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ALPHA LABORATORIES LIMITED

Stand: D62
Chemicals, reagents, standards and biochemical supplies
Sample preparation, storage and logistics (extraction, ULT freezers, biobanking)
Laboratory plastics, glassware and consumables
Molecular biology, genomics and proteomics (PCR/qPCR, digital PCR, nucleic acid workflows, proteomics, immunoassays and biochemical analysis platforms)
https://www.alphalabs.co.uk

About us

Alpha Laboratories has been a leading supplier, supporting clinicians and scientists since 1975. From laboratory consumables, liquid handling supplies and lab equipment to routine and specialist clinical diagnostic solutions, it offers expertise in areas such as bowel cancer screening and calprotectin testing. As an independent specialist, Alpha Laboratories is dedicated to providing personalised customer service and sustainable solutions that further scientific discovery and improve people's lives.

Through worldwide connections and relationships with leading manufacturers, established and emerging suppliers, Alpha Laboratories sources the best products to help solve the problems you face in your laboratory every day.

Our wide range of liquid handling pipettes, sample tubes, microplates, PCR and general lab consumables, plus molecular biology equipment, ensure top performance in the laboratory.

The company has developed its own brand lines of essential laboratory consumables such as the high quality Pastette® transfer pipettes and eco-friendly Fastrak® pipette tips and FastZAP™ Filter Tip Refills.

Alpha Laboratories is committed to innovative sustainability practices focused on building a better world for future generations. We are changing the way we do business to preserve natural resources and the environment, by reducing waste and reusing or recycling materials, when possible.

Campaigns such as the LaboraTree tree planting scheme create a positive impact, enabling us to all put something back into the environment. At Alpha Laboratories, our aim is to assist you by providing eco-friendly products, made using renewable energy sources and sustainable practices.

Visit our stand D62 to find out more!

Products & services

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FastZAP™ Filter Tip Refills

Now you can reduce your plastic usage when you need a quality aerosol resistant filter tip for your exacting applications. FastZAP™ refills can be used to refill empty pipette tip racks with ZAP™ premier filter tips. Their low carbon footprint makes them an ideal solution to waste reduction goals for your lab. They bring the ease and value of Fastrak® refills to your filter tips. › Packaging made exclusively from recyclable and renewable materials › Simply lift, place and snap into a reusable rack › Quality polypropylene tips with a pure 10µm pore size autoclavable filter › Certified RNase and DNase and endotoxin-free › Validated sterility process

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Eco-Conscious, Low Retention Pipette Tips

EcoRack - Nerbe plus Premium Surface low retention pipette tip racks, are now available in completely paper-based packaging; ensuring easy disposal and significantly reducing plastic waste in the laboratory. They are stable and pre-sterilised and ready for immediate use. These top-quality tips are optimised for the highest precision and reproducibility in a pipetting cycle. The ultra-smooth hydrophobic surfaces prevent loss of material through adsorption and reduces DNA denaturation. These qualities improve efficiencies of test sequences by cutting down on costs associated with expensive reagents. The accuracy of Premium Surface tips is not affected by the physical properties of your sample, enabling you to achieve perfect results in liquid handling, even when dealing with challenging solutions. The viscosity, volatility, surface tension and temperature of your solution can negatively influence pipetting quality. This adversely affects the accuracy and precision of the desired result. With Premium Surface tips this is no longer a problem. Material loss of your valuable reagents and denaturation of DNA are therefore a thing of the past. Premium Surface tips are made from outstanding medical grade polypropylene granules giving them unparalleled transparency. The filter tip options contain sophisticated filter material with optimum pore density. Their universal fit means they are compatible with all common pipettes on the market, either single or multichannel models. These tips will revolutionise your daily laboratory work with continuous residue-free pipetting. They provide you with maximum precision and accuracy when aspirating and dispensing your sample material, to ensure your best results and success. Simultaneously, the EcoRacks offer a sustainable alternative to conventional pipette tip boxes.

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LaboraTree - Tree Planting Scheme. Turning Tips into Trees

Celebrating over 10 years of LaboraTree! It was way back in 2009 that the first seed of the Alpha Laboratories' tree planting scheme, LaboraTree, was sown. Thanks to the dedicated LaboraTree members in laboratories throughout the UK, over 3000 trees have now been planted across the country and are helping make a difference to our environment. The trees planted by our members have helped to consume CO2, clean up pollution, generate oxygen and provide vital habitats for wildlife. To celebrate 10 years of LaboraTree in 2019, we extended the scheme to include ZAP™ Premier filter tips in addition to Fastrak® tip refills. So now it is easier to collect more tokens towards trees. ZAP Filter Tips are Fastrak’s sister product. And, just like Fastrak they are made with sunshine too! In fact over 30% of the energy needed to make ZAP tips comes directly from solar panels. FastZAP™ is Alpha’s newest addition to the scheme, offering the ZAP Premier filter tips in the Fastrak re-racking system. Using both Fastrak® or FastZAP™and ZAP together is the perfect eco-friendly combination. You reduce the amount of waste in your laboratory too. Plus, you can now do even more to help preserve the environment for future generations by planting more trees through the LaboraTree campaign. There's never been a better time to join the LaboraTree scheme!

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Fastrak® Tip Refill System - Fast Racking, Less Packing, Quality Tips. The greenest choice without compromise.

The Greenest Choice...... In all environmental aspects, Fastrak excels. Compared to other popular refill systems, it is lighter, smaller and uses less packaging. In addition, packaging is almost entirely renewable (95%) and far exceeds that of popular brands. Without Compromise Designed to fit a wide range of pipettes, which simplifies tip sourcing for the laboratory. Each batch of tips is thoroughly tested on pipettes for which they are designed to be used - your assurance of accuracy and precision with your pipette, time after time. The unique transfer top is designed to prevent wobbling during refilling thus ensuring a contamination free transfer as there is no need to touch the tips or the platform. From an environmental standpoint, Fastrak goes significantly beyond any other refill system to reduce its carbon footprint. The packaging weight and volume is minimised to reduce the fuel consumed in transportation and to facilitate storage in crowded labs. It is made from 95% renewable materials and the printing inks are all vegetable based. The supporting base of the tip refill tower is produced from corn starch and is the industry's first compostable, non-petroleum bio-plastic. All in all, Fastrak is the most eco-friendly tip refill system on the market. Also, by collecting the Laboratree stickers on each Fastrak box users can get a tree planted in their name. To date, 2000 trees have been planted throughout the UK and the scheme is greatly valued by contributors. It’s free to join and exclusive to Fastrak®, FastZAP™and ZAP™ tip users, giving you a unique combination of green benefits. Fastrak proudly displays the ACT eco label that emphasises accountability, consistency, and transparency around manufacturing, user impact, and end-of-life impact.

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Nerbe Plus Premium Surface Low Retention Filter Pipette Tips

New Paper based packaging - Nerbe Plus Premium Surface, Low Retention Filter Pipette Tips **Now also available in EcoRacks (completely paper-based packaging) for a sustainable alternative** Nerbe plus Premium Surface low retention pipette tips are optimised for the highest precision and reproducibility in a pipetting cycle. The ultra-smooth hydrophobic surfaces prevent loss of material through adsorption and reduce DNA denaturation. These qualities improve efficiencies of test sequences by cutting down on costs associated with expensive reagents. The accuracy of these tips is not affected by the physical properties of your sample, enabling you to achieve perfect results in liquid handling, even when dealing with challenging solutions. The viscosity, volatility, surface tension and temperature of the solution, can negatively influence pipetting quality. Viscous liquids such as glycerol leave residues in the tip during pipetting. This adversely affects the accuracy and precision of the desired result. With Premium Surface tips this is no longer a problem. Material loss of your valuable reagents and denaturation of DNA are therefore a thing of the past. These tips will revolutionise your daily laboratory work with continuous residue-free pipetting.They provide you with maximum precision and accuracy when aspirating and dispensing your sample material, to ensure your results and success. The universal fit of all pipette tips means they are compatible with all common pipettes on the market, either single or multichannel models.

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Introducing Alpha Solutions™ - End-to-end, Bespoke Kitting and Logistics

Alpha Solutions™ is a initiative from Alpha Laboratories Ltd., designed to meet the evolving needs of healthcare providers and patients, for streamlined patient-centric care. Specialising in bespoke sample collection kits, fulfilment, and distribution management, Alpha Solutions offers an innovative service that addresses the rising demand for home-based and professional use clinical sampling. With a robust focus on compliance and quality, Alpha Solutions ensures that all products meet rigorous standards, including ISO 13485 certification, UKCA marking, and UN3373 Category B transport packaging. This adherence to internationally recognised regulations delivers healthcare providers with complete confidence in Alpha Solutions for safe, effective sample collection and transport. One of Alpha Solutions’ key offerings is its range of at-home sample collection kits, for Capillary Blood, Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) and Calprotectin. These kits are already supporting NHS Trusts and National Screening Programmes across the UK by improving patient pathways, reducing hospital visits, and providing high-quality, stable samples for laboratory testing - crucial for ISO15189:2022 accreditation. By enabling sample returns through postal services, Alpha Solutions reduces the burden on healthcare services and optimises patient care across the UK. Alpha Solutions doesn’t just stop at home-based kits. Its professional use offerings include venous blood draw kits and various transport packaging options. These solutions support phlebotomy services in clinics, pharmacies, and community nursing, offering safer, more convenient alternatives to hospital-based care. Whether you’re working on a large-scale healthcare initiative or a clinical research project, Alpha Solutions provides scalable, high-quality end to end solutions that empower the healthcare community to meet the challenges of today’s ever-changing medical environment.

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UN3373.co.uk - Packaging with Confidence

Do you send away human or animal samples such as swabs, blood, urine, faeces or tissue for diagnostic, research or clinical trials purposes? Are you aware of the specific packaging requirements necessary for legal compliance with the UN3373 regulation for transport of these category B biological materials? www.UN3373.co.uk provides an excellent resource for advice and easy access to the appropriate materials to help ensure your samples are packaged correctly, in accordance with these strict regulations. There are key requirements under UN3373 for primary sample containment, secondary and outer packaging. The website guides you through these, providing suitable options for a wide range of samples. In addition, whether your transportation is by road or air, the website provides clarity on suitable packaging to meet the ADR (road) or IATA (air) stipulations. UN3373.co.uk is also a source of bespoke sample collection and transport solutions that can be custom designed for your specific specimen handling needs. From clinical trials, home test diagnostics, sexual health to screening kits these can include any components and be designed with your own branding and instructions for use.

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Caring for Your Pipettes and Your Science

Confidence in your results and compliance with regulatory requirements can only be ensured with regular professional maintenance of your instruments. As one of the most widely used pieces of laboratory equipment this is critical for pipettes. In partnership with Sartorius, Alpha Laboratories now brings you a choice of internationally recognised expert pipette calibration services that you can trust and rely on. The combined scope of knowledge expands beyond Sartorius and Alpha instruments to directly provide all calibration needs, including other manufacturers’ brand equipment, giving you a single point of service for all your pipettes. These include single and multichannel, electronic and mechanical pipettes, as well as dispensers. At the new website www.alphalabservice.co.uk you will find expert support to help you choose the best service and calibration to suit your requirements. From understanding the different calibration options and number of readings taken for assessment of accuracy, precision and linearity, to deciding whether you need standard or UKAS certification. The flexible range of services can be performed through mail-in to our dedicated calibration laboratory, or for larger numbers of pipettes and a fast turnaround, our specially trained field service technicians will come to you.

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Picus® 2 Electronic Pipette

Improved Results with Advanced Connectivity The Picus® 2 electronic pipette offers enhanced precision enabling reproducible pipetting results for users of every capability. Picus® 2 is suited to all lab workers, from graduate students to experienced laboratory professionals. It is as intuitive to use as a mechanical pipette but offers more advanced options for experienced users. New technology brings improvements for reliable, repeatable pipetting results, featuring an unbeatable ergonomic design that is kind to your hand. • The built-in plate tracker increases reliability in microwell plate dispensing. • Repeated blowout function ensures recovering even the last drops of your sample. • A calibration adjustment feature enables maximal accuracy, even with difficult liquids. By connecting Picus® 2 to your mobile device, you can use the Sartorius Pipetting mobile app to smoothly run sample preparation workflows and adjust the pipette setting automatically, taking your productivity to the next level. • The app provides step-by-step guidance for various pipetting protocols and automatically adjusts the settings according to the protocol. • The app also allows updates of your Picus® 2 pipette with all the latest features. • Thanks to open connectivity, you can integrate the Picus® 2 pipette to an existing system in your lab. Sartorius pipettes and tips are designed to be an optimally compatible system. To fully optimise the performance of the Picus® 2 pipette, we recommend selecting Sartorius pipette tips for your laboratory. • The high-quality standard Optifit tips are the preferred choice for a wide range of laboratory applications and pipetting tasks. • Safetyspace® Filter tips ensure contamination-free operation. • Ensure compliance with ISO 8655:2022 with manufacturer recommended tips.

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Pastette®

Pastettes are available in over 50 designs and can be used for many specialist as well as general purpose requirements. They provide a safe and convenient alternative to glass pipettes, available in numerous shapes and sizes. Alpha Laboratories offers Pastettes in sterile, as well as simply packaged non-sterile pack formats. Sterile inner packs of 20, 10 or single wrap Pastettes combine the security of aseptic transfers with the economy of use that suits your needs. Pastettes are also available for custom requirements. Call Alpha Laboratories to discuss your specific design and packaging solutions. For more information visit www.alphalabs.co.uk/pastette

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PYROSTAR™ Neo+

A wildlife-conscious recombinant alternative to the conventional LAL assay In line with its sustainability ethics, Alpha Laboratories is delighted to introduce the new PYROSTAR™ Neo+ from FUJIFILM Wako. This endotoxin detection reagent has been developed by recombinant technology to provide a synthetic LAL assay alternative, designed with wildlife conservation in mind. This innovative product offers a non-animal derived solution for bacterial endotoxin testing (BET) in research, pharmaceutical, and medical equipment manufacturing. By replacing conventional LAL reagents sourced from Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs, PYROSTAR™ Neo+ helps reduce the impact on wildlife, while facilitating the same high sensitivity as PYROSTAR™ ES-F. PYROSTAR™ Neo+ utilises a recombinant 3 Factor system that replicates the equivalent cascade reaction of traditional LAL assays. It boasts improved specificity with the absence of Factor G, and eliminates interference due to reaction with β-glucan. Additionally, it has an optimised formulation to support handling of difficult sample matrices which cause interference. The Neo+ reagent contains a pNA chromogenic group, enabling detection of the assay results on an absorbance plate reader using a colorimetric method recombinant cascade reagent (rCR) assay. The endotoxin test offers clear ethical and environmental advantages over the traditional LAL test, including its compliance with the 3Rs principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal testing. For a limited time only, save 10% off Neo+. Visit our website or quote offer code PN0724. Offer ends 31st October 2024. Please visit www.alphalabs.co.uk/neo+ for further information or contact Alpha Laboratories on 0800 38 77 32 or email marketing@alphalabs.co.uk

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Smartlid™ The smarter way for viral DNA/RNA extraction

Through an exclusive new partnership with ProtonDx, (London, UK), Alpha Laboratories (Eastleigh, UK) proudly announces the launch of SmartLid™, a revolutionary magnetic key and lid system that streamlines the nucleic acid extraction process. The groundbreaking solution is designed for rapid and efficient viral DNA/RNA extraction and simplifies the three crucial sample extraction steps - Lysis, Wash, and Elution - offering a smarter way to handle nucleic acids in molecular biology applications. With its innovative features, SmartLid sets a new benchmark in the field, offering scientists and researchers a smarter, faster, and eco-conscious solution for nucleic acid extraction. The SmartLid advantage brings high yields of ultra-pure DNA/RNA for sensitive downstream processing and sets a new standard for speed in nucleic acid extraction efficiency. Powered by market-leading superparamagnetic beads, it delivers ultra-fast extractions, generating eluted DNA/RNA from up to 12 samples in less than 10 minutes. The SmartLid process is user-friendly, requiring no electricity, minimal pipetting, and only three simple steps. This ensures market-leading ease-of-use, making it accessible for professionals at all levels. Applications include PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR, RT-qPCR, LAMP, RT-LAMP, dPCR, RT-dPCR, and other amplification chemistries. Main sample types include cell-free or nearly cell-free liquid media such as VTM, eNAT, PBS, water, saliva, serum, plasma, urine, etc. SmartLid™ is designed to minimise plastic waste, with cartons and paper inserts made from recycled content and are fully recyclable. Additionally, magnetic keys are reusable, contributing to the reduction of rare-earth waste.

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The Alpha Portal – Efficient sample management on TAP

The Alpha Portal (TAP) offers a new perspective sample kit distribution: whether it’s for issuing direct-to-patient, or larger orders going to GPs or clinics. This new online portal gives the user greater control over sample logistics, and facilitates a traceable, efficient, and scalable solution. TAP offers a range of benefits to help laboratories manage the ever-evolving demand for patient samples. With live stock updaters for bespoke and off-the-shelf product, lot and expiry information, print-ready proofs, and how-to guides, TAP is designed to ease the burden of laboratory logistics, by minimising the administration burden associated with patient sample collection. • Samples are already extracted when received at the laboratory; • Samples are stabilised in specialised buffer immediately; • Frees up storage within the laboratory; • Improved capacity and reduced turn-around-time. TAP benefits many testing services, including the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), faecal calprotectin (fCAL), and blood collection kits. The impact of TAP has been shown at NHS Tayside, where they implemented the service in November 2023. Lynne Taylor, Study Coordinator at NHS Tayside, spoke about her success with the portal, and the improvements it’s made to the service, “My workflow is greatly improved […] using the portal has released me to take on new tasks and responsibilities.” The BÜHLMANN CALEX® Cap is designed to simplify sample handling and can be ordered through TAP. It provides convenient, hygienic, and safe sample collection for the patient and provides a quality, ready-extracted samples to the laboratory. IBDoc® kits can also be sent direct to patients. Whatever sample collection kits you are distributing, TAP can support your laboratory by streamlining your administration and simplifying your logistics, freeing up valuable resource.

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Getting Organised Never Looked So Good - Colour-Code Your Lab!

When handling lots of different samples and reagents, colour-coding can be an ideal way to distinguish between them. Alpha Laboratories offers a range of colourful laboratory products to help you organise your storage and workspace. This will assist you with an efficient workflow, whether enabling easy identification of samples for different testing pathways, separate projects, different process steps or distinct reagents in your lab. APEX® Microcentrifuge Tube Caps Available in a multitude of colours, caps for the popular APEX screw cap tubes give you many options when it comes to organising your samples. Drummond Pipet-Aids These can be fitted with a coloured tissue culture nosepiece, ensuring easy-identification and your lab partners cannot steal your equipment without your knowledge! Tube Racks Available in 5 colours, the 96-position reversible Combirack is compatible with 0.5ml microcentrifuge tubes on one side, with the reverse allowing storage of 96 x 1.5ml and 2.0ml microcentrifuge tubes. Cryogenic Storage Easily identify your samples held in cryogenic storage with coloured cap inserts for your cryovials. Brighten up your lab today!

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Amplify Rigid PCR Plates The Premium Choice for Automation Applications

Amplify Rigid PCR Plates are designed to set a new standard in laboratory efficiency and reliability. These innovative plates feature a rugged polycarbonate frame, providing a solid and flat surface that ensures seamless interaction with automated liquid handling platforms. This design guarantees a firm grip, allowing robots to place Amplify Rigid PCR Plates with utmost precision, eliminating any concerns of misalignment. Amplify Rigid PCR Plates are engineered for more than just durability. They include polypropylene wells that ensure optimal thermal transfer, resulting in higher reaction efficiency and more accurate, reliable results. Designed with an ANSI/SBS footprint and well spacing, they seamlessly integrate into existing laboratory setups. Offering exceptional compatibility and ease of use these plates are a cost-effective alternative to branded dual polymer plates. The meticulously crafted white well options enhance the fluorescence signal during qPCR, enabling clearer and more precise measurements, giving researchers the confidence they need in their experiments. Additionally, the vibrant colour options provide a visual distinction between different samples or experiments, allowing for quick and efficient identification and organisation. Amplify Rigid PCR plates are available in 96 well, 384 well and barcoded options. Sealing PCR plates is a critical aspect of laboratory workflows, and Amplify Rigid excels in this domain as well. The slightly raised wells of these PCR Plates guarantee an evaporation-proof seal with film, foil, or strip caps, protecting valuable samples and ensuring their integrity throughout the entire process. Please visit www.alphalabs.co.uk/rigid-frame-plates for further information or contact Alpha Laboratories on 0800 38 77 32 or email marketing@alphalabs.co.uk

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