Year: 2011

The US Patent Office has awarded COPAN the much-awaited patent for its flocked swabs invention for collection and transfer of biological samples. This grant, deriving from a very thorough and careful examination, strengthens COPAN’s patent portfolio around the World for its flocked swab invention. COPAN’s revolutionary invention has now been awarded patents in every Country* where it had been filed.

COPAN has proudly announced this week the launch of the Chinese version of the Copan Flock Technologies website. Copan Flock Technologies (CFT) is unique within the COPAN group in many respects. CFT’s business-to-business strategy serves wholesale needs for sample collection, transport, preservation, and processing of diagnostic, biotechnology and life science companies, including forensics. Copan Flock Technologies is backed by the group’s extensive scientific expertise in specimen management from the moment the sample is taken until it arrives in the testing laboratory.

In the September, 2011 Journal of Clinical Microbiology, COPAN’s flocked swabs were cited as an important advance in testing for respiratory viruses. The JCM article “Current Best Practices for Respiratory Virus Testing” by Christine Ginocchio and Alexander MacAdam considers current issues in diagnostic testing for respiratory viruses including best methods for detection, sample handling and testing for antiviral resistance.

Boston Medical Center (BMC) in Boston Massachusetts, USA, recently took delivery of their long-awaited WASP^® (Walk Away Specimen Processor), which includes a Gram SlidePrep™ Module. The acquisition was concomitant with the inauguration of BMC’s new clinical laboratory facilities, and BMC’s ongoing efforts to optimize patient care by consolidating resources and improving workflow within the lab.

Tami Brown, is the happy winner of the “I love COPAN Flocked Swabs Promotion.” COPAN ran the promotion from March 2011 to May 2011, and it was publicized in different magazines and industry events. Tami’s name was randomly selected from all the entries, and she became the winner of a trip for two to Italy.

Norman Sharples, COPAN Diagnostics’ Executive VP, discusses today’s challenges in Microbiology and the move towards liquid based samples. Liquid Based Microbiology, LBM, opens the door to specimen standardization and streamlined processing, similar to that seen in Chemistry and Hematology. He will present what these changes mean for automated specimen processing in Microbiology, especially related to revolutionary remote Bacteriology through WASPLab™ image acquisition and analysis.

COPAN announced this week that it has received the Chinese patent for its invention of flocked swabs, FLOQSwabs™, for collection and transfer of biological samples.

COPAN is proud to announce the worldwide launch of WASPLab ™, a barcode driven and conveyor-connected specimen processing system, which utilizes robotic plate management to automate specimen workflow in Microbiology.