MicroscopesBlog: Expert's reviews, news, notes on Microscopes, Centrifuges, Lab Coats, Pipettes, Lab Safety, & more Lab Products!

What is an Export? An export is any item that is sent from the United States to a foreign country is considered an export. "Items" include commodities, software or technology, such as clothing, building material, circuit boards, automotive parts, blue prints, design plans and technical information. How do you determine if an export license is required? There are four questions that you must ask. What are you exporting? Where is the ultimate destination? Who will be the end user? How will the item be used? One of the ways we determine if an export license it needed is knowing whether the item you are intending to export has a specific Export Control Classification Number (ECCN). The ECCN number is what describes the particular type of item that you intend to export. The ECCN number is alpha numeric, and shows the controls placed on that specific item. All of the ECCN's can be located in the Commerce Control List (CCL). You can obtain the information on the Government Printing Office Web site. Look for more export information in my next blog!

Does anyone know what the HB in HB Instruments stands for? I do! The initials represent the Hiergesell Brothers who founded the Instrument Company in 1903. I bet you didn't know they have been around for that long. This is a third generation ownership, the brothers revel in the old world workmanship brought to the United States from Germany. Because of the longevity in the business HB has become a household name in the Laboratory Industry. HB is known worldwide for their manufacturing of temperature and density related instruments. Their headquarters are located in Trappe, PA. They also have sales and distribution support in over 41 countries. The United States is one of those countries and we are one of their distributors. If your laboratory reqires the use of thermometers, you'll want to use an HB Thermometer. Check out the HB-LB-3804 digital refrigerator/freezer thermometer, that comes with an alarm. Anytime your temperure falls below or goes above it's set point an alarm will sound to warn you. These are great for taking control of your sample specimen storage. The temperature sensor is even waterproof! Look for more information about exporting in my next blog!

Richard-Allan Scientific is a worldwide developer and producer of instruments and supplies for anatomical pathology and other key laboratory disciplines. Richard-Allan Scientific produces the Resolve Low and High Viscosity Immersion oil that is very popular amongst our Microscopy Scientists; and anyone who uses a 100X objective in order to concentrate the light and increase the resolution of an image under a microscope. Take a look at product code RH-MA-M3000, this is for the Low Viscosity Immersion oil. See product code RH-MA-M3004 if you are interested in the High Viscosity Immersion oil. You can beassured that this product will not damage your very valuable instrumentation, optics or slide specimens. It has been processed in such a way that all the interfering substances have been removed. It works like this, a drop is placed upon the cover slip and the objective is lowered until it just touches the drop. The oil acts as a bridge between the glass slide and the glass in the lens, increasing the resolution of the image. So, if you are looking for high or low viscosity immersion oil, try the Richard-Allan Scientific Brand. The oil meets or exceeds Deutsche Industries Norm requirements DIN58-884. An MSDS is also available for you. Click on the link provided. productPDF_6307.pdf

Are you working in a Hemotology or Blood Bank environment? Hemotology is the study of blood. Blood is a complex mixture of suspended cellular components (erythrocytes, leukocytes and thrombocytes) and dissolved substances (electrolytes, proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids, etc.). Clinical hematology is concerned primarily with the cellular components of blood. Take a look at product code EV-CO-ES-1244-10L this Blood Bank Saline Solution comes in a 10L cube of 0.85% of buffererd saline. All of the solutions meet NCCLS specifications for standard isotonic sodium chloride solution for use in immunohematologic testing. MSDS%20Blood%20Bank%20Saliine.pdf

Well if not let me tell you who they are. Ever Scientific are now known by the name of Azer Scientific. They have only changed their name and are as committed as EVER to provide us with top quality clinical laboratory products. Azer Scientific formally Ever Scientific has over 25 years of experience in the clinical marketplace. What type of products do they sell? Azer Scientific specializes in satisfying the needs of the clinical laboratoy population. Specifically, they sell anything from Microscope Slides and Cover Glasses to Reagents such as Blood Bank Saline Solution. The VistaVision Microscope Slides are made of Soda Lime Glass which meet the ISO Standard 8031/1. Take a look at product code EV-MA-2752511 these are the VistaVision Frosted Microscope Slides. These specific slides have a frosted end for marking. The non-frosted microscope slide or clear microscope slide is product code EV-MA-2752510. Whether plain or frosted they both come in a pack of 72.

Confused about all the markings on your volumetric glassware? First of all the big "A" or "B" means Class A accuracy or Class B accuracy. Class A means it meets the ASTM standards for accuracy for that particular product: Pipet, buret, graduated cylinder, flask. Class B is about two times less accurate than Class A. TC or TD means "to contain" or "to deliver". In the case of a Class A graduated cylinder, TC means when it is filled the to the 50ml line it contains 50.0ml +/- 0.20ml (Class B would be +/- 0.4ml). TD means it will pour 50ml, with a small amount left in the cylinder. Volumetric flasks are TC. Most Volumetric Pipets are TD, most are meant to leave a small amount of fluid in the tip. Some pipets are meant to be blown out, these will have a double line and the words "Blow Out" near the top. For viscous fluids there are TC volumetric pipets which are meant to be rinsed. Volumetric burets are TD. Volumetric glassware will also have a temperature stamped on it, usually 20C, this is the temperature at which the glassware is calibrated. If there is a ground glass stopper the symbol $22 means a 22 penny stopper. Other types of volumetric glassware include Mohr pipets and serological pipets, these are usually class B.