Scilife Solutions introduce New Range of Fitzco DNA Sample Collection Cards

July 6, 2011 - PRLog -- The 705™ Specimen Cards utilises the FP705™ Paper. It is a unique biological grade collection paper, which enhances specimen collection. The samples will not run or defuse into the paper. Specimen stability is assured though our ISO 9001:2008 certified and cGMP Quality Assurance. FP705™ is a guaranteed to be a dependable composition of the paper maintaining a consistent thickness, flow rate and absorbency. When converted into a card format it is an easy, simple collection device. The FP705™ paper has tested and validated for use with Dried Blood Stain (DBS) and Dried Sample Stain (DSS) technologies. It is the first and currently choice platform for the Ensemble™ (ECS™) which includes the 705™& 705i™ Indicating Cards.

The FP705™ paper was initially validated for the United States military DNA program. The card format originated from an adaptation of a card designed for the US military in 1991. The "fold over" flap was added to protect the specimen from outside contamination. The flap was also a useful tool in helping the sample dry. Originally the card had four circles with each circle then serrated into four parts. This helped the technicians to separate the samples for preparation in the lab. After the hand punches were introduced, the need for serrations was gone. We abandoned the serrations as part of the design.

In the early to mid 90’s, the card was simply known as the FITZCO® Card. Fitzco actually just called it the "DNA card". It was the OJ trial that actually branded it as the "FITZCO" Card. It was used by many entities, countries, states and labs for identification and evidence processing, as per the OJ Trial (First). Fitzco changed the name of the card to "Classic" because of the demand for different designs: Micro, Gene, Mini, etc.

FP705™ Paper & the original "Classic FITZCO® Card™ From the company that patented and commercialized FTA®, the base of our Ensemble Collection System™ (ECS™) and indicating line of products is our Fitzco FP705™ Paper. Its properties exceed today’s standards for DNA collection paper.  We can customise cards for specialized printing, bar-coding and format.

Classic Card -This card has four sample areas for application of up to 500 µl specimen or 100 µl plant homogenate per card. The Classic is excellent for multiple sample collection of the same specimen or collecting of multiple samples on a single card. Its design with a fold over cover helps to protect the specimen area before and after the sample collection. This format & name are consistent and used by both Fitzco and GE/Whatman for the 4 circle card. Each circle is 1 inch in diameter. Each circle will hold around 125ul of whole blood sample or 25 µl plant homogenate. It was named as the “Classic” as it was the first commercial specimen (DBS) card introduced by Fitzco in 1991. This was seven years prior to Whatman purchasing Fitzco for the FTA® and Omni® Swab technologies. This card is the Original Classic Fitzco Card. The Fitzco Card got its name in the 90's during a famous trial in the LA area of California. The lawyers didn’t know what to call it and the manufacturer had never named it beyond the DNA card. They coined the phrase "Fitzco Card", since the printing on the card was Fitzco and it was a DNA card. Prior to Whatman purchasing Fitzco, the card was renamed the "Classic" as the Micro and Gene Cards were released.

Micro Card- This card is with a fold over cover. The cover helps to protect the specimen area before and after the sample collection. This card is the 1 circle card, single sample. The sample area is a 1 inch diameter circle. It will hold around 125ul of whole blood sample or 25 µl plant homogenate per card. Sample punching is easy and consistent for sample analysis. The covers are designed for protection as well to help the sample dry. The hard jacket surrounding the DNA/Specimen paper gives the card rigidity for specimen collection and processing. The Fitzco cards have been in use for over 20 years in both frozen and ambient storage. The products have proven long term storage capabilities. They are also perfect for collection and use immediately.

Mini Card- This card has two sample areas for application of up to 250 µl specimen or 50 µl plant homogenate per card. This is a fold over cover type card. This type and name of the card is a 2 circle card. Each circle is 1 inch in diameter. It will hold around 125ul of sample.

TWYN™ Card- This card has four sample areas for application of up to 500 µl specimen or 100 µl plant homogenate per card is a card with a fold over cover. This card is unique to Fitzco It has a 2 circle card format but is a larger card. Each circle is 1 inch in diameter. It will hold around 125ul of whole blood sample or 25 µl plant homogenate per circle

Gene Card- Cassette style Card. It has three sample circles that are only 75ul each it are roughly 2/3” in size. The whole card can collect up to 225 µl whole blood or 30 µl plant homogenate. Used in an automated settings. This format looks like a long slide. It also uses a heavy card stock that surrounds the unique specimen paper. It is made from a rigid cardstock that enhances the specimen cards tensile strength.

Sampact® Card- This format looks like the 35mm slide. Fitzco first manufactured this type of card in 1996. It uses a heavy card stock that surrounds the unique specimen paper. It is made from a rigid cardstock that enhances the specimen cards tensile strength.

DRI™- These cards offer the FITZCO® DRYPAK® Film as a breathable cover. It is available in the Micro and the Classic format. The Classic DRI™ will also have a jacket for ease of collection. You will be able to utilize this product as an in the field collection device. DRI™ is patent pending.

The FITZCO® DRI™ Card will be available as indicating cards*, the FITZCO® indicating cards will turn colour as when the sample is applied. They will change from blue to white when a sample is applied, indicating the sample has been applied. This card is recommended for clear specimens such as buccal, cultured cells, etc.
*Expected date of availability for the indicating will be September 19, 2011.
Plant Card™- These cards offer the FITZCO® DRYPAK® Film as a breathable cover. It will be available in the Micro and the Classic format. The Classic Plant Card will also have a jacket for ease of collection. You will be able to utilize this product as an in the field collection device. It is patent pending.

Microtiter96 Sheet™- This format was developed to be used as a specimen card but utilizing a 96 well microtiter plate footprint and template. It has 96 small 5ul circles. Each circle is in a grid pattern of nine alpha labelled rows by twelve numbered columns. Fitzco created this format in the mid 1990’s and it was called the Micro Sheet. The non-indicating card was later discontinued after the Whatman purchase. The indicating Micro Sheet was renamed the Clone Saver.

Microtiter384 Sheet™- Similar to the Microtiter96™, this format was developed to be used as a specimen card but utilizing a 384 well microtiter plate footprint and template. It has 384 small ~2ul circles. Each circle is in a grid pattern of 16 alpha labelled rows by 24 numbered columns.

The FITZCO® Microtiter384™ Sheet will be available as indicating cards*, the FITZCO® indicating cards will turn colour as when the sample is applied. They will change from blue to white when a sample is applied, indicating the sample has been applied. This card is recommended for clear specimens such as buccal, cultured cells, etc.

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Scilife Solutions was founded by a consortium of experienced and globally respected Scientific & Law Enforcement professionals who collectively have over 120 years experience in the scientific and forensic science industries.