Company Announcements

In November 2017, NPL, the UK’s National Measurement Institute, announced the launch of the 3D OrbiSIMS, which is capable of the highest-reported simultaneous spatial and mass resolutions using label-free molecular imaging on the single-cell scale. The system is the result of a collaboration between GSK, the University of Nottingham, ION-TOF and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Halvec Laboratories, a subsidiary of Global Haltech, signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2017 with Thermo Fisher Scientific aimed at delivering an international reference method for gelatin analysis. Global Haltech will use the Thermo Scientific TSQ Altis Triple Stage Quadrupole MS and Thermo Scientific Vanquish Flex Binary UHPLC System.

Shimadzu announced in December 2017 a collaboration that begun last year with Fujitsu and Fujitsu Laboratories to develop technology that utilizes AI to process the data used in analyzing the measurement results acquired by its MS systems. The collaboration is focused on the application of deep learning to address issues with peak picking and the variability of operator practices. The first application to use this technology is metabolomics, with an aim to integrate the capabilities into MS software in 2018.

BIOCRATES Life Sciences, a provider of metabolomics kits and other solutions, acquired Metanomics Health in January. Metanomics is a metabolomics biomarker development and health care services specialist. BIOCRATES Life Sciences also announced the close of a new financing round.

In January, PREMIER Biosoft entered into a research collaboration with Dr. Francisco Fernadez-Lima at the Biomolecular Sciences Institute at Florida International University to provide advanced MS-based data analysis for lipidomics analysis.

Product Introductions

In December 2017, Shimadzu launched the C2MAP-2000 automated pretreatment module for cell culture–media analysis. Its consists of the C2MAP-20000 module with LC/MS (the Nexera X2 UHPLC and LCMS-8060/8050. The system adds reagents, filters precipitated proteins and dilutes samples.

Shimadzu debuted in February the Nexera Mikros, a micro flowrate-compatible LC/MS, for improved sensitivity. The system accommodates semi-micro flowrates (100–500 mL/min) to micro flowrates (1–10 mL/min). It features a solvent delivery pump with a new control system.

908 Devices introduced in January a software update for its MX908 MS system, featuring the new Drug Hunter, Chemical Warfare Hunter and Explosive Hunter mission modes. The Drug Hunter mode enables the detection of fentanyl at trace levels.

In January, PerkinElmer debuted the NeoBase 2 non-derivatized MSMS Kit for semi-quantitative measurement and evaluation of amino acid, succinylacetone, free carnitine, acylcarnitine, nucleoside and lysophospholipid concentrations. It employs a three-step assay workflow. An IVD kit, it has been CE marked in Europe.

SCIEX Diagnostics launched in January the Citrine Triple Quad MS/MS and Citrine QTRAP MS/MS Systems for clinical diagnostics. They enable the measurement of metabolites and biomarkers at picomole concentrations. ESI or APCI options are available.

Sales and Orders of Note

Advion announced in January the cumulative shipment of more than 700 Compact Mass Spectrometer systems, as of December 31, 2017. In Japan, 30 units were sold during the year. In China, 9 units were sold in the fourth quarter 2017.