Re: Andotek, Inc. question

[partye@rockvax.rockefeller.edu (Esmeralda Party)]

Lynn Dobbs asks:
>
>Has anyone ever dealt with a company called Andotek, Inc. from Irving,
>California?   One of our researchers was told that this company had
>great prices on P-33 (less than S-35 cost), but our office has never seen
>any information or a catalog from them.  Does anyone have experience
>with this vendor in purchasing radioactive materials?     
>
Our Purchasing Department received their (small) catalogue.  They offer 
dATP, dCTP, ATP, CTP and UTP P33 and P32, 30 tritiated items and 5 C14 
items.  Their prices are low.

I asked for a free P32 sample from them to look at the packaging and 
contamination levels.  The packaging is very similar to ICN.  They use the 
same type of outer plastic container that is difficult to open when it is 
frozen (they don't offer room temperature P32 or P33).  The vial is in a 
sealed plastic bag exactly like the ICN ones.  The vial is made out of 
acrylic.  The total vial is the thickness of a finger, i.e., much thinner 
than NEN or Amersham vials.  It has a V vial insert that comes out of the 
bottom acrylic shield.  I guess the idea is that you can melt the content 
more quickly this way but you are left with unshielded material.  The lid to 
the vial has an o-ring.  The vial I received did not have surface 
contamination, but it is only one vial.  The big question to me is how good 
is the vial to prevent the loss of material during transport due to changes 
of pressure and therefore contamination of the outside of the vial.  The 
similarities with ICN make me suspicious since they don't have a very good 
record.  When I asked them what relationship they had with ICN if any, I was 
told that several of their people used to work for ICN.

I would like to hear from others with experience with this company.

Esmeralda



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