EMD Millipore's Additions to the MAS-100® Product Line of Microbial Air Samplers Deliver Improved Functionality for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

BILLERICA, Mass., June 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 

• MAS-100 Iso NT^® sampler streamlines the decontamination process in isolators
• MAS-100 Iso MH^® system offers increased capacity, easier installation and lower costs compared to single-head systems
• MAS-100 VF^® system's compact design enables greater ease of use in controlled environments

EMD Millipore, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, today announced three additions to its MAS-100^® product family. The MAS-100 Iso MH^® and MAS-100 Iso NT^® systems were developed for use in isolators and enable sampling at critical control points. The distinguishing feature of the MAS-100 Iso MH^® system is its four sampling heads, which allow for increased monitoring capacity compared to single-head systems. The compact and easy-to-handle design of the MAS-100 VF^® air sampler makes it well-suited for use in controlled environments.

The MAS-100 Iso NT^® system for monitoring air in isolators was developed according to GAMP 4 and ISO^® 14698 standards. The fully validated air sampler contains an innovative double valve which integrates the sampling head into the decontamination process of the isolator. For added safety, electronic and moving parts remain outside the critical zone and an internal pump with flow control enables automatic disinfection of the sampling head and the aspiration tube.

The MAS-100 Iso MH^® air sampler offers all the benefits of the MAS-100 Iso NT^® and allows installation of up to four sampling heads at all critical control points. Multiple heads from one pump provide increased capacity, easier installation and lower cost than four equivalent single-head systems. Additionally, the system extends up to 10 meters in tube length, which facilitates use in larger isolators. The system was developed according to GAMP 5 and ISO^® 14698 standards.

The MAS-100 VF^® active air sampler was validated and developed for air monitoring in controlled environments. The system's compact design allows for ease of operation, and its added handle can be mounted on a tripod to test different angles for fixed applications. Electronic speed control ensures a consistent and accurate flow rate, and a touch-slide control menu enables simple menu navigation. The system programs sample volumes from 1 to 1,000 liters with five presets to assure reproducible results.

"Air contamination in manufacturing facilities can impact product quality and increase risk to consumers," notes John Sweeney, head of Lab Solutions Business, EMD Millipore. "It is therefore essential to implement robust and accurate microbiological monitoring of air in all manufacturing areas. With the MAS-100^® product family, EMD Millipore offers its customers the broadest portfolio of the most accurate microbial air monitoring systems on the market, enabling manufacturers to ensure the highest quality products and increase consumer safety."

The MAS-100^® family includes systems for testing air and compressed gases in cleanrooms, aseptic production areas, isolators, and other controlled environments. MAS-100^® microbial air samplers comply with the guidelines as specified in the new ISO^® 14698 part 1 and part 2 standards.

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About EMD Millipore
EMD Millipore is the U.S. Life Science subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. As part of the global Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, EMD Millipore offers a broad range of innovative, performance products, services and business relationships that enable our customers' success in research, development and production of biotech and pharmaceutical drug therapies. Through dedicated collaboration on new scientific and engineering insights, and as one of the top three R&D investors in the life science tools industry, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, serves as a strategic partner to customers and helps advance the promise of life science. Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, the global business has around 10,000 employees, operations in 66 countries and 2014 revenues of €2.7 billion.

For more information, please visit www.emdmillipore.com. 

About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has six businesses – Biopharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Biosimilars, Life Science and Performance Materials – and generated sales of € 11.3 billion in 2014. Around 39,000 employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to help meet global challenges. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company – since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70% interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are Canada and the United States, where the company operates as EMD Serono, EMD Millipore and EMD Performance Materials.

For more information, please visit www.emdgroup.com.

MAS-100^® is a registered trademark of MBV AG, Staefa, Switzerland, www.mbv.ch. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE EMD Millipore