Syngene fluorescence and Visible Protein Systems

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Choosing the Right Gel Imaging System

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Modern laboratories are under increasing pressure to balance safety, flexibility, sustainability, and cost efficiency. As research environments evolve and space becomes more valuable, many facilities are re-evaluating traditional ducted fume hoods in favour of more adaptable alternatives. AirClean ductless fume hoods offer a proven, modern solution that delivers reliable containment, advanced safety monitoring, and significant operational benefits—without the complexity of ductwork.

In this article, we explore what ductless fume hoods are and the key benefits that make AirClean systems an ideal choice for today’s laboratories.

What Is a Ductless Fume Hood?

A ductless fume hood is a self-contained laboratory ventilation system designed to protect users from chemical vapours, fumes, and particulates. Unlike traditional ducted fume hoods, ductless systems do not exhaust air outside the building. Instead, contaminated air is drawn through high-performance filtration—typically carbon-based filters—before clean air is safely returned to the laboratory.

The effectiveness of a ductless fume hood depends on two critical factors: advanced filtration technology and continuous safety monitoring. AirClean ductless fume hoods are engineered with both in mind, providing dependable protection for a wide range of laboratory applications.

Key Benefits of AirClean Ductless Fume Hoods

AirClean ductless fume hoods are designed to provide effective containment, flexibility, and efficiency in modern laboratory environments. By combining advanced filtration technologies with intelligent safety features, these systems support a wide range of laboratory applications while addressing practical considerations such as energy use, space constraints, and operator safety.

Economical

The absence of ductwork not only simplifies installation but also reduces long-term operational costs associated with facility maintenance and energy consumption. For lab managers planning new installations or expanding existing facilities, ductless fume hoods offer predictable cost modelling and scalability, avoiding the hidden expenses often associated with ducted infrastructure changes.

Portable

The self-contained design of ductless fume hoods allows laboratories to respond quickly to changing workflows or project requirements. Units can be relocated or redeployed with minimal disruption, making them ideal for multi-use spaces, temporary projects, or facilities where fixed ducted systems are impractical.

Operator Protection

By controlling airflow at the point of use and removing contaminants before air is recirculated, ductless fume hoods create a protective barrier between the operator and hazardous substances. This design supports consistent containment, reduces exposure risk, and contributes to a safer laboratory working environment without relying on building exhaust systems.

Environmentally Friendly

Unlike traditional ducted fume hoods that continuously exhaust conditioned air, ductless systems operate as closed-loop units, filtering and returning clean air to the laboratory. This approach significantly reduces the energy demand placed on building HVAC systems, making ductless fume hoods particularly well suited to laboratories seeking to improve sustainability without compromising safety or performance.

Advanced Safety Features

AirClean ductless fume hoods incorporate continuous airflow monitoring alongside real-time gas detection through AirSafe technology, providing constant verification that the system is operating within safe parameters. Audible and visual alarms alert users immediately to changes in airflow performance or filtration status, enabling timely intervention and helping to maintain consistent containment and safe laboratory operation.

Filtration

Ductless fume hoods rely on application-specific filtration to manage both particulate and chemical hazards effectively. HEPA filters remove particulates with high efficiency, while gas-phase coconut shell carbon filters utilise AirClean’s unique carbon filtration media to adsorb chemical vapours. This engineered carbon format minimises the release of potentially hazardous carbon dust commonly associated with traditional granular carbon filters, helping maintain cleaner airflow and consistent filtration performance over time.

Applications for AirClean Ductless Fume Hoods

Thanks to their versatility, safety features, and efficiency, AirClean ductless fume hoods are used across a wide range of environments, including:

A Smart Investment in Laboratory Safety and Sustainability

AirClean ductless fume hoods provide a compelling alternative to traditional ducted systems. By combining economical operation, portability, environmental responsibility, and advanced safety features, they offer laboratories a future-ready solution that does not compromise on performance.

With proven filtration technology, real-time monitoring, and multiple layers of user protection, AirClean ductless fume hoods help laboratories create safer, more flexible, and more sustainable working environments.

For organisations seeking a reliable and efficient fume containment solution, AirClean ductless fume hoods represent a smart and forward-thinking investment.

Learn More About AirClean Ductless Fume Hoods

To find out how AirClean ductless fume hoods can support your laboratory’s safety, flexibility, and sustainability goals, speak with the Synoptics team today. Our specialists can help assess your application, recommend the most suitable filtration solution, and ensure your laboratory is equipped with the right level of protection.

Contact Synoptics to discuss your requirements or to request further  information about AirClean ductless fume hoods.

Contact Us

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High-purity distilled water is the backbone of countless laboratory workflows — from reagent preparation and media formulation to analytical applications where precision is essential. The Fistreem Cyclon water purification system is designed to deliver consistent, reliable distillate. But like any piece of laboratory equipment, its performance depends heavily on regular cleaning and maintenance.

Neglecting these simple routines doesn’t just impact water quality — it can shorten the lifespan of your system and compromise the accuracy of your work. In this guide, we’ll break down why cleaning is vital, how often it should be done, and what steps you can take to protect your still for the long term.

Why Regular Cleaning Matters

1. Limescale and contaminant build up

Feedwater naturally contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium. As the Cyclon heats and boils this water, those minerals are left behind, gradually forming limescale inside the boiler and on heating elements. This buildup acts as an insulating layer, forcing the system to work harder to reach boiling temperature. Over time, it stresses internal components, increases energy consumption, and slows the distillation rate. Dried limescale build-up may contract over time, resulting in cracks in the glassware.

2. Blocked Pipes and Drain Valves

Scale and residue can obstruct internal pipework and the drain valve. When this happens:

• The boiler may not empty completely
• Stagnant water can remain inside the system
• Flow rates may drop
• Water purity can be compromised

These small issues can escalate quickly, reducing overall performance.

3. Reduced Efficiency = Higher Costs

Deposits on heating elements cause uneven heating and increase energy usage. Regular cleaning keeps the system operating efficiently and prevents unnecessary repair or replacement costs.

4.  Water Contamination Risks

Loose scale can flake off into the boiler and ultimately affect the purity of the distilled water — a serious issue for sensitive applications such as:

• Buffer and reagent preparation
• Tissue culture workflows
• Molecular biology assays

Maintaining the still is essential to maintaining the integrity of your research.

Figure 1- Fistreem system showing a significant build up of limescale

How to Clean Your Fistreem Cyclon: Step-by-Step

Please use the link below to download the step by step instructions.

Cleaning and Maintenance guide Cyclon systems

How Pretreatment Works

Pretreatment cartridges remove hardness ions from the feedwater before it enters the boiler, significantly reducing the formation of mineral deposits within the system. By limiting limescale build-up at the source, these cartridges help maintain consistent system performance and protect critical components.

The use of pretreatment cartridges offers several operational benefits. Reduced limescale accumulation improves energy efficiency by allowing heating elements to operate more effectively. This, in turn, helps extend the lifespan of both heating elements and glass components, reduces the frequency of manual cleaning, and lowers the risk of contaminants entering the distilled water.

To ensure continued effectiveness, pretreatment cartridges should be replaced at appropriate intervals. Replacement is recommended if a reduced water flow rate is observed, if there is a noticeable change in conductivity, or in accordance with the usage guidelines provided by your cartridge supplier.

How Often Should You Clean Your System?

Footnote

Water hardness classifications are indicative and based on typical mineral content (primarily calcium and magnesium ions) in the feedwater supply. Local water quality can vary significantly, and laboratories are advised to consult local water hardness data where available.

Usage levels are defined as follows: high daily use refers to continuous operation or multiple distillation runs per day; moderate use refers to regular daily or near-daily operation with single runs; and low use refers to occasional operation, typically a few times per week or less.

Routine visual inspection of the boiler, heating elements, pipework, and drain valves is recommended. Cleaning should be carried out sooner than the suggested intervals if visible scale, reduced water flow, or decreased distillation efficiency is observed

Signs your Cyclon needs attention:

Addressing these signs early helps minimise downtime and maintain reliable distilled water output.

Conclusion: Protect Your Equipment — and Your Results

Routine cleaning and maintenance are essential for maintaining performance, protecting your equipment investment, and ensuring reliable, high-purity water for your laboratory applications. With simple, consistent care, your Fistreem Cyclon can deliver years of dependable operation.

Ready to keep your Fistreem Cyclon running at its best?

Whether you need pretreatment cartridges, descaling solutions, or guidance on setting up a maintenance schedule, our technical support team is here to help.

👉 Contact us today for personalised advice or to order maintenance supplies.

Contact Us

The post The Importance of Cleaning and Maintaining Your Fistreem Cyclon Water Still appeared first on Synoptics.

Vacuum ovens have become essential tools in modern research and industrial laboratories. Whether used for drying heat-sensitive samples, removing solvents, degassing materials, or performing controlled thermal treatments, vacuum ovens enable precision and reproducibility that standard ovens cannot match.
This guide covers how vacuum ovens work, which industries rely on them, the safety advantages they offer, and what to consider when purchasing one.  

What Is a Vacuum Oven?

A laboratory vacuum oven is a sealed heating chamber designed to operate under reduced pressure. By lowering the internal pressure, liquids boil at significantly lower temperatures, allowing researchers to dry samples gently and efficiently. This protects delicate materials from thermal degradation, oxidation, and contamination—making vacuum ovens crucial for research environments that demand precision.

How Vacuum Ovens Work?

Vacuum ovens operate by creating a reduced-pressure environment in which a vacuum pump removes air and gases from the chamber, lowering the boiling points of water and solvents so they evaporate rapidly at much lower, safer temperatures. Heat is applied uniformly through conductive shelves and well-insulated chambers, ensuring each sample experiences a consistent thermal profile. Advanced control systems—including digital or touchscreen interfaces, programmable temperature ramps, precise vacuum setpoints, real-time monitoring, and data logging—allow users to fine-tune both temperature and pressure conditions. Because the chamber is largely oxygen-free, oxidation is minimised, contamination is reduced, and sensitive materials remain more stable throughout the drying process.

Key Applications and Industries Using Vacuum Ovens

Vacuum ovens are used in a wide range of scientific and industrial fields, including:

Optimising Vacuum Oven Results Starts with the Right Pump

Selecting the right vacuum pump for your vacuum oven is crucial for achieving efficient drying, reliable solvent removal, and consistent results. A pump that matches the oven’s requirements helps maintain stable vacuum levels, shortens processing times, and prevents contamination—key factors for producing reproducible data in any research setting.

Two pump types commonly used with vacuum ovens are chemical-duty diaphragm pumps and filtration diaphragm pumps. Chemical-duty diaphragm pumps are designed to handle aggressive or high-vapour-load solvents, making them ideal for applications such as sample drying, concentration, and gentle solvent evaporation. Their chemically resistant materials and oil-free operation minimise maintenance and prevent back-streaming, ensuring a clean workflow. Filtration diaphragm pumps, while also oil-free and easy to maintain, provide lower vacuum levels and are better suited to tasks like vacuum filtration or basic aspiration rather than deep-drying applications.

For vacuum oven work, chemical-duty diaphragm pumps are typically the best fit. They provide the deeper vacuum and solvent-handling capability needed to efficiently dry sensitive samples without introducing contaminants. Choosing the correct pump not only optimises oven performance but also supports safer, cleaner, and more reliable operation in the laboratory.

Advantages of Using a Vacuum Oven

A laboratory vacuum oven provides the clear advantage of low temperature drying, as reducing the internal pressure allows moisture and solvents to evaporate at much gentler temperatures. This helps protect heat-sensitive or delicate materials from damage, ensuring that their structure and chemical properties remain intact throughout the process.

Another major advantage is the faster drying time achieved under vacuum. Because liquids evaporate more readily when pressure is reduced, samples dry more quickly and more evenly, improving efficiency and supporting higher throughput without sacrificing quality.

A further benefit lies in the oven’s ability to maintain a low-oxygen environment, resulting in reduced oxidation. Sensitive materials that might otherwise corrode, discolour, or react with air remain stable, which is particularly important in chemical, pharmaceutical, and materials research.

The vacuum environment also contributes to enhanced safety, as the limited presence of oxygen lowers the risk of combustion and reduces the accumulation of flammable vapours when removing solvents. This makes the process safer for both operators and samples.

Finally, the combination of controlled heat and stable vacuum conditions provides precise and reproducible results. Researchers can perform drying, curing, or degassing procedures with confidence, knowing that the conditions can be repeated reliably from one batch to the next.

Protecting Users and Samples with Essential Safety Features

When selecting a vacuum oven, safety should be a top priority, especially when working with heat, volatile solvents, and negative pressures that can place significant stress on the equipment. One of the most important protections is over-temperature safety, where automatic cut-offs prevent the chamber from exceeding safe limits and reduce the risk of thermal damage or runaway heating. High-quality vacuum ovens also use tempered or laminated glass in their viewing windows, allowing users to visually monitor samples without exposing themselves to the risk of breakage under vacuum conditions.

Equally important are pressure-release valves, which ensure the chamber can vent in a controlled manner and prevent sudden pressure changes that could compromise the oven or the samples inside. The overall construction of the chamber—typically heavy-gauge steel or aluminium—must be strong enough to withstand repeated cycles of vacuum and heat without warping or failing. Modern ovens often include integrated alarms that alert users to deviations in temperature or vacuum levels, helping catch issues early and maintain stable processing conditions. Together, these features not only protect operators but also help preserve sample integrity and extend the lifespan of the equipment.

As modern research increasingly relies on reproducible data, precise control of temperature, pressure, and timing has become essential. Today’s vacuum ovens often include programmable profiles, real-time monitoring, stable vacuum setpoints, and data logging to support method development and traceability. These capabilities allow researchers to maintain consistent processing conditions, compare results across experiments, and protect sensitive materials from variation.

With this growing emphasis on precision, many laboratories look for vacuum ovens designed with stable control systems and robust construction that support reliable day-to-day use. The Gallenkamp vacuum ovens supplied by Synoptics follow this design philosophy. They focus on delivering consistent temperature uniformity, dependable vacuum performance, and clear operator control—features that align well with the practical needs of research and industrial facilities.

Vacuum Oven Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Model

Selecting the right vacuum oven depends on your specific research needs and the conditions under which your samples will be processed. The following considerations can help guide your decision:

Conclusion

Vacuum ovens are indispensable tools for any laboratory requiring safe, precise, and repeatable drying or thermal processing. Their ability to operate at low temperatures under reduced pressure makes them ideal for sensitive materials used in pharmaceuticals, electronics, materials science, and biotechnology.

If your workflow depends on precision and reproducibility, the right vacuum oven makes all the difference.

If you would like to explore our range, head over to the website: https://www.synoptics.co.uk/product-category/gallenkamp/

Speak with our experts at Synoptics Ltd to find the ideal Vacuum oven model for your research needs.

Contact Us

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Water is used every day and can be used without thinking as we just have it on tap. Water companies like Anglian Water treat water to remove germs, small solid particles and smells. The process includes sedimentation, filtration and chlorination, which ensure clean and safe drinking water.  

Whilst this is great for personal use, laboratory applications often need the next level of purity for accurate and reliable results.  

What are Water Types? 

The terms Type I, II, and III come from ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), who, despite their name, set global standards. The water testing standards are based on the contaminants for health. security and environmental purposes. Fistreem systems produce Type II Water. 

What is Type II Water, aka Pure Water? 

Type II Water is the middle water type, with Type I being the purest and Type III the lowest. Applications for Type II Water mostly involve sample preparation as it reduces the risk of contamination and ensures reliable results. The applications that don’t need a higher level of water purity include Histology, Titration, General Chemistry and a feed to a Type I system.  

How to get Type II Water? 

Whilst filtering is used to produce Type III Water, Type II Water needs the next level of purity. Methods include distillation or deionisation: 

Distillation

Pro: Removes a wide range of impurities

Con: Time consuming

Options from Fistreem: Cyclon, Calpyso

Deionisation

Pro: Quick results, perfect for on demand needs

Con: Need to replace resins so an on going cost

Options from Fistreem: Hydros, Cascade

What’s next? 

Fistreem is an expert in Type II Water and aims to continue to develop our systems to ensure you have the best systems for a good price.  

If you would like to explore our range, head over to the website: https://www.fistreeminternational.com/  

Want to enquire about purchasing or hear more from our experts? Contact us here: sales@firstreem.co.uk 

Finally, if you have a system and would like training or support, please reach out to our support team here: support@fistreem.co.uk 

The post What is Type II Water?: Understanding Water Types appeared first on Synoptics.

In the Life Sciences and Molecular Biology fields, capturing high-quality images of DNA/RNA and visible protein gels is crucial for accurate analysis and documentation.

Syngene’s commitment to innovation continues with the launch of our new image capture software to accompany the new InGenius 5 imaging system. The software is designed to enhance the quality and efficiency of gel imaging. With high-resolution imaging, advanced saturation detection, and features like Extended Dynamic Range and Dynamic Fielding, researchers can achieve reliable and reproducible results, providing researchers with a reliable tool for their laboratory needs.

Our newly developed image capture software is designed with simplicity in mind. It features an intuitive, user-friendly interface that allows researchers to acquire, save and publish images with ease. High-resolution imaging ensures bands on your gel can be effortless, while flexible file format compatibility enables seamless data sharing.

With a modern interface tailored for ease of use, this software guarantees high-quality image capture every time.

The software provides 5mp high-resolution images perfect for imaging DNA/RNA and visible protein gels. High-resolution imaging allows for clear separation and precise visualisation of closely spaced bands.

Saturation Detection

Helping to identify areas where signal intensity exceeds the camera’s dynamic range, leading to a loss of quantitative accuracy. Any bands that have exceeded the maximum brightness will be coloured red, permitting easy detection of saturated bands.

Extended Dynamic Range (EDR)

EDR is a feature that enhances the ability to capture very bright and dim signals within the same image. It works by combining multiple exposures to prevent signal saturation while preserving low-intensity details. This improves quantification accuracy in applications such as gel imaging, where bands of varying intensities need to be analysed without losing detail due to overexposure or underexposure.

Dynamic Fielding (DF)

DF is a correction technique used to compensate for uneven illumination. It helps by creating a uniform background by adjusting pixel intensity across the image, reducing artefacts caused by non-uniform lighting. This is especially useful in imaging visible protein gels with a visible converter screen.

Versatile File Formats

Save images in multiple formats based on your needs:

• TIFF: ideal for high-quality, uncompressed images used in detailed analysis and publication
• JPEG and BMP: offer compressed files in smaller sizes suitable for easy sharing and storage.

Edit Optimisation Tools

Whether you are capturing DNA/RNA or visible protein gels, this software provides the precision and ease needed for Life Science research. Syngene remains dedicated to delivering cutting-edge imaging solutions to support scientific discovery.

Find out more about our new InGenius 5 system here: https://www.syngene.com/product/ingenius-5/

For more information, please get in touch with our sales team at sales@syngene.com

The post How to Capture Perfect Gel Images: A Guide to Syngene’s New Software appeared first on Synoptics.

However, how binning is implemented varies significantly between CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) and CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) sensors, leading to distinct performance differences.

What is binning?

In a camera sensor, individual pixels collect photons of light and convert them into electrical signals. These signals are then digitised, creating an image.

Binning combines the signals from adjacent pixels on a sensor into a single, larger, effective pixel (known as a “superpixel”). This process boosts sensitivity and reduces exposure times by combining the light captured by multiple pixels. However, the trade-off for binning is a reduction in spatial resolution.

The three-bucket graphic explains this with rain being captured in buckets. Larger buckets can capture more raindrops. Similarly, larger pixels, created through binning, collect more light, increasing the camera’s sensitivity.

How Does Binning Differ Between CCD and CMOS Sensors?

The architectural differences between CCD and CMOS sensors result in distinct approaches to binning, affecting their performance in a key way.

With CCD sensor technology, light hits the sensor and is converted into electrical charges that are then transferred across the sensor and read out sequentially. All binning is performed ‘on-chip’, whereas CMOS sensors convert light into electrical signals at each pixel, and binning is performed digitally after readout.

The advantage of how CCD sensors convert light into electrical charge and transfer it across the sensor is that this approach minimises the noise introduced by the readout amplifier, as the signal is read out once after binning. With CMOS sensors, each pixel has its photodiode and amplifier, meaning that pixel signals are independently amplified and digitised before binning. Therefore, readout noise is added at each pixel during the amplification and digitisation stages. CMOS binning, for this reason, does not achieve the same SNR improvements as CCD binning. There have been many advances in CMOS technology in recent years to reduce the per-pixel noise; however, CCD technology still has the advantage.

The following table highlights the key differences between CCD and CMOS binning.

Binning is a critical feature that enhances camera performance, particularly in scientific imaging applications. CCD sensors excel at binning due to their ability to combine pixel charges at the sensor level before readout, significantly improving the SNR. This makes CCDs the ideal choice for low-light applications, such as chemiluminescence Western blotting, where sensitivity and low noise are paramount.

Despite advances in CMOS technology, CCD sensors are currently preferred in low-light applications.

Explore the Syngene website to discover our range of imaging systems: https://www.syngene.com/

Contact our team of experts for more information: sales@syngene.com

The post Why Do CCD Sensors Excel At Binning Compared To CMOS? appeared first on Synoptics.

Here’s a look back at 2024:

Distributor Successes

Kicking off the year, our Sales Manager, Clare Grimsey, visited both longstanding and new distributors to explore exciting opportunities. These visits have led to fruitful collaborations and promising ventures, the results of which will unfold in 2025.

Interested in a visit from our sales team? We’d love to connect—reach out to us at info@synoptics.com

Syngene: Innovation in Imaging

2024 saw the successful launch of the G:Box mini XRQ, completing our comprehensive G:Box imaging range. Following last year’s introduction of the NuGenius XE, this addition underscores our commitment to providing advanced imaging solutions tailored to scientists’ needs.

But we’re not stopping there. Look forward to new features for the G:Box mini range, arriving early in 2025. Curious about the G:Box mini XRQ? Learn more here: https://www.syngene.com/product/gbox-mini-xrq/

Synbiosis: Elevating Colony Counting

This year, we expanded the ProtoCOL 3 family with the sleek new ProtoCOL 3HDE. This model, with its precision zone measurement capabilities and cutting-edge design, is an invaluable addition to our most popular colony counter range.

Discover more about the ProtoCOL 3HDE here: https://www.synbiosis.com/product/protocol-3-hde/

Fistreem: Two Decades of Excellence

This year marked 20 years of Fistreem, a celebration of the innovation and dedication that drive our success. From robust pretreatment systems to a dedicated distributor support page, Fistreem continues to deliver excellence in water purification.

Find out more about Fistreem’s journey here: https://www.fistreeminternational.com/

Event Highlights

From Analytica and SLS Show to Lab Innovations, 2024 has been packed with incredible events. Highlights included showcasing new products like the ProtoCOL 3HDE, connecting with distributors and customers, and forging partnerships such as our collaboration with Plas Labs.

Our award-winning stand at Lab Innovations, as part of SDI Group, truly capped off the year in style.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we prepare for Synoptics’ 40th anniversary, 2025 promises to be a landmark year. Expect:

• Exciting product launches
• Major software updates
• Celebratory events
• Engaging challenges for the community

Join the celebration and stay updated on our journey by following us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/synoptics-ltd/

2024 has been an incredible chapter, and we’re eager to make 2025 even more impactful for our partners, distributors, and customers. Thank you for being a part of our success!

Thanks,

Kate George

Director of Sales

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The post Celebrating a Year of Success and Exciting Plans for the Future appeared first on Synoptics.

Fume hoods play a critical role in laboratory safety by protecting users from hazardous chemicals, vapours, and fumes during experiments. In addition to containing fumes, the hoods also function as a physical barrier against chemical spills.

How does a fume hood work? 

A fume hood removes toxic fumes either through ducting or a ductless system. I will explain the differences between ducting and ductless systems in more detail.

A ducted fume hood is connected to ducting within a building and is often connected to a fan or blower. The fan draws chemical fumes from the fume hood’s working area to the outside, where they are diluted and no longer harmful.

A ductless fume hood uses a filter or series of filters with a fan usually built into the fume hood. The fan draws the chemical fumes in the fume hood’s working area through the filter(s) and recirculates them as clean air back into the same room where the fume hood is located.

When should you choose a ductless fume hood over a ducted fume hood? 

If you use low- to medium-risk chemicals, ductless fume hoods are the most appropriate for this application. Conversely, a ducted fume hood is the better choice if you frequently use highly toxic, corrosive chemicals or volatile substances.

Ductless fume hoods offer various advantages that make them attractive for specific laboratory settings. Here are the key benefits.

Flexible and Portable 

Ductless fume hoods do not require external venting, so they can be placed almost anywhere in a laboratory, allowing for easier relocation.

Ductless fume hoods are very portable. They are compact and quickly moved to accommodate changing workspace needs or temporary projects.

Lower installation costs 

Ductless fume hoods are essentially plug-and-play and do not require the complex infrastructure required by ducted systems. Therefore, they have lower upfront costs and faster installation times. The more straightforward setup makes them more cost-effective.

Energy Efficient 

Unlike ducted fume hoods, which expel conditioned air outside the building, ductless fume hoods filter and recirculate air back into the room, minimising the energy demand on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. This leads to lower utility costs, contributing to energy conservation and a more sustainable lab environment.

Compliance

Ductless fume hoods are designed to comply with many lab safety regulations, provided that they are used with appropriate filters. Airclean fume hoods are tested to the EN61326-1 standard.

Low Maintenance 

Most ductless fume hoods only require periodic filter replacements, which the operator can carry out. Several self-monitoring features, such as low airflow alarms, real-time monitoring of the installed filtration bed, electronic gas detection for real-time gas phase filter monitoring, and filter lockout, ensure the correct filter replacement. Airclean systems ductless fume hoods offer these features.

When deciding between ducted and ductless fume hoods, evaluating your laboratory’s specific needs, including the types of chemicals used, safety requirements, budget constraints, and energy efficiency goals, is essential.

By carefully considering these factors, laboratories can choose the fume hood type that best suits their operational needs and safety standards.

The post Choosing the Right Fume Hood: Understanding the Essential Role of Ducted and Ductless Systems in Laboratory Safety appeared first on Synoptics.

CCD or CMOS?  Before diving into the pros and cons of chemiluminescent western blot imaging, it’s important to understand what these phrases mean.

To put it simply, they are two different camera sensors.

CCD sensor technology has been around for many years. With CCD sensors, light hits the sensor and is converted into electrical charges that are transferred across the sensor and read out sequentially. This results in high-quality images with low noise levels.  

CMOS sensors convert light into electrical signals at each pixel. This provides faster read-out and lower power consumption, which are advantageous features.   

Choosing the right imaging system for your application is crucial for achieving sharp, high-quality images. Both technologies have advantages and disadvantages, but which is better for chemiluminescence western blotting depends on a few key factors.

In this article, we will explore the strengths and weaknesses of CCD and CMOS sensors to help researchers decide which is better suited for western blotting.

Chemiluminescent western blot detection involves light emission due to a chemical reaction (HRP and luminol). This light is often faint and requires sensitive imaging to capture the bands on the blot. Several key factors come into play when evaluating CCD versus CMOS sensors for this type of application, which will be discussed below.

Sensitivity 

Sensitivity is arguably the most critical factor in chemiluminescent imaging, as the emitted light is often weak.

CCD sensors are the traditional choice for imaging low-light levels due to their ability to detect low-light levels with minimal noise. They typically have high quantum efficiency, which makes them more suitable for capturing faint chemiluminescent signals.

CMOS sensors, on the other hand, are more modern and have recently undergone many improvements in sensitivity. However, they are believed to currently fall short of CCD sensors when detecting extremely low-intensity light. For applications requiring maximum sensitivity, CCD sensors usually outperform CMOS.

Noise Performance

Ideally, when imaging chemiluminescent western blots, you want bright bands on a smooth, dark background, and to achieve this, you need a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

CCD sensors excel in producing images with very low noise due to the way they handle the transfer of charge. This is particularly important for image captures requiring a long exposure time, which is very typical for chemiluminescence. CCD sensors often produce images with a high SNR.

CMOS sensors tend to have higher intrinsic noise than CCD sensors, especially during long exposure times. Modern CMOS designs have significantly improved to minimise noise, but CCD sensors have a significant advantage when comparing noise levels.

Dynamic Range 

Dynamic range refers to the sensor’s ability to capture faint and bright signals on the same blot simultaneously. In chemiluminescent western blot imaging, it is important to detect high-abundance and low-abundance proteins in the same image without saturating the stronger signals.

CCD sensors are known for their wide dynamic range, which allows them to capture a broad spectrum of signal intensities. This is due to their high full-well capacity (the maximum amount of charge that each pixel in the CCD can store before it saturates).

CMOS sensors have progressed in increasing dynamic range, but top-end CCDs still outperform CMOS in this area. Some high-end CMOS sensors, HDR (high dynamic range), have processing techniques that improve the dynamic range, but for chemiluminescence, CCDs’ natural dynamic range gives them an edge.

Sensor Pixel Size  

The Pixel size of a camera sensor plays a vital role in chemiluminescence imaging. It directly affects the SNR and sensitivity, positively impacting the quality of chemiluminescent images.

CCD cameras tend to have larger pixels compared to CMOS cameras. The advantage of larger pixels is that there is more surface area to collect photons, increasing the amount of light captured per pixel. When more photons hit a larger pixel, this generates a stronger signal, which in turn leads to an improved SNR, and therefore, the detection of fainter signals is improved. The read-out noise for larger pixels is reduced, contributing to sensitivity.

CMOS cameras often have smaller pixels, which capture less light because they have a smaller area to collect photons. In addition, CMOS cameras can have lower full-well capacity, meaning they can store less charge before saturating. When looking at pixel size, CCD sensors have the advantage over CMOS, but CMOS technology is catching up.

Binning

Binning is a technique where adjacent pixels are combined into a “super-pixel” to increase sensitivity and improve SNR, but the downside is that this often leads to a loss in resolution.

In CCDs, binning occurs during the charge transfer process. When adjacent pixels are binned, their electrical charges are combined before being read. This allows the sensor to accumulate more light in the binned pixel area, improving sensitivity and reducing read-out noise, as the noise is applied to the entire binned region rather than each pixel. This results in a cleaner signal with less background noise, which is advantageous for weak signals like chemiluminescent Western blots.

In CMOS sensors, binning typically happens after each pixel has read out the signal. Since the read-out noise is applied to each pixel before the binning process, the noise level remains higher than CCD sensors. While binning can still increase signal strength by combining adjacent pixels, CMOS binning generally does not reduce the noise as effectively as CCD binning. 

Speed and Frame Rates 

While speed is not the highest priority in chemiluminescent Western blot imaging (as it typically requires longer exposure times), it may still be important if you’re dosing high-throughput experiments or need fast image acquisition.

CCDs, significantly high-sensitivity cooled CCDs, tend to be slower because of how the charges are transferred and read out.

CMOS sensors are designed for high-speed read-outs. Each pixel can be read individually, allowing for much faster image capture compared to CCDs. If speed is a priority, CMOS systems have a significant advantage.

Which One Should You Choose for Chemiluminescent Western Blots? 

Ultimately, the choice between CCD and CMOS sensors for imaging chemiluminescent Western blots depends on your specific needs and priorities:

If your top priority is sensitivity, low noise, and wide dynamic range, and you’re working with faint signals (e.g., low-abundance proteins), a CCD camera is better. CCDs remain the gold standard for high-sensitivity applications like chemiluminescent Western blots because they capture weak signals with minimal noise.

If you prioritise speed, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use for routine or high-throughput experiments, and your signals are strong enough, a CMOS camera could be a more practical solution. CMOS cameras are advancing rapidly and can still provide excellent images for most Western blot applications, especially if sensitivity is not your primary concern.

By understanding the strengths of each sensor type, you can choose the imaging system that best suits your research needs and produce publication-quality results.

Explore the Syngene website to discover our range of imaging systems: https://www.syngene.com/

Contact our team of experts for more information: sales@syngene.com

The post CCD vs. CMOS: Choosing the Right Imaging System for Chemiluminescent Western Blots appeared first on Synoptics.

The key change this policy introduces is a small charge for advanced support (specifically to Synbiosis and Syngene equipment only). The policy remains that products within our standard 2-year warranty are supported at no charge. Any equipment out of warranty will be supported as per usual, but advanced support such as remote access, return to the factory, or site visits will incur a charge depending on the work required and the age of the machine.

For full details, please review the policy update.

FAQ’s

Will my tickets opened before 1st October 2024 be charged?

No, any tickets raised before 1st October 2024 will be completed following the original support policy.

Will I be charged for raising a ticket after 1st October 2024?

No, all tickets will be processed for free, as per usual. If extra steps are required that are more involved, such as a remote support call, receiving a machine back to upgrade or a member of the support team visiting your site, this will be charged.

What are the charges from 1st October 2024?

If more support is required on a machine that is out of warranty and not under a service contract, a charge will be required before support continues.

Depending on the age of the machine, the charge will be different:

• Post warranty and up to 10 years old = £250 per issue, per machine
• Post 10 years = £950 per issue, per machine

How are systems covered by a service contract affected by this new policy from 1st October 2024?

If a service contract is out on a machine, quote the contract number on any tickets raised on this machine, and no fee will be applied. If you have the gold package, it will also cover the cost of any new parts needed.

What are some examples of ‘further support’ charged from 1st October 2024?

Some examples of when a charge will be applied are:

• Remote support calls
• Return of equipment to the site to be investigated
• A member of the support team coming out to your site

Will I have to pay for multiple support calls from 1st October 2024?

No, each charge applies to one machine for one issue.

If three support calls are required to diagnose the issue, this is covered in the one charge.

If two different issues are raised or two different machines need support, the fee will be charged twice.

The post Support Policy Changes from 1st October 2024 appeared first on Synoptics.