Are your samples getting "cooked" and evaporated whether you like it or not? We've been asked a number of times this year alone to address the problems associated with external heat sources exhausting over or near their precious samples and either evaporating or contaminating them.

We had the opportunity to exhibit at the recent 36th Annual BMS Interdivisional Analytical Research Conference (BMSIARC) in NJ. This private show was sponsored by BMS solely for the Discovery Analytical Sciences – Mass Spec groups within BMS. It was BMS’ get-together for this group to review and discuss current technologies and new technologies and equipment offered by vendors who specialize in this area.

MéCour visited Beijing, China for the first time to further establish a new relationship with Beijing SMS Instruments & Equipment Co., Ltd, who is also Huber’s (German circulator manufacturer and partner to MéCour) distributor for China. Excellent and productive week-long visit that included staff presentations, training and multiple customer and university site visits to review a number of different applications.

Along with debating and establishing the correct and viable Low Temp for proper thermal control (cooling/freezing) of samples -65°C or -85°C (and anything in between or prior to those temperature settings), questions always come up regarding the use of freezers or incubators to properly do the job versus the MéCour way.

MéCour’s relatively new line of UltraLow Temp thermal control solutions has sparked continuous debates over what low temp setting  is REALLY required to properly freeze samples. Current response is that most samples contained in an aqueous solution are completely frozen at -65°C. Those immersed in a high salt matrix or solvent (e.g., ethanol, methanol) solutions most likely require the -85°C approach to ensure complete  freezing of  the samples.

How valuable are your samples and results to you?  Do you really know how to pick a circulator to sustain the correct and required thermal control for your application? When you set the thermostat at 4°C are you positive the sample(s) are maintained at 4°C? Where are the temperature losses in your system?

I get phone calls every day and talk to people at events about their temperature control methods and challenges. Whether they are working with chemical, immunological or biological assays or prepping and storing cells under ultra-low temperatures, the result is always the same–their conventional temperature control methods are not as effective as they want them to be.  

We are excited to announce our new website and social media networks where we can now expand our community of customers, partners, and researchers.