CAMBRIDGE, UK (February 28, 2011) - Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world
leader in serving science, today announced that Gruppo CSA, a leading
Italian environmental research institute, has implemented the Thermo
Scientific FLASH 4000 nitrogen/protein analyzer to enable efficient and
accurate nitrogen/protein determination in animal feed and human food
samples. The analyzer has set new standards for the efficiency of analyses
at the institute and has provided unmatched precision while also
facilitating increased sample capacity and high sample throughput. As a
result of the increase in speed and throughput of analyses, Gruppo CSA has
been able to expand its range of services to customers.
James Arcangeli, Nitrogen / Protein specialist at Gruppo CSA
Located in Rimini, Italy, Gruppo CSA houses a food laboratory division which
performs a broad range of analyses including nitrogen/protein determination
in animal feed and human food samples. The institute has seen a surge in the
number of animal feed analyses that it performs due to a recent European
Commission initiative that provides a financial incentive for farmers
producing dehydrated alfalfa with levels of protein above 15 percent. In
response to customer demand, Gruppo CSA is required to conduct rapid
nitrogen/protein analysis on high quantities of dehydrated alfalfa in
adherence with the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC)
992.23 method. To address the growing analytical requirements while also
remaining compliant with industry regulations, Gruppo CSA selected the
Thermo Scientific FLASH 4000 nitrogen/protein analyzer.
Prior to implementing the FLASH 4000 instrument, Gruppo CSA utilized the
traditional Kjeldahl method for its nitrogen/protein analyses. However, the
method suffers from a number of challenges, namely that it is extremely time
consuming, requiring more than four hours to complete a single analytical
cycle of just 20 samples. As a consequence, the institute could not provide
high quantity alfalfa analysis as a key service. The method also requires
the use of acids at extremely high temperatures, posing a significant safety
risk. Working with the Dumas combustion method for protein analysis, the
FLASH 4000 overcomes these challenges, increasing overall productivity and
cost-efficiency while also eliminating the use of corrosive acids, which
improves health and safety conditions within the institute.
The FLASH 4000 now enables Gruppo CSA's team to process up to 50 samples in
a single cycle, while the four-hour cycle time has been dramatically reduced
to just 10 minutes. In contrast to the Kjeldahl method, which requires
constant monitoring, the FLASH 4000 can run unattended and overnight, saving
time for the institute's technicians and increasing overall throughput. The
elimination of dangerous acids and toxic reagents has also meant that the
instrument is much easier to clean and maintain, particularly with the
inclusion of a self-cleaning filter, saving both time and money.
"After conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the FLASH 4000, it became
clear that the analyzer is unmatched in terms of capacity for accuracy,
sample throughput and sheer efficiency when facilitating the Dumas
technique," said Dr. Pierpaolo Tentoni, chairman of Gruppo CSA. "Since the
implementation of the instrument, our sample throughput has increased by
more than 50 percent and we are now able to analyze large quantities of
samples at low cost. With the high sample capacity and cost-efficiency of
the FLASH 4000, for the first time ever we have been able to provide animal
feed analysis as a key service."
For more information about the Thermo Scientific FLASH 4000, please call +1
800-532-4752, email [email protected] or visit
www.thermoscientific.com/flash4000
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving
science. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier,
cleaner and safer. With revenues of nearly $11 billion, we have
approximately 37,000 employees and serve customers within pharmaceutical and
biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities,
research institutions and government agencies, as well as in environmental
and process control industries. We create value for our key stakeholders
through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, which
offer a unique combination of continuous technology development and the most
convenient purchasing options. Our products and services help accelerate the
pace of scientific discovery, and solve analytical challenges ranging from
complex research to routine testing to field applications. Visit www.thermofisher.com.
For further press information please contact: Michelle Valentine, The Scott
Partnership, 1 Whiteside, Station Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire CW4 8AA,
United Kingdom Tel: + 44 1477 539 539 Fax: +44 1477 539 540 E-mail:
[email protected]