Released on: August 12, 2008, 6:44 am

Press Release Author: The Scott Partnership

Industry:

Press Release Summary:
(Caerphilly, UK, 12 August 2008) - Sterilin Limited, the established leader in
single use laboratory plastics for life science applications, demonstrates
significantly improved release of buccal cells for DNA extraction and genotyping
with the use of innovative nylon flocked swabs.

Press Release Body: Contact Information:
Fiona Robinson
The Scott Partnership
Phone: +44 (0) 1477 539539
E-mail: sterilin@scottpr.com

Sterilin Supplies Nylon Flocked Swabs With Unprecedented Sample Acquisition Benefits
for DNA Extraction and Identification

(Caerphilly, UK, 12 August 2008) - Sterilin Limited, the established leader in
single use laboratory plastics for life science applications, demonstrates
significantly improved release of buccal cells for DNA extraction and genotyping
with the use of innovative nylon flocked swabs.
Sterilin Limited is the exclusive UK distributor of this major advance in swab
technology which vastly improves sample collection and release.
Developed by MicroRheologics (Copan Group), Italy, utilising an innovative \'flocked\'
tip, this new generation of swabs are ideal for applications where the sample size
is particularly small or where increased sensitivity is required. Sample collection
is a critical step in clinical and forensic applications and problems can arise in
testing due to the lack of sufficient sample to perform all the required tests.

A recent sample collection test for molecular analysis compared the new nylon
flocked swab with the traditional rayon type by analysing the amount of genomic DNA
extracted from a buccal cell swab sample. This test demonstrated that the nylon
flocked swab releases at least twice the amount of sample matter than is expelled
using traditional swabs, providing larger sample volumes and increased analysis
reliability. The amount of DNA obtained following extraction was an average of 2.5µg
from a nylon flocked swab as opposed to 1 µg from a standard rayon swab.

Sterilin supplies the novel nylon flocked swabs to the clinical field, offering
significant advantages over other manufactured swabs. Traditional compacted fibre
swabs retain much of the sample trapped in the compressed fibres, limiting
subsequent sample analysis and resulting in loss of time and results. Utilising an
innovative \'spray on\' technology, the short strands of nylon are propelled at high
velocity onto the plastic moulded swab tip forming a high-density brush-like pile.
The depth of these fibres ensures the sample is held close to the swab-surface
enabling a more efficient release of cellular and liquid samples to that previously
provided. The nylon matrix has demonstrated a 95% sample release as opposed to only
25% from a standard swab. This enables many more tests to be conducted from a single
swab sample. In addition, these revolutionary swabs are certified RNase-free and
DNase-free proving ideal for molecular analysis.

The sample collection benefits of the nylon swabs shown in DNA identification can be
applied to a wide variety of alternative clinical applications offering more
representative, heterogonous sample matter as well as reducing time-consuming and
costly re-runs. The range of swabs offered by Sterilin includes standard and
transport swabs with different shaped tips which further widen their application
base.

Sterilin Limited offers a wide range of products for the pharmaceutical, clinical
and healthcare, food, forensics and industrial packaging industries. Formerly part
of Barloworld Scientific, Sterilin Limited comprises of four established product
brands: Sterilin single use plastics; Iwaki tissue culture products; Sterilin
Silicone Devices (formerly Esco Silicone Rubber); Sterilin Packaging Products
(formerly Azlon Packaging).

For further information on Sterilin Limited\'s products, please visit
www.sterilin.co.uk, e-mail info@sterilin.co.uk, or call on +44 (0)844 844 3737.

About Sterilin Limited

Sterilin Limited is the name of the newly formed life sciences company, formerly
part of Barloworld. This new established company takes forward two established
market leading brands, Sterilin single use plastics and Iwaki® tissue culture
products, plus two new brands, Sterilin Silicon Devices and Sterilin Packaging
Products.

For more than 40 years, the Sterilin brand name has been synonymous with quality in
single use plastics. This reputation was built upon, and has been maintained by, the
most stringent manufacturing standards in the industry.
The range of single use plastics comprises of over 800 products used extensively in
microbiology and the life sciences including specimen containers, Petri dishes,
multiwell plates and centrifuge tubes.

Sterilin branded products are manufactured at a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 accredited
purpose built facility in South Wales, UK, where new manufacturing techniques and
stringent quality assurance procedures ensure that every item is made to the highest
quality.

For further press information please contact: Fiona Robinson, The Scott Partnership,
1 Whiteside, Station Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire CW4 8AA, United Kingdom Tel: + 44
1477 539539 Fax: +44 1477 539540 mail to:
sterilin@scottpr.com


Web Site: http://

Contact Details: Contact Information:
Fiona Robinson
The Scott Partnership
Phone: +44 (0) 1477 539539
E-mail: sterilin@scottpr.com