• Diagnostic Hybrids (Athens, Ohio) reported the release of the D3 Ultra DFA Respiratory Virus Screening smf Identification Kit, a second-generation kit contains an increased number and better quality of antibodies for the detection of Influenza A, Influenza B, Parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3, Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Adenovirus. The new Ultra kit offers a significant improvement in detection of Influenza B, Parainfluenza 3 and Adenovirus with no increase in background effects or non-specific results because of the improved antibodies, the company said. The one-step direct detection kit allows users to identify and differentiate seven major respiratory viruses in a 15-minute direct stain process, and it can be used for direct specimen testing as well as culture confirmation. Diagnostic Hybrids develops genetically engineered, cell-based detection products for virus and autoimmune human diagnostic applications and for the pharma and biotech industry with a focus on products that measure drug clearance and anti-viral interventions with drugs and vaccines.

• Heska (Loveland, Colorado) reported the launch of the new i-STAT 1 Handheld Clinical Analyzer, an improvement on the original i-STAT handheld analyzers, which provide veterinarians with critical electrolyte, blood gas, chemistry and basic hematology results in two minutes with just three drops of sample. The new i-STAT 1 analyzer offers the same testing menu as the original analyzer, plus a new CHEM8+ cartridge. The CHEM8+ panel provides many of the tests typically needed for quick general or emergency assessment with just one cartridge. Other improvements include infrared printer connectivity, upgraded storage capacity and ergonomic improvements. Heska sells veterinary diagnostic and other specialty veterinary products.

• StockerYale (Salem, New Hampshire) reported the availability of the Lasiris PowerLine laser, an addition to its structured light lasers division. The PowerLine is a laser line generator developed for industrial machine vision and medical applications. The thermoelectrically cooled laser is able to emit uniform laser lines at high powers, up to 1 W in infrared and 500 mW in red, and demonstrates beam pointing stability as function of temperature. StockerYale is an independent designer and manufacturer of structured light lasers, LED modules, specialty optical fibers for OEMs and other phontonics-based products.

• Synergetics USA (O’Fallon, Missouri) reported the sale of the first Sonopet Omni ultrasonic aspirator for use exclusively in spinal surgeries. This unit will be used for discectomies and intravertebral fusions and will utilize the Long Claw surgical tip, allowing surgeons to use its additional length to reach new depths within the spine. This initial sale concludes an approximate nine-month initiative to commercialize the Omni for spinal surgery applications. Synergetics USA produces medical devices for use primarily in ophthalmic surgery and neurosurgery and for other healthcare applications.

• Third Wave Technologies (Orlando, Florida) reported submitting an FDA 510(k) application for its InPlex Cystic Fibrosis Molecular Test to simultaneously detect and identify mutations and variants in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene in genomic DNA samples isolated from human whole peripheral blood specimens. The test is a qualitative genotyping test intended to provide information to determine CF-carrier status in adults, as an aid in newborn screening and in confirmatory diagnostic testing in newborns and children. The results of a multi-center clinical trial sponsored by Third Wave indicate that the test exceeds 99.9% for the performance characteristics evaluated. Third Wave develops molecular diagnostic reagents for a variety of DNA and RNA applications.