News. Lab. Precision Weighing for Healthier Babies. Analytical solutions in the laboratory. August 2014

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1 Lab Analytical solutions in the laboratory 14 News August 2014 Precision Weighing for Healthier Babies A 2013 medical study has shown that waiting for up to a minute after birth to cut the umbilical cord can improve a baby s health. One English hospital is now using continuous weighing and LabX software to determine the optimal time to cut the cord for maximum mother-baby nutrients transfer. According to the New York Times 1, a 2013 medical study has shown that delaying the severing of the umbilical cord by a minute or so after birth can help ensure sufficient nutrient transfer via blood and other fluids from mother to baby. Birth weights improve and the baby s hemoglobin and iron stores rise. The study also shows that these babies were less likely to be iron deficient 3-6 months after birth. However, waiting too long may increase some health risks. Therefore, one English hospital is now using real-time continuous weight readings to measure the flow of blood and other fluids into the newborn baby from the mother s placenta. The purpose is to define guidelines for reaching the optimal weight equilibrium prior to making the cut. Real-time results To obtain real-time data for their research, the hospital is using a METTLER TOLEDO XS8001L balance connected to LabXDirect software, which automates and manages data in a straightforward and secure manner. With a capacity of 8 kg and readability of 0.1 g, the balance has the accuracy required to measure the small amounts of fluid transfer and the weighing pan is large enough to assure the baby s safety during the weighing process. LabXDirect receives continuous weight readings from the balance and generates a real-time graph in Excel to help the attending physician know when to cut the cord. The LabXDirect-XS8001L combination allows sufficient data points to

2 Laboratory Automation XS8001L precision balance connected to LabX Direct PC be collected in order to decisively judge when fluid transfer has stopped and also takes into account anomalous readings caused by the baby s movements. The real-time graph is an essential visual aid in deciding when fluid transfer has stopped. LabX flexibility LabXDirect software can send data to any windows-based analytical program. The layout of the data is configurable according to application needs. User-defined information can also be automatically added to the captured data to help with identification and the compilation of results. This is proving helpful, in the hospital s case, as it makes it a simple process to add further information concerning longer-term health outcomes and to continue to compare weight results over time. Better outcomes LabXDirect could prove a helpful tool in hospitals if the methodology catches on. The study is being performed on babies born full- and pre-term. If results bear out, this kind of real-time, continuous weighing immediately after delivery could help ensure that all babies, especially the smallest and most vulnerable premature ones, receive the highest possible nutrient transfer after birth to get the best possible start in life. Text: Julia Schenk Analytical Weighing Product Manager } 1: Study Finds Benefits in Delaying Severing of Umbilical Cord. Saint Louis C. The New York Times. July 10, Publisher Mettler-Toledo AG Laboratory Division Im Langacher CH-8606 Greifensee, Switzerland Production LAB Division Marketing Global MarCom Switzerland Subject to technical changes. Mettler-Toledo AG 08/14 Printed in Switzerland. 2 METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 14

3 How Much Sodium Is In Your Food? Just Enough! Sodium enhances the taste of food, but has to be consumed in moderation. Therefore, measuring sodium content has become imperative for food producers. The new Sodium Analyzer provides a simple and cost effective analytical method. In recent years, society has become increasingly aware of the dangers caused by excessive sodium intake. Pressure is mounting for food manufacturers to accurately determine the sodium content of their food products. Direct sodium measurement is commonly performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy, ion chromatography or inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. These techniques demand a significant capital investment, ultrapure reagents plus lengthy sample preparation and system calibration. Therefore, direct sodium determination is often substituted by argentometric chloride titration, which is simple and highly accurate. The results are, however, not comparable due to the interference of other sodium (glutamate, citrate) and chloride compounds (KCI) that are often also present. A new approach to sodium analysis The new Sodium Analyzer provides a very simple, accurate and cost-effective tool for the direct determination of sodium. It uses a sodium-specific glass electrode (ISE) and applies a multiple standard addition technique using a built-in dosing burette. Thanks to a special algorithm, developed with Zürich University of Applied Sciences, it delivers accurate and repeatable sodium analysis. The right tool at the right time The simplicity and affordable price of the Sodium Analyzer will allow many small food companies to perform their own analyses rather than having to rely on external service labs. Considering the increased public awareness of the health implications of excess sodium intake, the new Sodium Analyzer has arrived just at the right time. Text: Christian Walter Head of SBU AnaChem } 3Sodium Content Determination METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 14

4 Oil Content Determination The Right Oil Content for Mechanic Motor Pieces The oil content in rotor s spindle motors is critical to PC hard-drive s storage performance. The quality standards of the hard-drive industry necessitate in-production testing of rotors weighing less than 1.5 mg with an uncertainty of 1 %. A challenging task simplified by XPE205 analytical balances at a leading spindle motor manufacturer. The hard disc drive industry, manufacturing 522 million units per year, demands the best quality and uptime to satisfy its precision-parts suppliers. A Southeast Asian specialized manufacturer, with more than 40 years of experience in producing small precision motors, supplies spindle motors to the three largest hard disc drive manufacturers. This is a key hard disc drive component for PCs worldwide. A sensitive equation Maximum throughput is critical to meeting these volume requirements. However, working with such small parts brings specific quality control challenges, particularly when it comes to weighing. The exact weight of oil applied to each rotor that comes down the production line is essential to the smooth spinning of each disc but production time is also critical for optimizing manufacturing operations. Each rotor is weighed four times prior to final assembly to determine: Rotor weight. Weight after filling the top of the rotor with oil. Weight after filling the bottom of the rotor with oil. Weight after spinning to measure residual oil. Productivity and quality guidelines require the company to use balances capable of stabilizing within 2.5 seconds for weights less than 1.4 milligrams and with a weighing error of only 1 %. Four balances robust enough for nearcontinuous use are required per manufacturing station. Additionally, while providing accuracy, speed and reliability, the balances must also simultaneously reduce the possibility of hand pain or repetitive strain injury by being ergonomic and, therefore, comfortable and safe to operate. 4 METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 14

5 Hard disc drive with spindle motor in the center of the magnetic disk. XPE205 analytical balance A high quality and reliable set-up To meet these varied, stringent manufacturing requirements, the company recently outfitted its production area with METTLER TOLEDO XP205 analytical balances. In addition to installing these analytical balances into their lines, they procured three additional units for backup during preventative maintenance. They also secured a service contract and had METTLER TOLEDO provide expert training so that operators are able to deal with any simple balance problems that may arise in order to maximize productivity. This complete product and service package, including analytical balances capable of meeting minute tolerances and quick settling, support, training, extra units and spare parts, is helping to keep the production floor itself spinning smoothly. Today, this leading spindle motor manufacturer continues to meet the hard disc drive industry s quality demands with maximum uptime and remains a reliable precision-parts supplier. Author: Simon Taylor, Analytical Balances Product Manager } METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 14 5

6 Low Retention Tips Genetic Testing in Food Pipetting Hints for Better Results Left: Low Retention Tips recommended for qpcr experiments Right: E. coli strain on plate DNA amplification techniques, such as PCR or qpcr have become standard tests in food products in order to quickly assess contaminations. Liquid handling plays an important role in the sample preparation process. Genetic testing provides a faster and more precise answer to the question, What has my food been contaminated with. Such tests are generally carried out using a DNA amplification technique, such as PCR or qpcr, since the procedure is quick, accurate and outperforms the older, established bacterial identification tests that used to take several days to complete. Challenges during sample preparation However, such genetic tests do require careful sample preparation in order to deliver the correct mixture of reagents for the PCR process. The most common challenge faced when preparing the sample is the need to provide a sterile environment that will not contaminate the PCR process. Avoid DNA contamination Using Low Retention tips reduces the risk of very small volumes of DNA-containing sample adhering to the tip and not being properly transferred. Filter tips prevent any DNA-containing aerosol material from entering the pipette, which could then contaminate future experiments. For these reasons, the use of filtered Low Retention tips is always recommended for qpcr experiments, as they are more sensitive than PCR. Finally, it is recommended to use Bio- Clean tips in order to ensure absolute cleanliness. These tips are manufactured and packaged in a clean-room environment and rigorously tested for DNA contamination with high sensitivity detection methods using the highly sensitive qpcr technique. Text: Murray Anderson Rainin Marketing Head } 6 METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 14

7 All Ceramics Are Not High Performers Find Yours with TMA High performance ceramics should exhibit excellent temperature stability to avoid cracks. The new TMA/SDTA 1 measures such materials up to a temperature of 1600 C, yielding more insights into material behavior. Sintered high-performance ceramics are expected to exhibit high-form stability, meaning that they have low expansion coefficients from only few to no phase transitions, and, if these do occur, then only at a slow rate to avoid cracking. When doing research on such materials, Thermo-Mechanical Analysis (TMA) ideally investigates form stability. With the new TMA/SDTA 1, samples can be measured up to a temperature of 1600 C. This significantly widens the application range of TMA. Ceramic part used in car brakes The technically processed SiO 2 (Sample 2) expands right from the beginning with a much slower rate and exhibits a small transition from α- to β-quartz at a higher temperature with less risk of crack formation. At about 1150 C it also starts to soften. Since Sample 2 contains crystallization nuclei; crystallization occurs from about 1200 C onward seen as a length increase. The crystallization is not complete at the end of the dynamic segment. During the isothermal segment, the softening of the amorphous portion of this material can be re-observed. The small and slow expansion plus the weak phase transition make technically processed SiO 2 a high-performance ceramic. Text: Matthias Wagner Thermal Analysis Product Manager } Thermomechanical Analysis Natural vs. processed silicon dioxide Two sintered silicon dioxide samples naturally occurring silicon dioxide (Sample 1) and a technically processed silicon dioxide (Sample 2) were measured. A heating segment from 100 to 1500 C at a heating rate of 3 C/min was applied followed by an isothermal segment at 1500 C for 120 minutes. In Sample 1, a cristobalite transition can be clearly seen at 245 C. This rapid volume change often leads to cracks in the material. At about 1100 C the amorphous portion of the material begins to soften. Figure 1: TMA curves from 100 to 1500 C at a heating rate of 3 C/min METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 14 7

8 Know-How Don t Let Electrostatic Charges Influence Your Weighing Results One of the most common problems experienced when weighing dry substances in a laboratory environment is the influence of electrostatic charges, leading to inaccurate weighing results. The new XPE analytical balance offers a unique technology to detect electrostatic forces, measure its influence in the weighing and eliminate them. StaticDetect Built-in StaticDetect technology warns you when electrostatic charges affect the weighing results above your defined threshold. ErgoClip The ErgoClip basket for plastic and glass tubes shields the weighing pan from electrostatic changes. Small tubes also reduce the risk of creating charges. 8 METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 14

9 FAQ Electrostatic Charges in Weighing 1. What are electrostatic charges? An electrical charge on the balance or vessel to be weighed causes electrostatic forces. Electrostatic forces can alter weighing results either increasing or diminishing the real weighing value. 2. How are electrostatic charges originated? Friction is the most common way that electrostatic charges are generated. However, under climate controlled environments, such as the typical analytical lab, charges are more easily generated and lead to greater source of error. Weighing a small quantity of dry sample into a large glass or polymer vessel will also significantly increase the error of the weighing result. 3. How do they influence weighing results? Electrostatic charges exert forces on the sample to be weighed and the weighing pan, thus causing significant falsification of measurement results. Inaccurate weighing results range from few milligrams up to 100 mg. Antistatic Kit Attach the Antistatic kit to the analytical balance and eliminate charges without causing turbulences in the weighing chamber. Download the Electrostatic Charges in Weighing whitepaper METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 14 9

10 Product Highlight Pipet-Lite XLS+ Performance You Can Feel The recently launched Pipet-Lite XLS+ manual pipettes help researchers to achieve reproducible results with exceptional comfort. New elastomeric seals and polymer tip ejectors, along with the patented LTS LiteTouch System, deliver smooth pipette operation. The combination of the sure-fit handle, light springs and Magnetic Assist technology ensures smooth, light operation and significantly reduces the risk of repetitive strain injuries. 121 C GLP/GMP compliant Rainin pipettes were the first in the world to be equipped with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips to store on-board service and data profiles, track calibration data and manage pipette inventory. All-around tip ejector XLS+ single channel pipettes have high-density polymer tip ejectors that are corrosion free and highly resistant to chemical and physical damage. The ejector slides off in a single, easy motion for cleaning. Autoclavable XLS+ pipettes are designed for easy autoclaving of the complete liquid end, including the seals. Easily removable, autoclaving XLS+ liquid ends won t compromise performance or feel METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 14

11 The All-in-one Printing Solution Flexible Printing and Labeling The robust P-56 and P-58 universal printers offer a multitude of printing possibilities to help you to eliminate transcription error, speed up your processes and ensure traceability, e.g. continuous printing or sample labeling with barcodes. The P-56 is ideal for simple printouts and for all instruments with embedded applications. The P-58 offers several integrated applications such as time and date, statistics, totaling, formulation and labeling. Noiseless speed The state-of-the-art direct thermal print ing technology in the P-56 and P-58 is clean, vibration-free and exceptionally quiet. With a printout speed up to 100 mm per second, they are extremely fast too. Flexible documentation Print on continuous paper or continuous self-adhesive labels for full documenta tion of your results. For fast, easy, error-free sample identification, print labels with all sample information and barcodes. Durable printouts Properly stored, the archive-grade fadeproof paper will last up to 25 years, and single and continuous labels up to 10. All papers are phenol-free and resistant to plasticizers, oil, fat and water. METTLER TOLEDO Lab News 14 11

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