New York’s Largest COVID Test Lab Chooses PHCbi

Written By: Kevin Theis

Opentrons has been developing robotic solutions to help automate and accelerate laboratory workflows globally since 2014, and their processes have been adopted by labs in over 40 nations. This extensive history and expertise, developed through partnerships across the diagnostic industry, led to creation of the Pandemic Response Labs (PRL) in 2020 and PRL R&D in 2021.

The massive increase in the volume of pandemic-related sequencing by Pandemic Response Lab R&D as well as increased research and development work necessitated adding more cold storage. For that, PRL R&D turned to PHCbi brand products from PHC Corporation of North America.

PHCbi brand biomedical freezers and high performance refrigerators met the need for highly reliable and user-friendly cold storage solutions at Opentrons. Designed for the rigors of busy lab use, PHCbi brand units have a well-known reputation for temperature stability, top-to-bottom freezer temperature uniformity, and quick temperature recovery from door openings.

PHCbi brand ultra-low temperature freezers are also designed with the researcher in mind. Automatic and on-demand vacuum release valves eliminate both “freezer lock-out” and researcher frustration by equalizing the air pressure inside the freezer with air pressure in the lab. These valves reduce struggles with the door handle and decrease waiting time for pressure to be equalized before the door can be opened. The ergonomically designed handle also facilitates easy one-handed door opening and closing.

 

“I have not experienced issues with PHCbi equipment – including the
compressors and microprocessors – like I have with other companies’
products. PHCbi brand products offer peace of mind due to their
reliability. PHCbi models save us money in the long run. The upfront
investment may be a bit more than other products but there are
infrequent, if any, repairs needed.”

-PRL R&D Laboratory Manager, Chen Wang

 

These features combine to enhance the productivity of technicians and researchers at Opentrons, allowing them to focus on the tasks at hand. And these benefits made purchasing PHCbi brand cold storage units an easy decision for PRL R&D.

Pandemic Response Labs provides reliable COVID-19 and surveillance testing and along with PRL R&D, supports a range of pharmaceutical research and development. Their mission of providing the scientific community with a common platform to easily share protocols and reproduce each other’s results requires partners like PHC Corporation of North America that provide worry-free equipment.

PHC Corporation of North America is proud to offer ultra-low temperature freezers and CO2 and multigas incubators for the life science industry. Visit us at phchd.com/us/biomedical to learn more about how our products can help your work through reliable, innovative, and efficient technology.

For information about Pandemic Response Lab visit: pandemicresponselab.com/why-prl
For information regarding Opentron’s Robotic solutions visit: opentrons.com

President, DAI Scientific

Kevin is the owner, president and a sales rep for DAI Scientific. He brings over 25 years of experience working with customers in academic, clinical, industrial and bio/pharma laboratories. Kevin plays an important role in DAI’s direction and strategy, and he regularly works with architects, engineers and lab planners to ensure that products work with their designs and fit their intended application. He also prides himself on being up to date with industry developments and advancements; he frequently attends seminars to educate himself to better serve his clients.

Kevin enjoys his secondary role as a sales rep for DAI because it keeps him in touch with customer needs and helps inform future requirements of the industry. Under Kevin’s direction, DAI achieved the 16 Million Dollar Club award in 2019 and received Lancer’s “Outstanding Sales Performance” award in 2017, 2015 and 2012.

Kevin’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Awards received:
2012, 2015, 2017 from Lancer for “Outstanding Sales Performance”
2025 Elitech for “#1 in Instrument Sales”
PHC (Formally Panasonic and Sanyo) Has given us several awards as we passed certain milestones.
16 Million Dollar Club 2019
11 million Dollar Club 2018
10 million dollar club 2015
5 million dollar club 2011