{"id":14481,"date":"2020-09-15T14:48:37","date_gmt":"2020-09-15T14:48:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/?p=14481"},"modified":"2020-09-15T14:48:37","modified_gmt":"2020-09-15T14:48:37","slug":"socially-distanced-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/","title":{"rendered":"Socially Distanced Science"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TheToday’s world makes it tricky to use some old ways of running biological laboratories. With social distancing orders now omnipresent, crowded labs and devices that need human attention to generate results are increasingly difficult to sustain. Making this new normal work takes some adaptability. Here are seven things to consider when figuring out how to maintain a research program when crowded laboratories are no longer an option.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Identify the products you need<\/span><\/h2>\n

Scientific equipment and other tools are in a constant state of improvement. Scientists learn about these innovations in a variety of ways, some of which the current situation has made less tenable. Traveling to conferences and speaking to visiting sales representatives are less common experiences now than they once were, limiting the reach of news from the outside.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there are other methods. This year has seen an explosion in virtual conferences and other ways to bring people together for real-time conversation and demonstration without them having to be in the same room, providing many of the benefits of physical conferences and in-person meetings. These events often remain recorded for later use and can be both more frequent and less costly than physical conferences, making them less of an investment for labs. As virtual events, they can be attended from any suitable real-world locale, removing the need to be in the lab or office. These conversations serve the same pivotal role they always have in keeping scientists up to date with the latest goings-on of their fields, both in terms of knowledge gained and tools created.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Choose products virtually<\/span><\/h2>\n

It takes more than a catalog listing to know whether a new instrument is the right fit for a laboratory. Scientific instruments are sizable investments, especially for smaller labs that often solicit grants specifically to cover the costs of new devices. Conversations with knowledgeable sales representatives and live demonstrations to show how a device works provide invaluable information that can help the people running labs make their purchasing decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

These in-person experiences might not be as easily found anymore, but distance-friendly alternatives are increasingly accessible. Sales representatives are available over the phone to help keep scientists aware of the latest innovations and promotions, and even more excitingly, virtual instrument demonstrations can provide the same insight as their in-person forebears. For example, the QuantStudio line of quantitative PCR devices is available for virtual tours<\/a> guided by sales representatives. Laboratory managers can choose which versions of the QuantStudio they wish to see demonstrated and speak with the sales representative throughout the process to get their specific questions answered. Virtual tours enable a researcher to see how a device works without the lead time needed to order, ship, receive and unpack it, vastly reducing the effort and time required to make a decision. They also make it much easier to demonstrate multiple devices in succession. Virtual tours may be less concrete than an in-person visit, but they are just as informative.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Place orders digitally<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is one area that has changed little in the new normal. Placing orders was already a mostly digital and distance-oriented process for most buyers, and that has not changed.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Install your device<\/span><\/h2>\n

Laboratory equipment has been shipped around the world for as long as many investigators have been at work. Installing it, however, has changed over the years. For more complex equipment, it has been routine to arrange for a service representative to help unbox and set up a new device to make sure all parts are present and installed correctly, and to help optimize a space to suit its use. Advances in device design have made installation service representatives a less vital part of the process, with many devices being easier than ever for end users to set up and get started on right away.<\/span><\/p>\n

For other devices, installation assistance can now be delivered remotely. This is also important for laboratories that are resuming activity after a long lockdown or other absence. Devices often require special care to restart if they have been left unattended or shut down for long periods, and Thermo Fisher Scientific offers remote assistance<\/a> to make sure this process goes as smoothly as possible. These assistants are also able to troubleshoot devices and reduce the need for dedicated repair personnel to perform in-person diagnostics and repairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Host a training day<\/span><\/h2>\n

Learning how to use a new device can be difficult. Many laboratory devices have a variety of use cases and modes of operation, and realizing the full power of one’s acquisition can mean long periods spent studying manuals and investigating settings. Exploration can be a difficult thing to justify when the penalty for getting a setting wrong is hours of lost time, the destruction of irreplaceable samples, or damage to the device itself, so training is a worthwhile investment.<\/span><\/p>\n

The QuantStudio 3 and 5 both feature digital SmartStart orientation courses<\/a> to get researchers started as quickly as possible, and offer some additional digital classes as well. Thermo Fisher Scientific additionally offers augmented reality training for some of its devices<\/a>, providing as hands-on an experience as possible without being physically present alongside the laboratory personnel being trained. It is more possible than ever for teachers to reach faraway students, and Thermo Fisher Scientific aims to make use of these innovations to help scientists make the most of their equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Accommodate day-to-day distance<\/span><\/h2>\n

The most important part of the device cycle to make distance-compatible is day-to-day use. If a device requires constant attention to run or must have each successive run set up manually, its user must remain on site throughout its use period. This reduces the ability of a laboratory to maintain distance with other lab users. Cloud-enabled platforms support experiment design, real-time monitoring, analyzing data and sharing data from afar, taking these tasks out of the lab. Just as importantly, automating data collection using autosamplers and high-throughput devices means that a large number of runs can be set up in advance and then monitored from afar, handled by the automation instrument and with data processed from the safety of a researcher’s home or office.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Thermo Scientific™ OrbitorTM<\/sup> RS2 Microplate Mover provides a way for even small, single-plate devices to process up to 40 plates in succession without a human on hand to switch plates in and out, and it has options for various throughput levels. This allows a researcher to set up dozens of plates in advance and then remain offsite for a day or more at a time, reducing the need to have personnel in the lab and allowing more research to continue even while distance is maintained. With an included barcode reader, data collected using an Orbitor mover can be connected to its associated project, measurement standards or labels easily, allowing multiple users to keep their plates in the same queue. With the QuantStudio 6 and 7 Pro systems, remote scheduling further reduces the need for personnel near the device itself. QuantStudio 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7 Pro devices can all be monitored remotely using Thermo Fisher Connect.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Get help from afar<\/span><\/h2>\n

Thermo Fisher Scientific is more prepared than ever to help users who need assistance in the age of social distancing. Digital tools like our AR remote support tool and Smart Help button were being used before lab social distancing, but have now become more powerful than ever as they enable laboratory personnel to connect with assistance from afar and get back to work as quickly and smoothly as their malfunctions allow. And for the times when an on-site visit in necessary, you can still count on our manufacturer-certified field service engineers to help however they can as they follow all local and customer travel guidelines<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n

It is difficult to be a scientist when safety requires that laboratories not be as busy as they used to be, but with the right tools and assistance, even a small lab with little room for social distancing can remain a bustling hive of activity and continue generating new knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more about how Thermo Fisher Scientific tools and services can help you maintain productivity through social distancing<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today’s world makes it tricky to use some old ways of running biological laboratories. With social distancing orders now omnipresent, crowded labs and devices that need human attention to generate results are increasingly difficult to sustain. Making this new normal work takes some adaptability. Here are seven things to consider when figuring out how to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":120,"featured_media":14480,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[],"division":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-14481","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general","8":"entry"},"_selected_authors":"","_selected_reviewers":"","acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSocially Distanced Science<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How do you run a research program when a crowded lab is no longer an option? Lean on the strengths of your tools to maintain productivity while physical distancing.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Socially Distanced Science\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How do you run a research program when a crowded lab is no longer an option? Lean on the strengths of your tools to maintain productivity while physical distancing.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Behind the Bench\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thermofisher\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-09-15T14:48:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/09\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Behind The Bench Staff\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@thermofisher\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@thermofisher\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Behind The Bench Staff\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Behind The Bench Staff\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9bbb2d67616274d3d4a21a584f7f4a0c\"},\"headline\":\"Socially Distanced Science\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-09-15T14:48:37+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1348,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg\",\"articleSection\":[\"General\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/\",\"name\":\"Socially Distanced Science\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-09-15T14:48:37+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9bbb2d67616274d3d4a21a584f7f4a0c\"},\"description\":\"How do you run a research program when a crowded lab is no longer an option? Lean on the strengths of your tools to maintain productivity while physical distancing.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/9\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":667,\"caption\":\"The words \\\"The New Normal\\\" sit above a pile of masks and two bottles of hand sanitizer, symbolizing the challenges of socially distanced scientific work in labs\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.thermofisher.com\\\/blog\\\/behindthebench\\\/socially-distanced-science\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Socially Distanced Science\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/\",\"name\":\"Behind the Bench\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/behindthebench\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9bbb2d67616274d3d4a21a584f7f4a0c\",\"name\":\"Behind The Bench Staff\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/52d5c16ece4bd1c0a49a63521c2b6a25c54a3f0c33f7afed215ba7e0cdff69e3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/52d5c16ece4bd1c0a49a63521c2b6a25c54a3f0c33f7afed215ba7e0cdff69e3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/52d5c16ece4bd1c0a49a63521c2b6a25c54a3f0c33f7afed215ba7e0cdff69e3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Behind The Bench Staff\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\\\/author\\\/behind-the-bench-staff\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Socially Distanced Science","description":"How do you run a research program when a crowded lab is no longer an option? Lean on the strengths of your tools to maintain productivity while physical distancing.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Socially Distanced Science","og_description":"How do you run a research program when a crowded lab is no longer an option? Lean on the strengths of your tools to maintain productivity while physical distancing.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/","og_site_name":"Behind the Bench","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thermofisher","article_published_time":"2020-09-15T14:48:37+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/09\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Behind The Bench Staff","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@thermofisher","twitter_site":"@thermofisher","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Behind The Bench Staff","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/"},"author":{"name":"Behind The Bench Staff","@id":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/#\/schema\/person\/9bbb2d67616274d3d4a21a584f7f4a0c"},"headline":"Socially Distanced Science","datePublished":"2020-09-15T14:48:37+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/"},"wordCount":1348,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/09\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg","articleSection":["General"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/","name":"Socially Distanced Science","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/09\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg","datePublished":"2020-09-15T14:48:37+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/#\/schema\/person\/9bbb2d67616274d3d4a21a584f7f4a0c"},"description":"How do you run a research program when a crowded lab is no longer an option? Lean on the strengths of your tools to maintain productivity while physical distancing.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/09\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/09\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg","width":1000,"height":667,"caption":"The words \"The New Normal\" sit above a pile of masks and two bottles of hand sanitizer, symbolizing the challenges of socially distanced scientific work in labs"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/socially-distanced-science\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Socially Distanced Science"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/#website","url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/","name":"Behind the Bench","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/#\/schema\/person\/9bbb2d67616274d3d4a21a584f7f4a0c","name":"Behind The Bench Staff","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/52d5c16ece4bd1c0a49a63521c2b6a25c54a3f0c33f7afed215ba7e0cdff69e3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/52d5c16ece4bd1c0a49a63521c2b6a25c54a3f0c33f7afed215ba7e0cdff69e3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/52d5c16ece4bd1c0a49a63521c2b6a25c54a3f0c33f7afed215ba7e0cdff69e3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Behind The Bench Staff"},"url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/author\/behind-the-bench-staff\/"}]}},"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":172,"label":"General"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/09\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg",760,507,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Behind The Bench Staff","author_link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/author\/behind-the-bench-staff\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":172,"name":"General","slug":"general","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":172,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":160,"filter":"raw","meta":[],"cat_ID":172,"category_count":160,"category_description":"","cat_name":"General","category_nicename":"general","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19748,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/andes-virus-rt-qpcr-detection-workflow\/","url_meta":{"origin":14481,"position":0},"title":"Responding to Hantavirus: Advancing Rapid Molecular Detection","author":"Behind The Bench Staff","date":"May 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Article Summary Laboratories responding to the emerging 2026 Andes hantavirus incident need rapid, scalable molecular workflows that can integrate into existing RT-qPCR infrastructure. This workflow is best suited for public health laboratories, surveillance programs, academic research labs, and high-throughput testing facilities seeking rapid research-use-only (RUO) molecular detection capabilities. By combining\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Infectious Diseases"","block_context":{"text":"Infectious Diseases","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/infectious-diseases\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Illustration of hantavirus transmission showing rodent-derived viral particles entering the human respiratory system.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/Hantavirus-3-1_Geoffrey-Cassell.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/Hantavirus-3-1_Geoffrey-Cassell.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/Hantavirus-3-1_Geoffrey-Cassell.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/Hantavirus-3-1_Geoffrey-Cassell.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/Hantavirus-3-1_Geoffrey-Cassell.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19828,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/cyclospora-molecular-testing-gi-pathogens\/","url_meta":{"origin":14481,"position":1},"title":"Cyclospora Outbreak in the United States: Why Rapid Molecular Testing Matters for Gastrointestinal Pathogens","author":"Ashleigh Barlow","date":"July 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Fresh produce is one of the most common sources of Cyclospora outbreaks. Molecular testing helps laboratories rapidly identify Cyclospora cayetanensis alongside other gastrointestinal pathogens from a single specimen. Article Summary The United States is currently investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis, a foodborne parasite that causes prolonged diarrheal illness.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Food Safety"","block_context":{"text":"Food Safety","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/food-safety\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Magnified view of parasite contamination on fresh leafy greens, illustrating foodborne pathogen detection.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/Cyclospora-Image-6000x4480_Geoffrey-Cassell-scaled.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/Cyclospora-Image-6000x4480_Geoffrey-Cassell-scaled.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/Cyclospora-Image-6000x4480_Geoffrey-Cassell-scaled.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/Cyclospora-Image-6000x4480_Geoffrey-Cassell-scaled.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/Cyclospora-Image-6000x4480_Geoffrey-Cassell-scaled.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/Cyclospora-Image-6000x4480_Geoffrey-Cassell-scaled.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19885,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/sanger-sequencing-mix-dna-templates\/","url_meta":{"origin":14481,"position":2},"title":"Advancing the Gold Standard: Faster, Smarter, and Built for Challenging Templates","author":"Behind The Bench Staff","date":"August 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Sanger sequencing has long been the gold standard for accuracy, trusted by laboratories worldwide for applications ranging from plasmid verification to confirming next-generation sequencing results. Yet as research evolves, so do the demands placed on sequencing workflows. Today\u2019s labs are not only looking for accuracy\u2014they need speed, flexibility, and reliable\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"DNA sequencing sample tube with DNA helix and sequencing chromatogram representing Sanger sequencing workflow.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-5-2026-09_44_12-AM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-5-2026-09_44_12-AM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-5-2026-09_44_12-AM.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-5-2026-09_44_12-AM.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-5-2026-09_44_12-AM.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/08\/ChatGPT-Image-Aug-5-2026-09_44_12-AM.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19676,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/avian-influenza-qpcr-assay-failure\/","url_meta":{"origin":14481,"position":3},"title":"Avian Influenza qPCR Testing: How Viral Evolution Contributes to Assay Failure\u2014and How Labs Can Stay Ahead","author":"Behind The Bench Staff","date":"May 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Molecular veterinary diagnostic laboratories rely on reverse transcriptase real-time PCR (RT qPCR) assays to detect avian influenza virus (AIV) quickly and accurately. These assays are central to surveillance programs, outbreak response, and disease control\u2014particularly for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains such as H5Nx. As Influenza A viruses continue to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Animal Health and AgriGenomics"","block_context":{"text":"Animal Health and AgriGenomics","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/animal-health-and-agrigenomics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Chickens in a flock on a farm representing poultry populations monitored for avian influenza surveillance.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/Untitled-3.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/Untitled-3.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/Untitled-3.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/Untitled-3.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20004,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/a-guide-to-nucleic-acid-quality-control-dna-and-rna-purity\/","url_meta":{"origin":14481,"position":4},"title":"A Guide to Nucleic Acid Quality Control: DNA and RNA Purity","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"September 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Article Summary Nucleic acid quality control helps researchers evaluate DNA and RNA concentration and purity before downstream applications such as PCR, qPCR, and next-generation sequencing (NGS). A standardized workflow combining reliable extraction, concentration and purity assessment, application-appropriate quantification, and consistent laboratory practices can help identify sample issues early, improve reproducibility,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Close-up shot of a dna sequence on a screen, a digital representation of genetic code, used for analysis.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/iStock-2212923489_dnasequence-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/iStock-2212923489_dnasequence-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/iStock-2212923489_dnasequence-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/iStock-2212923489_dnasequence-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/iStock-2212923489_dnasequence-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/09\/iStock-2212923489_dnasequence-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19860,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/choose-sybr-green-qpcr-master-mix\/","url_meta":{"origin":14481,"position":5},"title":"Choosing the Right SYBR Green Master Mix for Your Research and Budget","author":"Behind The Bench Staff","date":"July 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Every qPCR experiment begins with a series of decisions. How many targets should you analyze? How many samples and replicates are enough? Should you expand your sample cohort or reserve budget for downstream analytical validation studies? The answers depend not only on the scientific question, but also on the resources\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Lab Tips and Tricks"","block_context":{"text":"Lab Tips and Tricks","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/lab-tips-and-tricks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Research scientist preparing samples for a real-time PCR experiment in a molecular biology laboratory.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/Blog-1280-x-720_Michealla-Scott.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/Blog-1280-x-720_Michealla-Scott.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/Blog-1280-x-720_Michealla-Scott.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/Blog-1280-x-720_Michealla-Scott.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/Blog-1280-x-720_Michealla-Scott.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/09\/socially20distanced20science.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/120"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14481\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14481"},{"taxonomy":"division","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/division?post=14481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}