Waters launches new sample preparation plate

Waters has released a new sample preparation plate which is designed to make it easier to extract phospholipids from biological samples.

The Ostro 96-well plate incorporates in-well protein precipitation with a single rapid pass-through method, allowing phospholipids to be efficiently removed in a fast, reliable and reproducible process.

Phospholipids are currently seen as a major obstacle in drug discovery and development efforts, as they are a prominent cause of matrix effects in the LC/MS analysis of biological samples.

According to Waters, the new Ostro plate can counteract this problem by removing up to 30 times more phospholipids than other removal devices and traditional liquid-liquid extraction methods.

Dr Diane Diehl, director of sample preparation at Waters, said: "Ostro will be a valuable tool for researchers who are struggling with phospholipid interferences and provides a complimentary solution to Oasis SPE products, Waters' premier solid-phase extraction solution."

Last month, Waters published its financial results for the second quarter of 2010, during which it experienced a year-on-year sales boost of eight per cent.