La Vista, NE – The trusted cell stability technology of Streck, Inc.’s glass Cell-Free DNA BCT® and Cyto-Chex® BCT is now available in the Fusion2^TM plastic blood collection tube.

Streck has partnered with SiO₂ Medical Products, Inc., a manufacturer of high quality pharmaceutical and medical device components, for the customization and manufacture of the unique hybrid plastic tube. SiO₂Medical Products uses a proprietary process to coat the interior surface of the plastic with a silica-like (SiO₂ barrier) layer.

“Our partnership with Streck, and our commercialization partner TricorBraun, is an excellent example of how advanced material science capabilities can be effectively linked with unmet needs in the marketplace,” said Brian Maurer, Sr. Vice President of SiO₂ Medical Products. “More specifically, we were able to successfully leverage our precision injection molding and plasma science capabilities to customize a plastic blood tube that possesses the best balance of oxygen and moisture barrier properties of any offering in the industry.”

The Fusion2 tube combines engineered plastic – cyclic olefin polymers – with a silicon dioxide-coated barrier layer. The layers are fused together, providing an end product with the best properties of glass and the safety and convenience of plastic. The properties of the Fusion2 tube provide excellent oxygen barrier properties preventing vacuum loss and moisture content loss of the stabilizing reagents over time, allowing Streck to continue to provide 24-month shelf life from date of manufacture for Cell-Free DNA BCT and Cyto-Chex BCT.

“We are very happy to provide our customers with a plastic version of our BCT products, making transport, handling and processing even safer and easier,” said Connie Ryan, President and CEO at Streck. “When we began exploring the possibility of plastic tubes, we were not satisfied with the properties that standard polyethylene terephthalate (PET) tubes gave us. Customers will be extremely satisfied that they will continue to receive 24 months of dating without any effect on the stabilizing reagent inside the tubes.”

Cell-Free DNA BCT is for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures in the U.S.
Cyto-Chex BCT is FDA 510(k) cleared for the consistent recovery of HIV associated lymphocyte subsets for up to 14 days.

About SiO₂ Medical Products, Inc.
Founded in 2011, SiO₂ Medical Products, Inc. has successfully developed and commercialized a wide range of novel products for use in pharmaceutical packaging, labware, and consumable applications.  Using the well-known process of Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), the SiO₂ team has developed proprietary technology to apply thin, transparent coatings or plasma treatments to a broad range of medical devices. Resulting medical devices that are plasma coated possess outstanding barrier properties, while plasma treated surfaces have ultra-low protein/peptide binding capabilities.  SiO₂ Medical Products has its headquarters and state-of-the-art manufacturing plant located in Auburn, Alabama. For more information, visit www.sio2med.com.

About Streck, Inc.
Established in 1971, Streck develops and manufactures products for the clinical and research laboratories. Streck’s passion for innovation, quality and service has allowed the organization to become a world leader in the development of quality control and diagnostic products that help laboratories ensure accurate and timely results for patients. Streck offers the industry’s leading automated erythrocyte sedimentation rate instrument and is a worldwide supplier of blood collection tubes that standardize methods for sample collection, stabilization and transportation. Expanding product lines include flow cytometry, body fluids and urinalysis with emerging products being developed for the burgeoning field of molecular diagnostics.  For more information, visit www.streck.com.

About TricorBraun, Inc
TricorBraun is a packaging solutions company, focused on providing innovative, custom solutions for its many customers. An industry leader in glass and plastic containers, closures, dispensers and tubes, TricorBraun operates from more than 40 locations throughout North America and internationally including Canada, Mexico, England, China, Hong Kong, and India. Our award-winning Design & Engineering Centers provide forward-thinking service driven by consumer insight, market understanding and creative solutions. TricorBraun’s advisory services range from preliminary planning and manufacturing oversight to warehousing and logistics programs. For more information, visit www.tricorbraun.com.