In 2022, the scientific community saw significant progress – and challenges – in a wide range of fields, from biomedicine and clinical diagnostics to environmental science and energy. For example, recent advancements in areas such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), CRISPR-Cas9, organoid models and proteome analysis, among other technologies, have opened up avenues to accelerate drug development, diagnostics and precision medicine applications. Additionally, state-of-the-art material analysis and manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing, have continued to drive progress in engineering endeavors ranging from energy storage to construction to next-generation electronics and more. Of course, the year was not without its difficulties, as the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing helium shortage continue to burden laboratory resources around the world.
As scientists continue to strive toward improving health, safety, daily life and our understanding of the world around us, their efforts have been supported by the equipment, products and services that make their work possible. From the most sensitive analytical instruments, to the workhorse liquid handling systems, to the carefully formulated reagents and the software that keeps labs connected, the solutions that laboratories rely on can make an enormous difference in the speed and success of discovery. Labcompare’s product directory, reviews, buyer’s guides, editorial articles and news section offer laboratory professionals a resource to explore product options, stay up-to-date on technology and application trends and gain useful tips for optimizing and expanding their scientific toolkit. Let’s take a look back at some of the top viewed products, topics and articles that stood out on Labcompare this year.
Top 5 Product Categories
- Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers
Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) has remained a popular product category over the last couple of years, with AAS instruments offering sensitive elemental analysis for diverse applications in environmental science, petroleum production, semiconductor manufacturing, the pharmaceutical industry, food and cannabis testing, and more. With multiple options for radiation, atomization and detection between different AAS systems, instrument selection and customization can be tailored to suit the needs of the user.
Browse our atomic absorption spectrophotometer category here.
- Binocular Microscopes
Microscopes are ubiquitous and invaluable tools across laboratories in nearly every field; whether they’re used to examine flaws in manufactured parts, observe living cells or investigate tiny clues in the forensic lab, microscopy reveals visual information that can not be discerned with the naked eye. Binocular microscopes are favored for their greater comfort and ease of viewing, making them the most viewed microscopes on Labcompare (no pun intended!)
Explore our microscopy categories here.
- Hematology Analyzers
Hematology tests, namely complete blood counts, are among the most frequently performed routine tests handled by clinical laboratories, so it is no surprise that automated hematology analyzers are in high demand. As outlined in our recent Hematology Analyzers Buyer’s Guide, laboratories may choose between 3-part and 5-part differential analyzers, instruments with differing sample capacities and systems that require different sample volumes from 200 µL down to 20 µL microsamples. Analyzers may also offer additional features such as temperature monitoring and automatic flagging of results that are out of normal range.
See our hematology analyzers category here.
- Laboratory Thermometers
Temperature can have a major influence on a number of key factors in the lab; whether it be the success of chemical reactions, the growth and survival of cells, or the performance of highly sensitive equipment, temperature monitoring and control enable important experiments and prevent costly errors for countless labs. Laboratory thermometers range from simple handheld measurement devices to more advanced benchtop instruments with logging capabilities, wider temperature ranges and the ability to measure specific sample types using specialized sensors and probes. Both contact and non-contact thermometers can also be found in our directory.
Browse laboratory thermometer listings here.
- Chromatography Column Search
Chromatographic separations are essential for numerous testing applications in food, pharmaceuticals, clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and much more. Column chemistry and particle size play a major role in separation performance; Labcompare’s chromatography column search tool, which debuted this year, allows users to filter by separation mode, particle size, packing phase and more. C18 columns were the most commonly searched column types this year.
Try our chromatography column search tool here.
Top 5 Products
- StatStrip® Hospital Glucose Monitoring System from Nova Biomedical
This meter, which has topped our most-viewed products list three years in a row, is the only glucose meter system approved by the FDA for use with critically ill patients, making it an essential point-of-care diagnostic tool for many hospitals. Learn more.
- BD Phoenix™ Automated Microbiology System from BD Diagnostics
This next top-viewed automated system aims to simplify microbiology identification and susceptibility testing workflows with easy-to-use identification panels, fewer manual steps and integrated data transfer with laboratory information management systems (LIMS). Learn more.
- Cary 60 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer from Agilent Technologies
With a wavelength range of 190-1100 nm and a scanning speed of 24,000 nm/min (80 data points/sec), the most-viewed spectrophotometer on Labcompare offers efficiency and accuracy for a range of applications including quality control of raw materials, characterization of synthesized compounds and analysis of biological samples. Learn more.
- Lyphochek Assayed Chemistry Control, Level 1 from Bio-Rad Laboratories
Assayed for more than 100 methodologies and over 30 instruments, this lyophilized quality control encompasses more than 80 analytes, ensuring top performance of clinical chemistry assays and earning a spot in this year’s Top 5. Learn more.
- Dimatix Materials Printer DMP-2850 from FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
This popular material printing system is designed to make research and development (R&D) prototype generation and feasibility testing fast and cost-effective for a wide range of industries using a unique microelectromechanical system (MEMS) based, cartridge-style printhead that allows users to fill single-use cartridges with their own fluid materials. Learn more.
Top 5 Featured Articles
- What to Ask When Purchasing… a Biosafety Cabinet by Michelle Taylor
Biosafety cabinets (BSCs) are essential for the protection of lab personnel, the environment and/or samples from harmful biocontaminants, and are far from one-size-fits-all, which is why it is important to ask a number of questions about the needs of your lab before investing in a BSC. This article offers a guide for considering key factors like BSC class, size and customization and can aid prospective purchasers in identifying the type of BSC that is right for them. Read more.
- Questions to Ask When Buying an Ultra-low Temperature Freezer by Liam Critchley
Ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers are another major lab investment that require thorough deliberation before purchasing to ensure that the freezer selected will properly preserve samples while fitting into both your lab’s budget and workspace. This article highlights key points such as the types of freezers available at different price points, the facility infrastructure required to accommodate your new freezer and when it is most cost-effective to replace versus repair an older freezer. Read more.
- The Case for Upright Liquid Nitrogen Biorepositories by Del Williams
Biorepositories are a critical resource for life science and medical researchers, preserving libraries of biospecimens using cryogenic temperatures for use in future studies. While liquid nitrogen (LN2) cryovats and compressor-based cryogenic freezers are two common methods for storing these valuable specimens, this article highlights the benefits of an alternative option – upright liquid nitrogen freezers. By preventing user contact with LN2 and avoiding the high maintenance requirements of compressor-based systems, liquid nitrogen freezers could enable safer and more reliable cryogenic storage, the article argues. Read more.
- The Great Helium Shortage of 2022: What Can I Do to Keep My Lab Running? by Nicole M. Lock
The toll of this year’s helium shortage has been felt by countless analytical laboratories that rely on this high-performance carrier gas for their gas chromatography (GC) applications, leaving many scrambling to find ways to preserve their supply or face the daunting task of reworking their methods for an alternative gas. Lock, a member of Labcompare’s Editorial Advisory Board, discusses both of these options in depth, offering useful tips to help laboratories adjust based on their current situation and methods. Read more.
- How Multiomics Will Continue Improving Healthcare Outcomes in 2022 by Madhuri Hedge
In this article, Hedge, the senior vice president and chief scientific officer of global lab services at PerkinElmer, highlights the progress made in genomics technology over the past few years and explains how global collaboration and information sharing around genetic research will benefit public health in the years to come. Hedge also describes how the latest advancements have aided physicians in combining genetic information with other patient data to create more detailed health profiles, converting genomics to a more holistic multiomics approach. Read more.
Top 5 News Articles
- Rapid Bedside Genotype Test Can Prevent Hearing Loss in Newborns
Gentamicin is an antibiotic commonly used to prevent and manage sepsis in newborns, but genetic variations make some patients more susceptible to ototoxicity from the drug, which has the potential to cause permanent hearing loss. In this study, researchers from the University of Manchester developed and tested a rapid thermocycling instrument that can detect a gene variant that increases ototoxicity risk, in a bedside test taking just 25 minutes for results. Read more.
- Metrohm USA Celebrates 10th Annual Young Chemist Award Winner
For 10 years in a row, Metrohm USA has recognized chemistry students across the United States and Canada for their outstanding work in the fields of titration, ion chromatography, spectroscopy and electrochemistry. This year, Colby Ott, a Ph.D. candidate at West Virginia University’s Forensic and Investigative Science Department, took home the $10,000 prize for his research aimed at developing an effective and selective method to detect fentanyl, its analogs and other drugs of abuse using electrochemistry and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC-SERS). Read more.
- Chemical Analysis of Rare Diamond Reveals Water 660 km Beneath Earth’s Surface
An extremely rare find – a 1.5 cm IaB gem diamond mined from the interface between the Earth’s transition zone and lower mantle – recently enabled an international team including German, Italian and American scientists to begin answering unresolved questions about the presence of water deep beneath the planet’s surface. Using techniques including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, the researchers discovered ringwood inclusions exhibiting high water content in the diamond, suggesting the possibility that water from deep-sea sediments may enter the transition zone through subducting slabs. Read more.
- Improved Human Intestinal Organoids Include All Cell Types
The use of organoids as in vitro models for studying human biology has greatly accelerated the pace of disease research and drug discovery, and scientists are constantly improving on these models to increase their similarity to real human tissues. In this research, a team from the Organoid group at Hubrecht Institute optimized human intestinal organoids to include mature Paneth cells, which play a significant role in several diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Read more.
- Scientists Create Renewable Biocement Entirely Out of Waste Material
The production of cement, one of the most commonly used construction materials, requires the extraction of large amounts of sand from riverbanks and beaches, a process that can be harmful to the environment and has led to shortages of this natural resource in many areas around the world. Earlier this year, researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) designed a more sustainable way to produce cement, which relies on reactions between urea from mammalian urine and calcium ions from industrial carbide sludge to bond soil particles together and produce a strong, renewable alternative construction material. Read more.
Read more: Top 5-star Lab Product Reviews of 2022