501(c)(3)-509(a)(1), will launch the third year of its You Gotta Wash Your Hands! A Public Service Campaign, on September 21, 2009. The press conference will start promptly at 1:30 p.m. and take place on the lawn of The Philadelphia High School For Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), located at Broad and Christian Streets.

18 Sep 2009