2021 was another hectic and hopeful year, with countless new discoveries and innovations by laboratory scientists working to make the world a better place. From environmental and material science to energy, microbiology and the fight against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants from Alpha to Omicron, laboratory scientists have been hard at work using increasingly advanced equipment and technology to drive their cutting-edge research. Throughout the year, Labcompare has covered the latest news and the topics that matter most to scientists, as well as continued to host a vast directory of laboratory products and reviews that help you select the best tools for your experiments. As the year comes to an end, here is a look back at some of the top editorial content, products, categories and reviews you viewed on Labcompare in 2021.
Top 5 Product Categories
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Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers
With applications in a wide range of industries including environmental testing, metal analysis, semiconductors, petroleum and pharmaceuticals, it is no surprise that atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) was a popular product category this year. There are also a wide range of AAS instrument options, as well as autosamplers and other accessories to choose from.
Check out our atomic absorption spectrophotometer category here.
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Laboratory Thermometers
An ubiquitous but important tool in any laboratory, a good lab-grade thermometer or thermocouple is indispensable for precise and accurate temperature measurements, making this category another “hot” topic on Labcompare for 2021. Our laboratory thermometer product listings can help you find an instrument with a suitable temperature range, logging and alert systems and integration with data management software for reliable measuring and monitoring in any application.
Check out our laboratory thermometer listings here.
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C18 Column/C18 HPLC Columns
High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a staple in many analytical laboratories nowadays, and the C18 stationary phase is among the most preferred packing choices for reversed phase HPLC applications. Not all C18 columns are exactly the same though, so our readers can use the compare feature to find the ideal column for their application based on particle size, particle shape, pore size and more.
See the many options for C18 HPLC columns here.
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Binocular Microscope
Two eyepieces are better than one, according to our readers, with binocular microscopes being the top viewed microscopy category of 2021. These microscopes offer easier viewing, cut down on eye strain and can also allow the user to view and compare two samples side by side at once - kind of like our compare feature!
Browse binocular microscope options here.
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Clinical Chemistry Analyzers
Clinical chemistry analyzers are excellent instruments for diagnostics and forensics, capable of monitoring conditions such as diabetes as well as screening for disease markers and drugs-of-abuse. We list a wide range of different clinical chemistry instruments to browse and compare, as well as resources for those working in clinical and forensic labs such as our buyer’s guide for opioid screening in urine or blood using these analyzers.
See our clinical chemistry analyzer listings here.
Top 5 Products
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StatStrip® Hospital Glucose Monitoring System from Nova Biomedical
Speaking of clinical chemistry, this highly-accurate portable glucose monitor has earned a spot on our most viewed products list for the second year in a row! Learn more.
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Dimatix Materials Printer DMP-2850 from FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
Another Labcompare user favorite from last year’s list, this convenient, versatile bench-top materials printing system employs single-use cartridges that researchers can fill with their own fluid materials for easy printing with minimal waste. Learn more.
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Lyphochek Assayed Chemistry Control, Level 1 from Bio-Rad Laboratories
A great companion for clinical chemistry assays, this human serum-based control with over 80 analytes ensures your assays are precise and reliable. This product is another fan favorite going strong from 2020. Learn more.
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BD Phoenix™ Automated Microbiology System from BD Diagnostics
Automation brings a new level of speed and precision to laboratory processes, and this automated microbiology system aims to make diagnostic testing and research simpler and more efficient with a hassle-free one-panel design and seamless LIMS integration, earning a spot in this year’s Top 5. Learn more.
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VHX-6000 Digital Microscope from KEYENCE Corporation
Utilizing an 18-megapixel camera with a CMOS image sensor, this digital microscope achieves magnification up to 5000x and a large depth-of-field, and also allows the flexibility to observe difficult-to-image objects in handheld mode or with a borescope or fiberscope, earning a well-deserved spot in our Top 5. Learn more.
Top 5 Product Reviews
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“Convenience and Efficient Shaking in One Machine” (MaxQ 4000 Benchtop Orbital Shakers from Thermo Fisher Scientific)
“The design of these orbital shakers is very spacious and flexible,” wrote Varnika Mittal, a research scholar at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Read more.
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“Amazing Fluorescence-based Electrophoresis Unit” (3500xl Genetic Analyzer from Applied Biosystems)
“It’s very helpful for a molecular biologist and very easy to work with,” wrote Rick Ponting, a project technician at GeneBiotech. Read more.
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“Instrument With High Throughput, Durability, and Flexibility” (Eppendorf 5920 R Centrifuge from Eppendorf North America)
“Programming is easy and straightforward thanks to the digital monitor and the convenient touchpad keys,” wrote Sara Osman, a postdoctoral researcher at Humboldt University of Berlin. Read more.
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“Great for Cell Counting” (Corning® Cell Counter from Corning Incorporated)
“This small device takes up no space and delivers at an attractive price for what it is made for,” wrote Steve Mengel, a senior research scholar at New York University. Read more.
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“Good -80 For Thermostability” (TSX Ultra-Low Freezer from Thermo Scientific)
“This freezer keeps samples thermostable even when the door has been open for a bit,” wrote Vincent Pham, a graduate student at Harvard University. Read more.
Top 5 Featured Articles
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10 Great Holiday Gifts for Your Mini-Scientist
It might be a bit late for last minute holiday shopping, but these educational toys and learning kits offer great year-round gift-giving options for any young aspiring scientists in your life. From slime experiments to biology board games, huggable vaccines and solar-powered robots, these unique gift ideas combine educational value with tons of fun! Read more.
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How to Prepare for New PFAS Regulations
Many regulatory agencies are taking a closer look at the environmental and health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), making it more vital than ever for laboratories to be prepared for more rigorous quality testing and monitoring of these persistent pollutants. Richard Jack, Global Market Development Manager - Food and Environmental at Phenomenex, offers insight into what laboratories can expect as these regulations evolve and what lab managers should consider in terms of speed, cost, methodology and more. Read more.
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Adeno-Associated Viruses: Considerations for Upstream Process Development
Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are a promising platform for gene therapies, and there are many considerations for AAV upstream bioprocess development covered by Michelle Olson, Team Leader of Research and Development at Pall Biotech, in this article, including cell line selection, plasmid construction, growth mode, transfection type and more. Read more.
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Best Practices in HPLC to UHPLC Method Transfer
Looking to upgrade your HPLC experiments for faster separations, better peak resolution and lower detection limits? Jackie Trudell, Portfolio Marketing Manager for Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry at PerkinElmer, outlines what researchers should know when transitioning to an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC system) including the key differences between the two technologies and how to choose the right columns for your new system. Read more.
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Buyers’ Guide: Best Buys for Mass Spectroscopy
Mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the most accurate and sensitive analytical methods available for chemistry and biochemistry applications, including in the environmental, pharmaceutical and clinical diagnostic fields. This buyer’s guide can help you ensure you are getting the most out of the available MS technologies by outlining the different formats, ionization sources, separation methods and other details to consider before ordering a new system. Read more.
Top 5 News Articles
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New Computational Model Demonstrates the Impact of a Potential COVID-19 Vaccine
In early January, shortly after the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use in individuals 16 and older, a study conducted by researchers at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and published in PLOS Computational Biology showed how a vaccine could prevent more than a million cases and nearly 100,000 hospitalizations or more as well as save billions of dollars in medical expenses and indirect costs of infection. Since then, nearly 8.5 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide, and according to some studies, early vaccine efforts may have prevented as many as 140,000 deaths and 3 million cases in the United States. Read more.
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Cannabis Use May Reduce Blood Pressure
Cannabis use is authorized in many regions for medical purposes such as pain relief and as treatment for mental disorders such as anxiety and PTSD. A study conducted by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center, and published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine earlier this year, showed cannabis could offer an additional medical benefit by reducing blood pressure in adults 60 and over who suffer from hypertension. Read more.
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The Shocking Number of Toxic Byproducts in Drinking Water
Drinking water contamination is a problem that could affect anyone, so it is no wonder that many people wish to know more about the chemicals that may be in the water poured from their own tap. Scientists at Johns Hopkins Environmental Health and Engineering proposed a new method of “reactivity-directed analysis” to capture a broader profile of the amount of regulated and unregulated treatment byproducts that can be found in the water supply. Read more.
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Why Do Redheads Have Higher Pain Tolerances?
Did you know your hair color could be a factor in your sensitivity to pain? If you’re a redhead, your cells contain a variant form of the melanocortin 1 receptor, which may result in lower levels of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) being produced in your body. Because POMC regulates the inhibition and enhancement of pain, you may find you perceive pain differently than your blond and brunette friends and family members, according to researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, who tested their theory using red-haired mice. Read more.
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Vitamin A and Its Role in Nerve Cell Neuroplasticity
Vitamin A is an essential vitamin found in many food sources including sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach and dairy products, although it is most abundant in animal livers, which is one of the reasons cod liver oil is commonly used as a dietary supplement. Researchers at University of Freiburg and University Medical Center Freiburg examined how dendritic spines, which receive, process and transmit signals during communication between neurons, responded to the Vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid, and found that the substance caused the spines to increase in size and enhanced their ability to transmit signals. Read more.