Major Hardware and Software Upgrades Increase Assay Flexibility, Improve Image Capture, Visualization and Analysis

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a leader in serving science, unveiled at SBS 2007, a series of advanced software and hardware modules to further enhance the functionality of its industry leading HCS/HCA platform. Three major software developments include the introduction of the Thermo Scientific HCSExplorer? informatics software, new functionality of its BioApplications line of image analysis software, and expanded capability of its Thermo Scientific HCS Analysis Platform. Furthermore, the addition of a new Brightfield module for the Thermo Scientific Cellomics ArrayScan VTi® provides scientists with increased assay flexibility adding white light imaging to its highly efficient fluorescent imaging capabilities. All modules strengthen the core functionality of Thermo Fisher Scientific's world-class expertise in high content screening and analysis.

Enhanced Visualization
The Thermo Scientific HCSExplorer is the next generation of HCS informatics software. HCSExplorer utilizes proven web-based technology to enable rapid and easy enterprise-wide data access and analysis. This innovative offering provides powerful analytical, data visualization, and image comparison tools that can be used with any data store. HCSExplorer provides users with the ability to easily annotate data and customize reports thus facilitating collaborative decision-making.

Increased Assay Flexibility
The new Brightfield module for the Thermo Scientific Cellomics ArrayScan VTi allows researchers to perform HCS using white light. Combining this with existing fluorescent channels provides increased assay flexibility and enables scientists to significantly broaden their assay capabilities. This is especially important for toxicological live-cell assays, and novel formats (e.g. using stem cells, tissues or whole organisms).

Improved Image Analysis
BioApplications are image analysis algorithms that allow scientists to easily make complex measurements and are validated for a wide variety of biologies. New version 3 of Thermo Scientific BioApplications software has been significantly enhanced to measure larger image sizes and more objects within any given field. Additionally, a number of "tool tips" such as the background correction in each channel and the ability to analyze objects on a high contrast background improves usability.

More Efficient Laboratory Workflow
The new version 6.1 of Thermo Scientific HCS Analysis Platform provides significantly improved image visualization thanks to the addition of several new image display features. The advanced Graphical User Interface dramatically reduces training time, so research can commence almost immediately. Furthermore, data from a wide range of third party microscopes or HCS readers can now be analyzed, significantly improving laboratory workflow.