Corsham, United Kingdom: Medical Wire & Equipment Ltd. (MWE), a leading provider of pre-analytical specimen collection and transportation devices is pleased to announce a new distribution agreement with Cedarlane Laboratories USA Inc. a respected distributor specialising in the life science industry. This strategic partnership will strengthen the availability of MWE product ranges in the USA and enhance support for customers across the area.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cedarlane Laboratories USA Inc. will distribute MWE’s renowned products in the Clinical, Food and Environmental sectors which includes FDA 510(k) approved products such as our DRYSWAB™ Range, NRSII™ and Amnicator® ranges. The distribution agreement will provide customers with faster delivery times, increased local stock availability, and dedicated sales and technical expertise.
“MWE are delighted to announce this new partnership for our products for the important US market. Cedarlane are well placed to both support our existing customer base and drive additional growth for both organisations,” said Richard Farmer, Export Sales Manager, MWE.
“Cedarlane is excited to welcome MWE to our growing portfolio of best-in-class suppliers. MWE’s market-leading specimen collection and transportation products are a natural fit alongside our clinical, research, environmental and food testing product lines. We look forward to building on this partnership for years to come.”, said Eddie Johnson, Director – Diagnostics, Cedarlane.
The partnership is expected to accelerate growth for both companies, supporting expanding demand in clinical & food markets. Customers in USA will benefit from improved product access, local knowledge, and comprehensive after‑sales support.
Medical Wire & Equipment Ltd is a global organisation in the diagnostics arena, with expertise in developing and manufacturing pre-analytical devices for specimen collection and transportation. Established in 1952, MWE are a family-owned business with a commitment to innovation, quality & customer service, the company delivers specimen collection and transportation devices to customers and distributors globally.
Learn more at: www.mwe.co.uk
Cedarlane Laboratories USA Inc. is part of TCP Analytical. TCP Analytical is dedicated to making research and production simpler, faster, and more reliable through a focused portfolio of chemical, research and diagnostic reagents, and laboratory product companies in the USA & Canada.
Learn more at: www.tcpanalytical.com
Looking to expand your portfolio with a trusted partner? Contact us to explore distribution opportunities.
Recent data from the UK Health Security Agency highlights a concerning resurgence of measles across England in early 2026. Since January, over 150 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported, with the majority concentrated in London and the West Midlands, and predominantly affecting children under 10 years of age.
Measles is one of the most contagious viral diseases, capable of spreading rapidly in under-vaccinated populations. Outbreaks are often driven by gaps in immunisation coverage, with the World Health Organization recommending at least 95% vaccination uptake to maintain herd immunity.
In the current UK outbreak, transmission is particularly evident in school-aged children, reinforcing the importance of rapid identification, isolation, and public health intervention.
However, while vaccination remains the cornerstone of prevention, laboratory diagnostics and surveillance are equally critical in outbreak control.
Guidance from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention emphasises that laboratory confirmation is essential for:
Accurate and timely diagnostics enable health authorities to implement targeted interventions, limit spread, and better understand outbreak dynamics.
In outbreak scenarios, the quality and integrity of the sample are just as important as the analytical method itself. Poor sample collection or transport can delay diagnosis, reduce sensitivity, and compromise surveillance data.
This is where MWE’s solutions play a vital role.
Designed for the collection and transport of viral specimens, SIGMA VIROCULT® helps preserve viral viability from point of collection through to laboratory analysis.
In the context of measles, this supports:
For laboratories handling high volumes of suspected cases, SIGMA MM™ offers an additional advantage. Its inactivation and stabilisation capabilities support:
Crucially, this also enables epidemiological tracking, including sequencing efforts to monitor viral evolution and transmission pathways.
Effective outbreak response depends on more than identifying individual cases. It requires:
By supporting both frontline diagnostics and downstream molecular analysis, solutions like SIGMA-VIROCULT® and SIGMA-MM™ contribute to a more coordinated and effective response.
The current measles outbreak is a reminder that even vaccine-preventable diseases can quickly re-emerge when immunity gaps exist. While increasing vaccination uptake remains essential, diagnostic readiness and laboratory infrastructure are equally critical components of outbreak management.
Ensuring that every sample collected is fit for purpose (preserved, stabilised, and ready for analysis) can make a measurable difference in how quickly outbreaks are detected, understood, and contained.
From sample collection to molecular workflows, our experts are ready to help you strengthen your diagnostic pathway.
In clinical diagnostics, small formulation changes can have disproportionate impact. One of the most significant recent shifts in specimen transport has been the move from traditional gel-based media to liquid transport systems. On the surface, the change appears small. Operationally and analytically, however, it represents a meaningful step forward in workflow optimisation and diagnostic efficiency.
Gel transport media were designed primarily to stabilise and protect organisms during transit. While effective for containment, gels inherently limit dispersion. The sample remains partially immobilised within a semi-solid matrix, which can restrict release during downstream processing.
Liquid media, by contrast, fully suspend the specimen within a solution. This suspension-based environment enables more complete organism elution from the swab and more uniform distribution throughout the transport medium. The result is improved recovery rates and more reliable downstream detection, particularly critical in molecular assays where target concentration directly influences sensitivity.
One of the most practical advantages of liquid media is the ability to perform multiple tests from a single collected specimen.
Because the sample is dispersed throughout the liquid, laboratories can aliquot defined volumes for different applications (culture, PCR, sequencing, or reflex testing) without compromising the integrity of the remaining specimen. This is far more challenging with gel systems, where organisms may not be evenly distributed and extraction can be less predictable.
Aliquoting supports:
In high-throughput environments, this flexibility reduces repeat sampling and enhances laboratory productivity.
Elution efficiency (the release of collected material from the swab into the transport medium) is a critical but sometimes overlooked performance parameter.
Liquid systems facilitate improved mechanical agitation and vortexing, promoting consistent transfer of cells, bacteria, or viral particles into suspension. This enhanced release increases analytical yield, particularly in low-biomass samples.
Greater recovery translates directly into:
For laboratories operating under stringent performance metrics, even marginal gains in recovery can significantly influence clinical outcomes.
Modern laboratories are increasingly automated, integrating liquid handling platforms, robotic decappers, and high-throughput extraction systems.
Liquid media align naturally with these workflows. Defined volumes can be aspirated directly by automated liquid handling systems, eliminating the variability introduced by semi-solid matrices. The consistency of a liquid sample improves pipetting accuracy, reduces mechanical strain on equipment, and supports closed-system processing.
Molecular diagnostics demand uniformity. PCR, NAAT, and sequencing platforms rely on consistent nucleic acid availability and predictable sample input.
Liquid transport systems provide more reproducible sample release and homogeneous target distribution. This consistency enhances assay reliability and supports standardised extraction protocols.
Moving from gel to liquid media may appear to be a minor formulation change. In practice, it reflects a broader evolution in diagnostic thinking from simple preservation toward workflow optimisation, automation readiness, and analytical precision.
The transition supports multi-test flexibility, improved recovery, automation integration, and molecular consistency. It reduces inefficiencies and positions laboratories to meet increasing demand without compromising quality.
It is, ultimately, a subtle shift with a substantial operational impact — optimising workflows for the future of diagnostic efficiency.
Considering the move from gel to liquid media? Partner with our team to implement a solution built for performance, automation and future-ready diagnostics.
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet it continues to affect women globally due to gaps in screening access, uptake, and follow‑up. While advances in HPV testing and molecular diagnostics have transformed our ability to detect risk earlier and more accurately, awareness months like this one remain critical. They create space to discuss not just the disease itself, but the real‑world barriers that prevent people from engaging with screening in the first place.
Participation in cervical screening programmes is influenced by far more than clinical guidelines. Cultural stigma, discomfort, time pressures, geography, and previous negative healthcare experiences all play a role. Improving outcomes therefore requires a broader view of care, one that prioritises accessibility, dignity, and patient choice alongside analytical performance.
Routine cervical screening has dramatically reduced incidence and mortality where uptake is high. However, in many regions, participation rates are plateauing or declining. This is not necessarily due to a lack of awareness of cervical cancer risk, but rather the practical and emotional challenges associated with traditional clinician‑led sampling.
For some individuals, attending an appointment is difficult due to work, caring responsibilities, or distance from healthcare facilities. For others, the invasive nature of a speculum exam can be a deterrent, particularly for those with a history of trauma or discomfort during previous procedures. These realities highlight a simple truth: a screening programme can only be effective if it fits into people’s lives.
Self‑collection for HPV testing is increasingly recognised as a powerful tool to address barriers to cervical screening. By allowing individuals to collect their own sample in a non‑clinical setting, self‑collection offers greater privacy, autonomy, and convenience without compromising analytical validity when appropriately designed and validated.
From a public health perspective, self‑collection has the potential to:
Importantly, self‑collection is not about replacing clinicians or existing pathways. Instead, it complements traditional models of care by offering an alternative route for those who might otherwise disengage entirely.
As healthcare systems explore more preventive and decentralised approaches, self-collection is one option being considered to help broaden access to care and support participation.
Improving outcomes relies on collaboration across public health bodies, clinicians, laboratories, diagnostics manufacturers, and kit providers. By working together, there is an opportunity to design and implement collection options that align with established screening pathways while addressing practical barriers to access.
Expanding choice in how people engage with cervical screening is not about changing care models wholesale, but about supporting programmes with additional, flexible tools. When accessibility is considered alongside analytical performance, screening advances are more likely to translate into meaningful participation and real-world impact.
Get in touch to collaborate with MWE
Whether you’re a public health programme, laboratory, or kit provider, we’re keen to explore ways to support accessible and effective cervical screening.
Medical Wire & Equipment (MWE) is pleased to confirm that the FECAL TRANSWAB® with Liquid Cary Blair Medium Specimen Collection and Transport System is FDA 510(k) cleared for preserving the viability fecal specimens during transport to the laboratory for microbiological testing.
The FDA 510(k) clearance follows analytical validation and a 10-organism test panel, representing clinically relevant targets encountered in gastrointestinal infection workflows.
Performance testing demonstrated:
The cleared system can be used to collect stool specimens directly from a patient as a rectal swab or to transfer material from an existing stool sample. Specimens are processed according to standard clinical microbiology procedures, requiring no changes in laboratory workflow.
A key advantage of FECAL TRANSWAB® with Liquid Cary Blair Medium is its ability to maintain performance at room temperature, helping to reduce reliance on refrigerated logistics. When combined with a 24-month shelf life, this supports practical inventory management for hospitals, public health networks and reference laboratories.
Already established across Europe, Asia, Australasia and major global health institutions, FECAL TRANSWAB® with Liquid Cary Blair Medium now joins MWE’s growing portfolio of FDA-cleared systems designed to support routine diagnostics and infectious disease surveillance.
MWE will work with U.S. healthcare providers, distribution partners and public laboratories to support implementation and availability nationwide.
Get in touch to be a part of this exciting expansion.
The FECAL TRANSWAB® with Liquid Cary Blair Medium for Specimen Collection and Transport System is currently under FDA 510(k) review in the United States. Already adopted extensively across Europe, Asia, Australasia and by global healthcare organisations, this pending clearance represents the next step in supporting laboratories that routinely process fecal specimens for microbiological investigation.
Fecal testing remains central to diagnosing gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria, parasites and other clinically relevant microorganisms. When samples are not transported effectively, laboratory recovery and patient outcomes can be compromised.
FECAL TRANSWAB® with Liquid Cary Blair Medium is designed to preserve the viability of fecal specimens after collection and during transportation to the laboratory. Samples can be collected directly from patients using the swab as a rectal swab or transferred from a stool sample using a standard laboratory workflow.
Room-temperature performance is of growing interest to laboratories and health systems seeking to reduce logistical costs. FECAL TRANSWAB® with Liquid Cary Blair Medium supports room-temperature transport and storage, with the option for refrigeration when required. Combined with a 24-month shelf life, the device offers workflow efficiency both inside and outside of the laboratory.
Pending FDA 510(k) clearance creates momentum for broader availability of FECAL TRANSWAB® with Liquid Cary Blair Medium in the United States. If approved, laboratories seeking reliable stool collection and transport solutions will gain access to a device already trusted internationally and supported by extensive validation data.
Medical Wire & Equipment (MWE) will announce and share further details upon completion of the review.
The current 2025 flu season in the UK is proving unusually harsh and early, with hospital admissions surging far beyond normal expectations. According to the latest data from NHS England, an average of 1,717 patients per day were occupying hospital beds with flu during the week leading up to early December.
That figure marks a 56% increase compared with the same week in 2024, when roughly 1,098 flu patients were hospitalised daily, and is dramatically higher than at the same point in 2023 (~ 243) or 2022 (~ 772). Among these hospitalised patients, 69 were in critical care, a sharp increase from 39 in critical care at this time last year.
Health official warnings suggest this surge may be only the beginning: flu season “started unusually early this year” and “has yet to peak,” raising fears of further hospital pressure heading into the winter holidays.
One report noted last winter’s pressure on the wider healthcare system: from 2024 to 2025, the flu reportedly caused 7,757 excess deaths in England, more than double the 3,555 recorded the previous year, though this remains below the peak seen in 2022-23.
Additionally, the strain on services has not been limited to flu. Emergency departments have also faced heavier demand from other seasonal viruses (like norovirus and RSV) and non-urgent cases, further compounding capacity issues.
With such a steep rise in flu hospitalisations, especially early in the season and before the usual winter peak, there is a heightened demand for diagnostic testing, early detection, and efficient sampling to support patient management and infection control.
This is where SIGMA-VIROCULT® comes in as a valuable asset:
As a viral specimen collection and transport medium, SIGMA VIROCULT® enables safe, reliable collection and transport of respiratory samples (e.g. throat or nasal swabs), maintaining viral integrity from bedside to lab.
In a high-pressure environment with rapidly increasing hospital flu cases, having robust, easy-to-use sampling kits helps healthcare providers scale up testing, facilitating prompt diagnosis, cohorting of patients, and effective infection-control measures.
By supporting efficient sampling throughput, SIGMA-VIROCULT® can reduce diagnostic delays, enabling hospitals to better manage the surge in admissions and potentially reduce onward transmission, which is especially critical when the system is near capacity.
Given that this season has started earlier than usual and hospital occupancy for flu is already at record levels for this time of year, the need for rapid, high-volume testing and sampling is more important than ever.
Early detection helps ensure that vulnerable patients (e.g. older adults) are identified quickly and receive appropriate care, possibly preventing progression to critical illness.
Faster sample processing helps hospitals make informed bed-management decisions and avoid unnecessary spread within wards.
In the context of coinciding pressures from flu, RSV, norovirus, and even ongoing COVID or respiratory virus activity, diagnostic clarity becomes vital to triage, isolate, and treat effectively.
Using tools like SIGMA-VIROCULT® can make a real difference in managing testing loads and supporting overworked labs and hospital teams.
The current UK flu season appears on course to be among the toughest in recent years, thanks to an unusually early start, sharply rising hospital admissions, and a system already stretched by other seasonal viruses and non-urgent demand. The statistics are stark: a 56% increase in hospital flu cases over last year, critical care numbers rising, and thousands of excess deaths last winter.
In this context, reliable, scalable sampling systems like SIGMA-VIROCULT® are convenient and essential. They offer a practical way to manage the diagnostic burden, safeguard hospital capacity, and help healthcare workers respond quickly to what could become one of the worst flu seasons in decades.
Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a serious infection particularly dangerous to pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Listeriosis can lead to severe illness or even death, making it one of the most closely monitored foodborne pathogens worldwide.
Unlike many bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes can survive and multiply in cold, moist environments – even in refrigerated conditions. It often hides in food production areas, thriving on stainless steel, conveyor belts, drains, and other damp surfaces where residues of food or moisture remain. This resilience means it can persist unnoticed, contaminating ready-to-eat (RTE) foods such as cooked meats, dairy products, and salads.
Routine sampling for Listeria is therefore essential, not just for regulatory compliance, but to prevent contamination before it reaches consumers. The recent EU and UK legislation updates around RTE foods have increased expectations for more extensive and routine sampling, emphasising environmental verification as a key step in food safety management.
For food producers, caterers, and processors, the focus on Listeria monocytogenes control has never been greater. The goal is to detect contamination early, before it can enter the food chain. With evolving regulations and growing scrutiny, laboratories and manufacturers need fast, reliable, and safe ways to monitor food contact surfaces and production environments.
To meet this need, Medical Wire & Equipment Ltd has developed ENVIRO-KIT™ LISTERIA which is an innovative, easy-to-use environmental testing system designed to make compliance and control more achievable for every food business.
The ENVIRO-KIT™ LISTERIA system provides rapid detection of Listeria monocytogenes, offering clear visual results within 24 to 48 hours. A colour change from straw to black indicates a positive result, giving a quick and confident indication of contamination risk.
The kit is a two-part system, comprising:
Only the tubed pre-moistened swab enters the food preparation area, minimising contamination risk. Once sampling is complete, the swab is returned to the lab and transferred into the ENVIRO-KIT™ LISTERIA detection vial for incubation and analysis.
Accuracy in Listeria detection depends on incubation temperature. ENVIRO-KIT™ LISTERIA is incubated at 37°C, replicating the human body temperature where Listeria monocytogenes would naturally grow during infection. This ensures the test identifies the pathogenic strain relevant to human health, as opposed to environmental species that may not pose the same risk.
Testing at lower temperatures can lead to false negatives, so maintaining 37°C incubation provides results you can trust when assessing the safety of RTE food environments.
ENVIRO-KIT™ LISTERIA specifically targets Listeria monocytogenes, the species responsible for human disease, helping businesses align with EU Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food regulations.
To ensure consistency across shifts and teams, MWE also recommends using a sampling template to define a standard 100 cm² area. This guarantees repeatable, comparable results for ongoing environmental monitoring. The template is supplied in an Easy-Open bag format, making it practical to use and store on site.
The food industry’s responsibility to prevent Listeria contamination is greater than ever. ENVIRO-KIT™ LISTERIA combines MWE’s microbiological expertise with practical design, giving food manufacturers and laboratories a safe, rapid, and compliant solution for routine environmental testing.
Whether monitoring factory surfaces, catering kitchens, or cafeterias, ENVIRO-KIT™ LISTERIA helps you identify risks early, take corrective action faster, and ensure that every product leaving your facility is safe for your customers.
IBMS Congress 2025, held in Birmingham, brought together leading voices in laboratory learning to explore the latest developments in diagnostics, automation, and molecular science.
The exhibition provided an ideal setting to engage with biomedical scientists, clinicians, and partners, discussing shared challenges and emerging solutions shaping the future of diagnostic workflows.
Across four days, conversations on the exhibition floor reflected a clear industry focus on point of care testing, PCR, and AI-driven automation to improve efficiency and reliability. Delegates showed particular interest in MWE’s U-SWAB VAGINAL and U-SWAB MRSA self-collection devices, which support the growing shift toward patient-centred and decentralised testing.
These discussions highlighted laboratories’ ongoing need for validated, rapid, and easy-to-use collection systems that maintain specimen integrity while streamlining workflows.
The SIGMA Range continued to be a major talking point among professionals seeking reliable transport media that perform consistently across microbiological and molecular applications. As laboratories look to integrate more automation and multiplex technologies, the SIGMA Range remains a trusted standard for ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Together, these interactions reinforced MWE’s role in supporting laboratories through each stage of diagnostic evolution, from sample collection to analytical processing.
The scientific lecture programme underscored the ongoing importance of microbial surveillance and molecular insight. Topics including Mycoplasma, N. gonorrhoeae, Candida auris, HPV, and gastrointestinal pathogens reflected the broad diagnostic landscape served by MWE’s product portfolio. Hearing these insights firsthand reinforced the company’s commitment to developing robust pre-analytical tools that meet the demands of modern diagnostics.
IBMS 2025 also provided valuable opportunities for the MWE team to engage with new and existing customers, strengthening relationships and gathering feedback to inform future product development. The team left the event encouraged by the enthusiasm and shared commitment to innovation across the diagnostics community.
Missed us at Congress? Get in touch to talk to the MWE team about your diagnostic workflows and how our self-collection and transport media solutions can help your laboratory stay future-ready.
At the 2025 European Society for Clinical Virology (ESCV) Congress, one theme echoed throughout the scientific programme and the exhibition floor: preparedness for Disease X. Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a serious international epidemic caused by an unknown pathogen, Disease X represents not just a hypothetical threat but an inevitability.
For clinical microbiologists, virologists, and laboratory managers, this means ensuring that frontline tools are ready before the next outbreak emerges. Central to this readiness is the choice of transport medium, the bridge between patient sample and diagnostic result. Media that balances biosafety, stability, and molecular integrity could help shape the global response to future pandemics.
During an outbreak, every hour counts. Rapid and reliable sample collection, inactivation, and preservation are vital to both protecting laboratory personnel and enabling timely diagnosis. Traditional transport media have often relied on cold-chain logistics to maintain sample integrity, posing challenges in field diagnostics, resource-limited regions, and large-scale surveillance programmes.
The ideal solution must not only preserve RNA and DNA for molecular analysis but also ensure operator safety by inactivating infectious agents. At ESCV, delegates turned to Medical Wire & Equipment Co. (Bath) Ltd (MWE) to discuss exactly these challenges, and the solutions already available.
MWE presented new evidence on SIGMA-MM™ Molecular Medium, detailed in the study Evaluation of Σ-MM™ Molecular Medium for the stability of SARS-CoV-2 virus for up to 90 days at different temperatures.
Key findings include:
The study concluded that SIGMA-MM™ is a safe, stable, and effective transport medium for diagnostics. These qualities make it ideally suited for pandemic preparedness and routine testing alike. As unknown threats loom, SIGMA-MM™ provides laboratories with a reliable first line of defence, ensuring that high-risk samples can be safely processed without compromising downstream analysis.
In short, Σ-MM™ is a medium that labs should be stocking now to strengthen preparedness for Disease X.
Preparedness is multi-layered. While inactivation is essential in many contexts, virology labs also require dependable media for viral recovery, culture, and detection. Here, SIGMA-VIROCULT® remains a trusted standard.
Validated across multiple platforms, including the Bosch Vivalytic analyser, SIGMA VIROCULT® ensures robust viral transport and high recovery rates. It is widely adopted by diagnostic laboratories worldwide for both routine and emergency testing.
Together, SIGMA-MM™ and SIGMA-VIROCULT® provide complementary solutions:
This dual approach equips laboratories with flexibility and resilience, ensuring readiness for both known and unknown viral threats.
As the discussions at ESCV highlighted, Disease X is not a question of if but when. Preparing laboratories, supply chains, and diagnostic networks is the responsibility of today’s scientific community. The right transport media are a small but vital piece of this preparedness puzzle.
By adopting solutions such as SIGMA-MM™ and SIGMA-VIROCULT®, laboratories can safeguard staff, preserve sample integrity, and accelerate accurate diagnosis. The time to act is now, before the next outbreak emerges.
Download the Σ-MM™ study or contact the MWE team to learn more about how these products can strengthen your laboratory’s readiness for Disease X.
From 17–20 September, our team had the pleasure of attending the European Society for Clinical Virology (ESCV) Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece. This specialist international event brought together around 600 delegates, all focused on the latest advances and challenges in virology.
For MWE, ESCV is a vital opportunity to introduce our solutions to new virologists, strengthen relationships with dealers and distributors across global supply chains, and contribute to important scientific conversations about the future of diagnostics and pandemic preparedness.
Representing MWE at Booth E3 were Richard Seuke (Export Sales Director) and Richard Farmer (Export Sales Manager), who welcomed delegates from across the world to discuss our sampling and transport solutions.
Our SIGMA liquid range drew particular attention, with SIGMA-VIROCULT® and SIGMA-MM™ taking centre stage in discussions around pandemic preparedness and Disease X.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of a scientific poster from the University of Crete, where researchers Giasemi Eptaminitaki, Alexandros Zafiropoulos, and George Sourvinos demonstrated the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples using Σ-MM™ inactivation medium at both room temperature and -80°C over 90 days. Their findings reinforced the critical role of both SIGMA MM™ and SIGMA VIROCULT® in preparedness strategies should the next pandemic strike.
The ESCV programme explored several timely themes. Some highlights include:
These discussions aligned perfectly with MWE’s mission: to provide resilient, reliable solutions for virology sampling and transport. The University of Crete’s work with Σ-MM™ was an especially strong validation of how our products can help laboratories face these challenges with confidence.
ESCV also gave us the chance to connect directly with virologists, laboratories, and distributors, sparking insightful conversations about real-world challenges in diagnostics.
Delegates were particularly interested in how SIGMA-MM™ supports safe, effective inactivation of pathogens – a key factor in pandemic preparedness when the identity of a pathogen may be unknown. We also introduced the virology community to our U-SWAB™ Self-Collection range, expanding the conversation into the growing area of flexible, patient-led diagnostics.
Our team left Thessaloniki inspired and energised by the connections made and the innovative science presented. We’re already looking forward to continuing these conversations and showcasing more of our microbiology solutions at Medica in Düsseldorf, Germany (17–20 November 2025).
Didn’t make it to the booth? Get in touch with us today to discuss how MWE’s solutions can support your virology and diagnostic workflows.
Medical Wire & Equipment (MWE) has launched a new suite of self-collection solutions, developed to support mass screening programmes and improve access to early diagnostics. These devices are optimised for room-temperature transport, lab automation, and patient usability, helping healthcare systems meet the growing demand for flexible, decentralised testing.
The U-SWAB™ VAGINAL is a simple, dry swab designed for self-collection of specimens from lining of the vagina. Housed in a secure transport tube, it allows women to collect samples comfortably at home and send them directly to the lab.
With cervical cancer and HPV remaining leading global health concerns, many individuals avoid screenings due to discomfort, inconvenience, or cultural barriers. U-SWAB™ VAGINAL offers an alternative that combines privacy, accuracy, and ease.
Also launching is MWE’s U-SWAB™ MRSA Self-Collection Range, which features colour-coded swabs for sampling specific body sites such as nasal, armpit, or groin. Ideal for pre-operative testing, this solution reduces the need for in-person clinic visits. Saving patient travel time, reducing hospital congestion, and freeing up clinical resources.
People undergoing surgery are at a higher risk if they contract MRSA infection. Pre-operative screening for MRSA can identify patients carrying the bacteria, allowing preventive measures prior to admission, or segregation if admission cannot be delayed, and reducing the risk of infection spreading to other patients.
MWE are developing a self-collection device for reliable stool sampling at home, with the upcoming launch of U-SWAB™ FECAL. Stool testing plays a critical role in detecting gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammation, and infections, enabling early diagnosis of conditions such as colorectal cancer, IBD, and bacterial enteric infections. U-SWAB™ FECAL will support this with a discreet, easy-to-use device that ensures specimen integrity during room-temperature transport to the lab.
Interested in the development of U-SWAB™? Get in touch to schedule a call with our team.
Last week, we were delighted to welcome two of our valued international distributors, Check Diagnostics GmbH and Iwaki & Co Ltd., to our UK headquarters for a day visit filled with insight, collaboration, and future planning.
Each visit included a tour of our production site, warehouse facilities, and new office spaces, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the scale and care behind our operations. It was a pleasure to discuss product developments, market insights, and our shared vision for the future.
Together, we explored upcoming product developments, discussed market trends, and aligned on strategic goals for the years ahead. These visits are a meaningful part of how we build strong, lasting and transparent partnerships, founded on collaboration, and innovation.
Thank you to the teams at Check Diagnostics and Iwaki Co Ltd. for making the journey. We look forward to everything we’ll achieve together in the future.
Food safety remains a critical concern for manufacturers and regulators worldwide. With increasing pressure to maintain hygienic standards, the food industry is seeing a rise in awareness around microbial risks, particularly from pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli. These microorganisms can thrive in environments where traditional cleaning and monitoring methods may fall short, especially when hidden in hard-to-reach places or protected by biofilms.
In modern production environments, identifying contamination requires sampling tools that are easy to use, reliable under pressure, and designed for the realities of today’s complex facilities. That’s where innovative environmental monitoring tools come in, like our newly expanded POLYWIPE™ Range, now available in an Easy Open Bag, which can be used as a glove and stomacher bag.
This latest addition to the POLYWIPE™ range offers a pre-moistened blue sponge swab inside an easy-open stomacher bag, designed to streamline the sampling process while reducing the risk of contamination during transfer. It’s available with buffer options such as NRS II™ (Neutralising Rinse Solution) and saline, making it adaptable to different food environments.
NRS II™ plays a critical role in ensuring accurate sampling. In many cases, residual cleaning agents can neutralise or destroy microbes before they are cultured in the lab, leading to misleadingly “clean” results. NRS II™ neutralises these residuals, helping you recover true microbial loads—even in heavily sanitised zones. It also penetrates those difficult and irregular surfaces where bacteria can linger, making it an essential tool in any robust hygiene monitoring protocol.
While POLYWIPE™ is ideal for large surface areas and processing zones, STERISWAB™ is your go-to solution for precise point sampling. This swab offers a sterile, easy-to-handle format perfect for routine environmental surveillance and targeted investigations. Whether monitoring machinery touchpoints, conveyor belts, or high-risk contact surfaces, STERISWAB™ delivers confidence in your sampling outcomes.
As regulation tightens, accurate testing becomes even more critical. From July 1, 2026, new EU legislation will require food businesses to take greater responsibility for Listeria monocytogenes across the entire supply chain. Stricter microbiological criteria will apply, particularly to ready-to-eat foods. If manufacturers cannot prove that Listeria levels remain below 100 cfu/g for the duration of a product’s shelf life, they must meet a stricter “absence in 25g” rule throughout. These new rules place even greater emphasis on precise, reliable sampling methods.
As food manufacturing standards evolve, we’re not stopping here. We’re currently developing a new generation of swabs and liquid transport media designed to enhance pathogen detection through improved sample collection and targeted culturing. These swabs will support even greater accuracy in detecting pathogens, providing faster, clearer answers when they matter most.
Every product we offer is built around a central mission: helping food manufacturers uphold the highest safety standards while making sampling easier, faster, and more effective. In the battle against foodborne illness, smarter tools make a measurable difference.
With the introduction of the POLYWIPE™ Easy Open Bag, the powerful utility of NRS II™, the precision of STERISWAB™, and new innovations on the horizon, we’re giving you everything you need to detect threats before they reach consumers.
We are thrilled to announce that Sadia Iqbal and Adum Ahmed have joined Medical Wire & Equipment Ltd. as our new UK Account Managers, effective from 12th May 2025. Their appointments mark an exciting phase of growth for MWE as we continue to expand our presence across the UK and strengthen support for our valued customers.
Sadia brings over 13 years of experience as an IBMS and HCPC-registered Specialist Biomedical Scientist, specialising in Medical Microbiology within NHS Clinical Laboratories. Her professional journey includes achieving the IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology, and she is working towards becoming a Chartered Biomedical Scientist.
Sadia’s deep-rooted understanding of diagnostic workflows and microbiology practices makes her an ideal partner for Clinical, Food, and Veterinary laboratories. She is eager to meet new and existing customers across the South of the UK to learn about your needs and ensure MWE’s products continue to provide robust, reliable solutions for today’s laboratory challenges and those of the future.
Based near Glasgow, Adum brings a wealth of scientific knowledge and product expertise. With an MSc in Advanced Biomedical Science and a BSc (Hons) in Applied Biomedical Science, Adum has over 5 years of laboratory experience across various biomedical disciplines.
Adum is no stranger to MWE products and the wider market landscape. He has long aspired to move into a commercial role where he can combine his scientific expertise with customer engagement. His passion and energy make him a strong asset to our growing team, and he’s excited to support laboratories across the North of the UK—especially as MWE prepares to launch several innovative products in the coming years.
Both Sadia and Adum are enthusiastic about connecting with our customers, listening to your feedback, and helping you find the best solutions for your laboratory needs. Whether you’re looking to improve your environmental monitoring, enhance your infection control strategy, or learn more about self-collection and automation-ready products, our new Account Managers are here to help.
Join us in welcoming Sadia and Adum to MWE. We look forward to the future as we work together toward shared success.
We’re excited to welcome Dean Uddin to the team at MWE as our new UK Sales Manager. Dean brings with him a wealth of experience in sales leadership, business development, and team management, alongside a strong track record of driving growth and building successful partnerships across the life sciences and analytical sectors.
With over 15 years in commercial roles, Dean has consistently led high-performing teams, opened up new market opportunities, and delivered strategic sales initiatives with measurable results. His ability to pair commercial acumen with a customer-first mindset has been key to delivering sustained business success and strengthening client relationships.
Dean holds an MSc in Forensic Document Analysis and a BSc (Hons) in Forensic Science from the University of Central Lancashire. Starting out in a scientific and laboratory setting, he soon found his passion for problem-solving and communication led him toward sales and business development. This unique combination of hands-on technical understanding and commercial expertise allows Dean to effectively support customers in finding the right solutions for their needs.
In his new role at MWE, Dean is looking forward to supporting his team, building strong relationships, and contributing to the company’s continued success and growth. He’s especially focused on working collaboratively with colleagues, connecting with customers, and identifying new opportunities to expand MWE’s reach and impact.
“I’m really excited to be joining MWE at such an important time for the company. I look forward to working with the team and our customers to build on the company’s strong reputation and explore new opportunities for growth,” Dean shared.
We’re delighted to have Dean on board and look forward to the energy, insight, and leadership he brings to the role. Be sure to connect with him and say hello, he’s keen to meet colleagues and customers across the UK in the coming weeks!
Last week, our team attended the Infection Prevention and Control Conference in Birmingham as proud exhibitors, joining infection prevention and control professionals from across the UK for a day filled with insight, innovation, and valuable conversations.
At our stand, we highlighted tools designed to support both proactive environmental monitoring and efficient patient screening. These included our POLYWIPE™ Easy Open Bag, STERISWAB™, and NRS™—all ideal for verifying the effectiveness of cleaning protocols in healthcare settings, food production, and beyond.
We also featured SIGMA TRANSWAB® for MRSA screening, which is used by clinicians for routine specimen collection, and our self-collection format, U-SWAB™ MRSA, designed to make specimen collection easier, faster, and more comfortable for patients.
Throughout the event, we spoke with a wide range of professionals, including IPC Leads, hospital-based infection control teams, and many community nurses. One recurring theme was how visual checks are still the norm for cleaning verification, with microbiological testing often only triggered after an outbreak. There was a clear interest in more preventative, routine monitoring – and that’s exactly where our solutions can support.
Unlike systems that simply give a bacteria count, POLYWIPE™ allows users to know exactly what pathogens are present after incubation, helping teams take action before problems escalate. A convenient method for effective and accurate microbiological surveillance.
We were particularly encouraged by the response to our U-SWAB™ MRSA self-collection system. Many IPC and community nurses commented that this solution could significantly reduce the need for patients to travel for pre-op screening – especially important for those in remote areas or with mobility issues. They also noted it could offer a more dignified and comfortable experience, while easing the pressure on stretched clinical teams.
IPC Birmingham confirmed just how crucial it is to keep pushing forward – both in environmental infection prevention and in making screening more accessible and patient-friendly. We’re proud to be part of that movement and grateful for everyone who took the time to stop by our stand.
If you’d like to know more about how our products can support your infection prevention strategy – whether in a hospital, care home, or out in the community – please get in touch.
This time last weekend, 27th April 2025, MWE’s own Hannah Broggio (Director) and her daughter Ella took on the incredible challenge of running the 2025 London Marathon. A momentous achievement on its own, but even more inspiring knowing they did it for a meaningful cause. We caught up with Hannah to hear all about their journey, from training to finish line celebrations.
Hannah: Ella and I wanted to do something together that really challenged us. A few years ago, she trekked Kilimanjaro with her dad, this time it was my turn! When we were given the opportunity to run the marathon, I jumped at it. Ella had to think about it for a little while… but of course, she said yes!
Hannah: Get A-Head is a marvellous charity supporting patients with head and neck diseases, and the people who care for them. They fund vital equipment, research, and education that isn’t always covered by the NHS. It’s a cause that really resonated with us, and we wanted to use this opportunity to support their life-changing work.
“We’ve made it our mission at Get A-Head to raise vital funds to directly help improve the quality of life for patients suffering from head and neck diseases and those who care for them.” – Get A-Head Foundation
Hannah: We’re currently just over £2,000, and we’re hopeful more donations will come in soon. MWE has generously agreed to match the final amount we raise, which is just incredible.
Hannah: I run regularly anyway, but training for a marathon is still a big commitment. It’s a challenge to fit in those longer runs, fuel properly, avoid injury, and most importantly, enjoy the process. It’s about building both physical endurance and mental resilience. It’s really a unique experience.
Hannah: The heat was a big factor this year! We both made sure to stay hydrated throughout the course and pace ourselves. We wanted to take it all in and enjoy the unique atmosphere, even when it got tough.
Hannah: It’s emotional! Exhaustion and elation hit all at once. You feel immense pride and relief… and then there’s the medal! But more than anything, it’s the thought of all the people who’ve supported and donated—it really keeps you going to the very end.
Hannah: It was Ella’s first and she was amazing. This was my second time running London, and my fourth marathon overall.
Hannah: Yes, yes, yes. All day long!
Congratulations to Hannah and Ella for this incredible achievement. And thank you for inspiring all of us with your determination, energy, and heart.
If you’d like to contribute to their fundraising total, donations are still welcome!
As ESCMID 2025 is now over, we’re reflecting on one of the most exciting and energising events in our calendar. Thank you to everyone who visited our booth, shared insights, and helped shape the future of diagnostics, infection prevention, and environmental sampling.
Whether you were drawn in by our new product launches, recognised our classic innovations like POLYWIPE™, or stopped by to discuss the challenges you face in the lab, it was a pleasure to meet you.
Here are some of the highlights from the conference:
This year’s big reveal was our SampleSuite range, a family of no-swab specimen collection devices that simplify sample processing while keeping results reliable. From SalivaPOD™ to CapillaryPOD™ and StoolPOD™, SampleSUITE™ is designed for real-world needs with room-temperature storage, ease of use, and lab efficiency.
We also introduced our three-tier Self-Collection Range:
Good: Dry collection and transport – cost-effective and easy to use.
Better: Liquid collection and transport – ideal for infectious disease screening
Best: Our most advanced system – a swab-free device for true collection-to-lab simplicity
All products are engineered with both patients and professionals in mind, because empowering healthcare means meeting users where they are. More products across Good, Better and Best coming soon.
Many of you were keen to learn more about our environmental sampling tools, particularly:
POLYWIPE™ – pre-moistened sponge swabs ideal for surface sampling in pharma, food, and healthcare environments
NRSII™ – specially formulated to neutralise common disinfectants for accurate microbial recovery
STERISWAB™ – for sterile surface sampling in infection prevention and control settings
With cross-industry relevance from cleanrooms to hospital beds, these tools continue to lead the charge in contamination control and compliance.
Throughout the week, we had powerful discussions on:
Getting “Disease X Ready” and the role of microbiologists in pandemic resilience
How transport media like SIGMA VIROCULT®, now validated for the Bosch Vivalytic Analyser, and SIGMA MM™ are evolving
Every conversation reinforced that what we do is about more than swabs, it’s about enabling smarter diagnostics, safer environments, and healthier communities.
We’ll be continuing the conversation post-ESCMID with:
Educational blogs and infographics
Deeper dives into SampleSUITE™, U-SWAB™ and other self-collection developments
Continued partnerships across sectors who share our vision for sustainable, patient-centric innovation
Thank you again for being part of this milestone event. If we didn’t get a chance to speak at ESCMID, or if you’d like to continue the conversation, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch | Explore our products | Let’s collaborate
Medical Wire & Equipment Co Ltd (MWE), a leading manufacturer of specimen collection media/swabs, and ConceptoMed AS, an innovative medical device company, are pleased to announce a
strategic distribution partnership aimed at advancing Self-Collection and transportation of samples while improving patient outcomes globally.
Under this new collaboration, MWE and ConceptoMed will combine their expertise to develop and distribute cutting-edge Self-Collection devices that enhance the accuracy and efficiency of specimen collection and analysis. This partnership will leverage MWE’s extensive experience in manufacturing high-quality specimen collection and transportation media with ConceptoMed’s innovative technologies, such as the SalivaPOD®.
• Enhanced Diagnostic Accuracy: The integration of MWE’s specimen collection media with ConceptoMed’s Pending launch of SalivaPOD™ ECO, StoolPOD™, and CapillaryPOD™ devices will ensure optimal sample quality for Microbiology or PCR diagnostics, reducing contamination and improving test sensitivity.
• Removal of the Swab: ConceptoMed’s NEW specimen collection products, allow a sample to be taken without the need for a swab while promoting better patient safety and compliance.
• Global Reach: Both companies will utilise their established distribution networks to make these advanced diagnostic solutions available to healthcare providers and researchers worldwide, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes.
John Hanson, Sales and Marketing Director at MWE, stated, “We are excited to partner with ConceptoMed to bring innovative diagnostic solutions to the market. This collaboration aligns with our vision to ensure every sample is collected and transported in its optimum condition, enabling the most accurate and reliable results can be acted on.”
Christian Mide, CEO of ConceptoMed, added, “Our partnership with MWE represents a significant step forward in our mission to improve patient safety and diagnostic accuracy. Together, we will drive advancements in healthcare diagnosis and treatment.”
Medical Wire & Equipment Co Ltd (MWE) is a UK-based manufacturer specializing in swabs and specimen collection media for clinical, food, pharmaceutical, forensics, environmental, and research applications. With a commitment to quality and innovation, MWE’s products are used globally in over 120 countries
ConceptoMed AS is a Norwegian medical device company dedicated to developing innovative solutions that enhance patient safety, compliance
and diagnostic outcomes. Their product portfolio includes the SalivaPOD™ for saliva collection.
• Medical Wire & Equipment Co Ltd: [email protected]
• ConceptoMed AS: [email protected]
This partnership marks a significant milestone in the journey towards better diagnostic solutions and improved healthcare outcomes. Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting developments from MWE and ConceptoMed.
We’ll be at ESCMID Global 2025, discussing why M40-A2 compliance is critical when selecting specimen collection and transport systems. Accurate diagnostics start with high-quality specimens, and the right transport system can mean the difference between reliable results and compromised patient care.
The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M40-A2 standard sets rigorous quality control criteria to ensure microbiological transport devices preserve specimen integrity. Despite its importance, M40-A2 compliance is often overlooked. If you’re involved in specimen collection, transport, or diagnostics, understanding this standard is essential.
1️ Preserving Specimen Integrity – Ensures microorganism viability for accurate lab results.
2️ Reducing Diagnostic Risks – Minimises false negatives, misdiagnoses, and treatment delays.
3️ Standardisation & Reliability – Ensures reproducible results and regulatory confidence.
4️ Regulatory Assurance – Aligns with recognised standards for credibility and compliance.
Specimen transport isn’t just about moving samples—it’s about preserving diagnostic accuracy. Non-compliant transport systems can lead to specimen degradation, false results, and wasted resources. M40-A2-compliant systems, such as MWE’s SIGMA TRANSWAB® and SIGMA Liquid Range, are rigorously validated to maintain microorganism viability over time and temperature variations.
Regulatory bodies, including the FDA, recognise M40-A2 as a benchmark for microbiological transport. Choosing a compliant system streamlines validation, enhances lab efficiency, and upholds the highest standards in patient care.
If you want to learn more about M40-A2 compliance and how MWE integrates it across our product range, visit our booth at B74 and speak with our team.
🔬 Let’s talk about how M40-A2 compliance can improve your diagnostics!
We’re incredibly proud to share the results of our recent fundraising efforts for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, as four members of the Medical Wire & Equipment team laced up their running shoes and tackled the scenic and demanding Bath Ultra Challenge on 29th March 2025.
Taking place on a sunny weekend in the South West, the Ultra Challenge offered a variety of routes winding through the rolling hills and historic sights surrounding Bath. Team MWE took on two distances—with our Chairman Andrew Broggio and his wife, Hannah Broggio, completing the 10K route, while Amanda Nash (Regulatory Assurance Manager) and Caroline Hannay (Production Planning Manager) powered through the tougher 29K course.
Their efforts were all in aid of a very special cause: Julia’s House, a charity that provides essential care and support to children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and their families, both at home and in their hospices.
The Bath Ultra Challenge is part of the UK Ultra Challenge Series, designed for walkers, joggers, and runners of all levels to push their limits for a good cause. Participants can choose distances ranging from 10K to a full 50K Ultra Marathon. This year’s route showcased the beauty of the Cotswold countryside with plenty of hills, fields, and breathtaking views.
For our team, it was a mix of physical stamina and emotional motivation. Together, they clocked up a combined 78 kilometres, driven by the desire to support a local charity close to our hearts.
Thanks to the generous support of friends, family, colleagues, and supporters, we are thrilled to report that we raised £235 for Julia’s House!
This total is a reflection of the team’s determination and the community’s generosity. Every donation, no matter how small, added up to something truly meaningful.
Julia’s House relies on public donations for over 90% of its funding. The money we’ve raised will go toward providing critical services such as:
Respite care for families needing a much-needed break
Emergency support for children and their loved ones
Therapies and play sessions that bring joy and comfort
Support for siblings and bereavement counselling
At-home care visits by specialist nurses and carers
Every pound makes a real difference in improving the quality of life for children with complex needs and ensuring their families are never alone on their journey.
A massive thank you to everyone who supported our team—whether you donated, shared our fundraiser, or simply sent words of encouragement. And of course, a heartfelt well done to Andrew, Hannah, Amanda, and Caroline for stepping up to the challenge in support of such a worthwhile cause.
At MWE, we’re proud to be part of a community that cares. Supporting Julia’s House through the Bath Ultra Challenge has been an unforgettable experience—and we’re already thinking about our next adventure!
Healthcare is evolving, and with it, the way we collect diagnostic samples. The demand for reliable, convenient, and patient-friendly testing solutions has never been greater. That’s why we’re excited to be developing our first 3 ranges for self-collection, designed for healthcare professionals and patients alike.
The medical landscape is shifting towards greater accessibility and efficiency. Self-collection devices are becoming essential tools in diagnostic testing, especially for areas such as:
Recognising the growing demand for patient-centered care, we are developing an innovative range of self-collection devices that empower individuals to provide high-quality samples without the need for in-person visits
At MWE, we’ve been at the forefront of specimen collection innovation for decades. With the rise of at-home and self-directed testing, we saw an opportunity to develop a range that is reliable, easy to use, and scientifically validated. Our self-collection devices ensure:
Self-collection isn’t just about patient convenience—it’s about improving the efficiency of diagnostics:
Are you ready to experience the next generation of self-collection?
Want more information? Discover the future of self-collection—explore the range and register for updates.
At Medical Wire & Equipment Ltd (MWE), we are always striving to improve efficiency and innovation in everything we do. That’s why we’re excited to welcome Scott Ingram as our new Logistics and Operations Manager. With a wealth of experience in warehousing, operations, and team leadership, Scott is set to play a key role in streamlining our processes and driving continuous improvement.
Bringing over 10 years of experience in warehousing and operations, Scott has a proven track record of building high-performing teams and optimising operational workflows. His leadership style is built on a “people-first” approach, ensuring that team members feel valued, empowered, and motivated to succeed.
As Scott settles into his new role, he is focused on gaining a deep understanding of MWE’s business processes, systems, and procedures. His goal is to identify opportunities for development that align with our long-term business strategy, ensuring that our operations remain efficient, scalable, and fit for the future.
“I’m looking forward to refining and enhancing our operational processes to make sure we are working as efficiently as possible and using our resources to their full potential,” Scott shares. “Having successfully led operational projects in the past, I’m eager to apply that experience here at MWE.”
A strong company culture is at the heart of every successful business, and Scott understands the importance of fostering a positive and collaborative environment. With experience in strengthening workplace culture in previous roles, he is committed to building on the great work already done at MWE.
“I’ve always believed that investing in people is the key to success,” Scott says. “We already have fantastic individuals within the business, and I’m excited to help develop high-performing teams that will drive MWE forward.”
Please join us in welcoming Scott to the MWE team! We look forward to seeing his expertise and leadership in action as we continue to grow and evolve.
At Medical Wire & Equipment Ltd, we take great pride in supporting organisations that make a real difference in people’s lives. As business club members of Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance (WBAA), we recently visited their airbase to see firsthand the incredible work they do.
Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance is a vital emergency service, providing rapid response medical care to critically ill and injured patients across the region. Operating 24/7, 365 days a year, the team is made up of highly skilled paramedics, pilots, and doctors who work together to deliver lifesaving interventions in the most urgent situations.
Every second counts in an emergency, and WBAA ensures that patients receive the best possible care as quickly as possible. Their state-of-the-art helicopter and rapid response vehicles allow them to reach incidents within minutes, providing pre-hospital critical care that can mean the difference between life and death.
Funded solely by donations, the charity relies on the generosity of supporters and business members like us to continue their vital work. During our visit, we were humbled to learn about the challenges they face and the dedication of the team who work tirelessly to serve our communities.
At MWE, we understand the importance of emergency medical services, and our commitment to supporting WBAA aligns with our mission to advance healthcare. As business club members, we contribute to the ongoing efforts of this life-saving service, ensuring they have the resources they need to respond to emergencies whenever they arise.
Seeing the work of Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance up close reaffirmed our belief in the importance of their mission. Whether responding to road traffic accidents, medical emergencies, or incidents in remote areas, their expertise and swift action save countless lives each year.
Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance relies completely on community support to keep flying and saving lives. If you’d like to contribute, consider making a donation, fundraising, or becoming a business club member. Every contribution helps keep this essential service running for those who need it most.
To learn more about WBAA and how you can support them, visit their website
We are proud to stand with Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance and will continue to support their incredible efforts in making a difference across our region.
Bridging the Gap: Turning Results into Action with the SIGMA Range
In the ever-evolving landscape of diagnostic medicine, obtaining accurate laboratory results is just one piece of the puzzle. The true impact lies in transforming data into meaningful action—guiding patient treatment, informing public health decisions, and shaping antibiotic stewardship policies. At Medical Wire & Equipment (MWE), we understand that every specimen collected represents a crucial step in a patient’s healthcare journey. This is why our SIGMA Range is designed to ensure the integrity and accuracy of specimens, enabling healthcare professionals to make informed decisions with confidence.
The Importance of Reliable Data Handling
Accurate diagnostic outcomes depend on the integrity of the specimen from the moment it is collected to the moment it is analysed. Compromised or degraded specimens can lead to misleading results, delaying effective treatment or contributing to the misuse of antibiotics. The SIGMA Range, including Σ-TRANSWAB®, Σ-VIROCULT®, and Σ-FECAL TRANSWAB®, provides optimal transport media that preserves sample viability and ensures reliable, reproducible results.
Trend Analysis: Identifying Patterns in Infection and Resistance
Beyond individual diagnostics, healthcare systems rely on trend analysis to track infection outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance patterns. The quality of collected specimens directly impacts the reliability of this data. By utilising MWE’s validated transport media, laboratories and healthcare institutions can collect consistent, high-quality specimens that contribute to robust datasets, enhancing epidemiological studies and infection control measures.
Empowering Antibiotic Stewardship with Actionable Data
Antibiotic stewardship is essential in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Without precise diagnostics, clinicians may resort to empirical prescribing, which increases the risk of ineffective treatment and resistant pathogens. The SIGMA Range supports targeted therapy by ensuring specimen viability, enabling accurate identification of pathogens, and supporting laboratory workflows that streamline susceptibility testing. When healthcare professionals have confidence in their test results, they can implement evidence-based treatment strategies that preserve the effectiveness of existing antibiotics.
MWE: A Trusted Partner in Specimen Collection
By bridging the gap between data collection and clinical action, MWE empowers healthcare providers to translate results into meaningful patient care. Our transport media solutions provide the foundation for reliable diagnostics, reinforcing infection prevention strategies, enhancing surveillance programs, and strengthening global antibiotic stewardship efforts.
With the SIGMA Range, MWE ensures that every specimen collected is a step toward informed decision-making—because when healthcare providers have access to the right information, they can make the right decisions for their patients and the future of public health.
In clinical diagnostics, the quality of specimen collection and transport is imperative to accurate laboratory results. Yet, the importance of selecting a system compliant with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M40-A2 standard is often overlooked. This standard, titled “Quality Control of Microbiological Transport Systems; Approved Standard—Second Edition,” sets rigorous criteria to ensure that microbiological transport devices are fit for purpose. Understanding and prioritising M40-A2 compliance when choosing specimen collection and transport systems is crucial for ensuring diagnostic accuracy and safeguarding patient care. Here’s why:
Specimen integrity is the heart of diagnostics. Every specimen collected from a patient is a snapshot of their health at a specific moment in time. However, microorganisms within these specimens are often delicate and highly sensitive to environmental conditions. If the transport system fails to preserve their integrity, critical pathogens may degrade, or unwanted overgrowth of commensal organisms may occur. This not only jeopardises the diagnostic process but also risks inaccurate or inconclusive results. M40-A2-compliant transport, such as MWE’s SIGMA TRANSWAB®, systems are meticulously designed to maintain microorganism viability over specific time frames and temperature ranges, ensuring that what arrives in the laboratory is as close as possible to the original sample.
Failure to use a compliant transport system can lead to compromised specimens. If a pathogen of interest is no longer viable upon reaching the lab, it could result in false negatives, delayed diagnoses, and incorrect treatment decisions. Alternatively, overgrowth of non-target organisms during transit can mask critical pathogens, leading to misdiagnoses. For patients, this means missed diagnoses, unnecessary treatments, or prolonged illness. For laboratories, the consequences include increased costs, wasted resources, and reputational damage. By selecting transport systems that are compliant with M40-A2, you safeguard against these risks by setting stringent guidelines for specimen stability.
Diagnostic laboratories and healthcare providers rely on consistent, reproducible results. M40-A2 compliance ensures that transport systems meet standardised criteria for performance, tested under controlled conditions using specified microorganisms and protocols. This standardisation provides laboratories with confidence in the reliability of the products they use, eliminating variability and ensuring accurate, repeatable diagnostic processes.
Regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognise M40-A2 as a benchmark for microbiological transport systems. Compliance demonstrates a commitment to clinical excellence and provides tangible evidence of adherence to best practices during accreditation or audits.
M40-A2 provides clear protocols for validating transport system performance. Laboratories can save time on in-house testing and have greater confidence in the results. The standard outlines methods for testing devices under various conditions, including temperature ranges and extended transport times. Selecting M40-A2-compliant systems, like MWE’s SIGMA Liquid Range, removes much of the guesswork, enabling laboratories to focus on delivering timely, accurate results.
If you’re involved in specimen collection, transport, or diagnostic testing, understanding and prioritising M40-A2 compliance is essential. Precision medicine demands accurate diagnostics. The right transport system can mean the difference between identifying a life-threatening infection or missing it entirely. Beyond clinical implications, M40-A2 compliance reflects a broader commitment to patient safety, operational efficiency, and trust in laboratory services.
Choosing a specimen collection and transport system that complies with M40-A2 is not just a technical decision—it’s a commitment to upholding the highest standards in patient care and laboratory diagnostics. By understanding the significance of this standard, healthcare providers and laboratories can make informed choices that ultimately benefit patients and improve diagnostic outcomes. The next time you evaluate transport systems, ask yourself: is it M40-A2 compliant? The answer could make all the difference.
Please get in touch with the team if you’d like to know more about M40-A2 compliance and how it’s integrated throughout MWE’s manufacturing.
We are delighted to announce that SIGMA-TRANSWAB® is now validated for use with the eazyplex® molecular diagnostic system. This marks an exciting development for laboratories and clinicians, offering enhanced versatility and reliability in specimen collection and testing.
The eazyplex® system is renowned for its speed and accuracy, delivering rapid results for various infectious diseases. With SIGMA TRANSWAB® now validated, you can ensure optimal compatibility and performance for efficient workflows.
As always, our mission is to support diagnostic excellence by delivering pre-analytical medical devices you can trust. For more details on this validation or to discuss your specific needs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
MWE are committed to making a positive impact not just in healthcare, but also within our local community. That’s why we are proud to support Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, a charity dedicated to providing life-changing care to children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families.
We recently had the pleasure of hosting Jo Commons, Business Development & Corporate Fundraiser at Julia’s House, for a tour of our facilities. Jo shared incredible stories of the work Julia’s House does to support families, and we were deeply inspired by their compassion and dedication.
As a local business, we are honoured to contribute to their mission. We are proud to be able to help the families in need have access to the care and support they deserve.
To learn more about Julia’s House or how you can support their cause, visit their website juliashouse.org.
Winter is here, and with it comes a surge in respiratory illnesses. As the UK faces increasing flu-related hospitalisations, health officials have declared flu season “officially under way.” NHS data shows a sharp rise in flu cases, with hospital admissions up by 65% in just one week. This surge comes amid warnings about continued increases during the winter months, driven by cold weather and social gatherings. Pregnant women, children, and individuals in clinical risk groups are among those most vulnerable, emphasising the need for proactive measures
For healthcare professionals, this season isn’t just about managing current outbreaks—it’s about staying ahead of what’s to come. SIGMA-VIROCULT®, a leading virus transport medium, is your reliable partner for virus diagnostics and outbreak preparedness.
While vaccinations remain the cornerstone of prevention, healthcare professionals require robust tools for accurate diagnostics and virus surveillance. Effective virus sample transport and storage systems are critical for accurate diagnosis and outbreak management.
SIGMA VIROCULT®, the gold standard in virus transport media, is an essential part of the solution. Designed to support robust diagnostics, SIGMA-VIROCULT® ensures high-quality virus preservation for accurate testing.
Health officials continue to stress the importance of flu vaccinations. Flu and RSV can be particularly severe for vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, and those with chronic conditions. Vaccinations not only reduce the severity of symptoms but also help alleviate the burden on healthcare services.
Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, has emphasised the urgency: “The latest data is clear that flu is rising rapidly, and we are approaching a serious flu wave. Now is the time to get vaccinated if you are eligible.”
If you haven’t already, book your flu jab now to protect yourself and your loved ones. This simple step can help curb hospitalisations and minimise the spread of illness within your community.
Rising flu admissions add pressure to an already stretched healthcare system, underscoring the importance of efficient virus detection and management. By using SIGMA-VIROCULT®, healthcare professionals can tackle flu season confidently and safeguard communities against further spread.
Don’t wait for flu season to peak— invest in a product trusted worldwide for reliable virus transport and secure your supply of SIGMA-VIROCULT® today.
Learn more on our product page and stock up to safeguard public health now and into the future.
At Medical Wire & Equipment Co. Ltd (MWE), we are thrilled to announce our exploration into self-collection liquid and dry swabs, driven by the rising demand for family health with convenient, safe, and private testing. With a steadfast commitment to innovation and patient-centric solutions, we are pioneering advancements that ensure sample collection is not only user-friendly but also maintains the integrity and quality of the specimen.
The modern healthcare landscape is evolving, and self-collection aligns with the growing need for accessible and efficient testing. Our self-collection solutions offer several advantages:
For over 70 years, MWE has been at the forefront of pre-analytical medical device innovation. Our reputation for delivering reliable and practical solutions stems from our unwavering dedication to quality and excellence. With self-collection liquid and dry swabs, we are continuing this legacy, transforming sample collection into a convenient and comfortable experience without compromising specimen integrity.
Stay tuned as we unveil more about this exciting development. At MWE, we’re shaping the future of diagnostics—one innovation at a time, because results matter.
A microbiology laboratory’s accuracy hinges on the quality of specimens it receives. Poor specimen collection or transport can compromise sensitive pathogens before they reach the lab, risking failed diagnoses due to either the degradation of pathogens or the overgrowth of commensal bacteria. Using CLSI M40-A2-compliant swabs and transport systems helps capture an accurate microbial profile, supporting precise diagnoses. MWE’s SIGMA Range, compliant with CLSI M40-A2 standards, ensures reliable results by sustaining key bacterial species across various storage conditions, including refrigeration and ambient temperatures.
The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M40-A2 is a guideline for the performance of microbial specimen transport devices. It establishes quality benchmarks for transport swabs, requiring both quantitative and qualitative survival of specific microorganisms, such as aerobes, anaerobes, and fastidious bacteria like Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or where relevant, enteric bacteria or viruses. Compliance with this standard ensures that transport swabs can sustain viable organisms from collection to processing, enabling accurate diagnostics. MWE’s Σ-TRANSWAB®, Σ-FECAL TRANSWAB®, Σ-VIROCULT®, and Σ-VCM™ are all CLSI M40-A2-compliant, ensuring reliable performance for their intended uses.
Equally essential is robust transport. MWE’s line of liquid transport swabs—Σ-TRANSWAB®, Σ-FECAL TRANSWAB®, Σ-VIROCULT®, and Σ-VCM™—are built for secure transport, with reinforced caps and durable tubes that withstand 95kPa pressure, making them suitable for pneumatic tube systems commonly used in labs. The Liquid SIGMA Range offers additional advantages: it maintains stability at ambient temperatures, simplifying logistics and storage. The liquid phase ensures complete dispersion of the sample, allowing for a uniform suspension that can be aliquoted for multiple tests or pooled for batch testing. Furthermore, each device is sterilized by gamma irradiation without the use of sterility indicator dyes, ensuring no interference with visual monitoring.
For seamless integration with laboratory automation, MWE’s liquid transport swabs are compatible with major automated processing systems, including WASP, Kiestra TLA, Autoplak, and Cobas. By choosing products that support automated workflows, labs can optimise specimen handling, reduce errors, and improve efficiency.
Choose MWE’s CLSI M40-A2-compliant swabs for reliable specimen integrity and smooth laboratory automation.
At Medical Wire & Equipment Ltd, innovation is in our DNA. We’ve been at the forefront of medical device advancements since 1952, always striving to meet the evolving needs of our customers. One thing we’ve learned is that the best solutions come from listening closely to those who use our products. In industries like food production, environmental monitoring, infection control, and production line sterility testing, challenges such as transportability, sterility, and reducing carbon footprints are top of mind.
We’re excited to announce the latest expansion in our POLYWIPE™ Range: the new POLYWIPE™ in an Easy Open Stomacher Bag. This innovative format offers a pre-moistened blue sponge swab contained within a flat, tamper-proof stomacher bag that’s designed for easy transport in a bag, briefcase, or even by hand. With its secure seal and user-friendly operation, this new format eliminates the need for gloves or additional bagging, ensuring sterility from collection to lab processing.
With this new format, we’re making it easier, more secure, and more sustainable to perform critical sampling across industries. If you’d like to learn more about the POLYWIPE™ Easy Open Stomacher Bag Range and how it can support your testing needs, click here.
Maintaining a clean and safe environment is critical across numerous industries, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food production, and manufacturing. Whether it’s a laboratory, a factory floor, or a food processing plant, cleanliness is essential to prevent contamination. However, there’s a persistent and often invisible enemy lurking on surfaces: biofilm.
Biofilm is a complex layer of microorganisms that can form on virtually any surface. Once established, it protects bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens from cleaning procedures, making them difficult to remove. Despite thorough sanitation efforts, biofilm can cling to work surfaces, equipment, and even air ducts. This creates a serious problem for industries where contamination control is paramount.
The challenge becomes even more complicated when it comes to environmental monitoring. Monitoring the effectiveness of cleaning regimes is crucial to ensure compliance with industry standards and to safeguard the end product, be it medication, food, or machinery. The problem lies in the fact that even after a surface has been cleaned, invisible biofilm may remain.
Furthermore, the presence of residual cleaning chemicals on these surfaces can interfere with swabbing results, as cleaning agents may kill any bacteria collected on the swab, leading to inaccurate or misleading data.
That’s where POLYWIPE™ and NRS II™ step in as reliable and effective tools for microbial surface sampling and testing.
POLYWIPE™, engineered for microbial surface sampling, offers a superior solution by penetrating the protective barrier of biofilm, ensuring thorough sample collection. Unlike conventional swabs, POLYWIPE™ captures bacteria within the biofilm layer, making it an essential tool for industries where contamination can lead to serious safety and regulatory issues. Additionally, POLYWIPE™ neutralises any cleaning reagents left on surfaces, preventing them from interfering with the microbial detection process. This ensures that testing can accurately reflect the true microbial state of a surface, without being compromised by residual chemicals.
Similarly, NRS II™, designed for microbiological testing across various industries, is formulated to neutralise cleaning agents while collecting microbial samples. In environments where harsh cleaning chemicals are frequently used, such as hospitals, pharmaceutical facilities, and food manufacturing plants, NRS II™ ensures that accurate microbial counts are captured. This allows companies to confidently assess their cleanliness protocols, knowing that cleaning agents won’t compromise the accuracy of their swab results.
POLYWIPE™ and NRS II™ provide a comprehensive solution to biofilm contamination and the challenges posed by residual cleaning chemicals. Whether in food production, healthcare, or industrial settings, these tools help ensure the highest levels of cleanliness, accuracy in microbial detection, and overall product safety. In the fight against biofilm across multiple industries, POLYWIPE™ and NRS II™ are key allies in protecting public health, ensuring product safety, and maintaining regulatory compliance.
Following some extensive testing Bosch has confirmed SIGMA VIROCULT®,(Ref. MW951T) transport medium fully compatible with the Vivalytic SARS-CoV-2, Flu A/B, and RSV assay. This provides labs with greater flexibility and efficiency in respiratory virus just as the COVID, RSV & FLU season begins to ramp up.
SIGMA-VIROCULT® has been specially developed to maintain the integrity of viruses at ambient temperatures, making it an ideal solution for sample collection in any location. This eliminates the complexities and costs associated with temperature-regulated transport, streamlining operations and reducing the need for excessive storage space.
Moreover, SIGMA-VIROCULT® offers an extended shelf life of 24 months, which makes it perfect for laboratories looking to stock up on viral transport media in anticipation of unforeseen testing spikes. This longer shelf life reduces the risk of overstocking while ensuring that you are prepared for any surge in demand.
In addition to its longevity, SIGMA-VIROCULT® seamlessly fits into your laboratory workflow. It is designed for compatibility with molecular and cell culture systems, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of applications.
If you’re using a Vivalytic fully automated PCR instrument, it’s easy to take advantage of this new functionality by installing a simple XML file, available for download from Bosch’s Knowledge Space. Ensure your analyser is updated to software version 2.8.1 before installation to enable full compatibility with SIGMA-VIROCULT®.
For more information or assistance with the installation process, please consult the Knowledge Space or get in touch with Bosch team directly.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to enhance our products and partnerships to better serve your diagnostic needs!
At Medical Wire & Equipment Co. (Bath) Ltd, we’ve always strived to lead in innovation within the medical device industry. But innovation isn’t just about products—it’s about how we operate. That’s why we’ve taken significant steps to make our practices more sustainable, starting with a key change to our packaging.
Sustainably managed forests, like those certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), remain essential to the paper and packaging industries. Traditional paper and cardboard rely on cutting down trees and processing them into mulch. This method, while longstanding, has a clear environmental cost. That’s why we’ve invested in alternative fibers that reduce our wood consumption, further reinforcing our commitment to eco-conscious practices. To address this, we’ve adopted Zero Tree Packaging, which eliminates the need for tree-based materials altogether. Instead, we’re utilizing crop waste, such as wheat and sugar cane bagasse, to produce our packaging.
This shift not only reduces the strain on forests but also turns agricultural byproducts—materials that would typically go to waste—into valuable resources. It’s an approach that ensures a circular economy, benefiting both the environment and the industries that generate this waste.
As sustainability becomes a key consideration for healthcare organisations, we’re here to support you. Our shift to sustainable packaging and our broader green initiatives reflect our dedication to doing what’s right for our customers—and the planet. Together, we can make a difference, one step at a time. By choosing products packaged in crop waste-based materials, you’re supporting an eco-friendly future without sacrificing quality.
At Medical Wire & Equipment Co. (Bath) Ltd, we’re proud to be part of this change. Our switch to crop waste packaging is just one of the many steps we’re taking to reduce our environmental footprint while continuing to deliver the high-standard products you rely on.
As the NHS initiates the historic rollout of RSV vaccinations to safeguard the most vulnerable in the UK, accurate and timely diagnosis remains the cornerstone of effective treatment. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a significant threat, particularly to infants, the elderly, and individuals with underlying health conditions, contributing to thousands of hospitalisations every year. Early detection and diagnosis are crucial in reducing the burden on healthcare systems, particularly during the demanding winter months.
This makes the introduction of comprehensive preventive strategies, including the new RSV vaccine, a landmark moment in public health. Yet, the battle against RSV doesn’t stop at prevention—effective diagnostic tools are essential in identifying, monitoring, and controlling the spread of the virus. Here’s where our innovative products come into play. MWE are dedicated to advancing pre-analytical diagnostic methods and our SIGMA VIROCULT® Virus Transport Medium is a key contributor to the rapid identification of respiratory viral infections.
RSV is a common and highly contagious virus that can cause severe respiratory illnesses such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, particularly in young children and older adults. As vaccination efforts ramp up, there is an even greater emphasis on diagnosing RSV accurately and swiftly to ensure effective management of outbreaks. Delayed diagnosis can lead to prolonged illness, increased hospital admissions, and higher healthcare costs, which is why having the right tools for early detection is paramount.
Our SIGMA-VIROCULT® is specifically designed to meet this need, offering superior specimen collection and transport capabilities. Whether used in hospitals, clinics, or laboratories, it ensures that the integrity of viral specimens is preserved, delivering consistent and reliable results.
As pioneers in microbiological diagnostics, we understand the importance of robust pre-analytical procedures in ensuring the accuracy of test results. Our SIGMA-VIROCULT® Virus Transport Medium is engineered to provide optimal conditions for the safe transportation of viral samples. This innovative solution plays a vital role in maintaining sample integrity from the point of collection to the laboratory, even over extended periods and varying conditions.
SIGMA-VIROCULT® is built for versatility and reliability, ensuring that even the most delicate samples, such as those taken for RSV testing, are protected from degradation. It includes a balanced medium that keeps viruses stable without bacterial overgrowth, allowing for accurate and timely diagnosis. SIGMA-VIROCULT® is designed to for respiratory viral infection detection. As a liquid medium, once a viral infection has been confirmed, the sample can be aliquoted multiple times to allow for further tests to determine the virus present.
While vaccination is a powerful tool in preventing RSV, diagnostic accuracy remains essential for comprehensive patient care. SIGMA-VIROCULT® Virus Transport Medium offers the most reliable way to transport viral samples for diagnostic testing, ensuring healthcare professionals have access to precise, high-quality data. By enabling effective sample preservation, SIGMA-VIROCULT® is integral to identifying RSV cases early, preventing further transmission, and ensuring timely medical intervention.
This is especially critical as we enter the winter season—a time when RSV and other respiratory viruses, such as the flu, are most active. The NHS’s ambitious vaccination programme is a game-changer, and our role in aiding early detection complements this effort perfectly. Working hand-in-hand with preventive strategies like vaccination, our diagnostic products can help relieve the winter pressures on healthcare systems by ensuring that cases of RSV are identified and treated promptly.
The NHS’s new RSV vaccination program marks a pivotal moment in public health, aiming to protect the most vulnerable and reduce hospitalisations during the winter months. However, the key to its success lies not just in prevention but in comprehensive diagnostics that allow for identification of RSV cases. At MWE, we are proud to support this vision with our SIGMA-VIROCULT® Virus Transport Medium, which ensures that healthcare professionals have the tools they need for rapid and accurate diagnostics.
As we continue to lead the pre-analytical diagnostics industry, our commitment remains unwavering—to empower healthcare providers with the best diagnostic tools available, enabling them to deliver better patient outcomes and contribute to a healthier, safer future for all.
With the NHS spearheading the RSV vaccination campaign, the healthcare landscape is evolving rapidly. Accurate detection and diagnosis of RSV, supported by cutting-edge solutions like SIGMA-VIROCULT®, will be instrumental in ensuring the success of these efforts. We remain dedicated to providing innovative products that enhance diagnostic accuracy, reduce the spread of infections, and improve patient care.
In the wake of the global Mpox outbreak in non-endemic countries in 2022, the medical community has been searching for safer and more efficient ways to transport and test virus samples, especially from patients in areas with limited biological containment facilities. Addressing this critical need, the innovative SIGMA-MM™ medium and the Soft Touch Foam Swab have emerged as game-changers in the field of diagnostic testing, ensuring patient comfort and safety during sample collection and transportation.
Mpox, a viral infection caused by the Mpox virus, an Orthopoxvirus related to the smallpox virus, has seen a surge in cases outside its typical endemic regions. According to the NHS, Mpox often presents with symptoms like fever, headaches, muscle aches, and a distinctive rash that turns into fluid-filled blisters. While the infection is typically mild and self-limiting, it can be severe, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management and to prevent further transmission.
However, testing for Mpox presents unique challenges. The virus is more resistant than other enveloped viruses to certain disinfectants and has long-term environmental stability, making it imperative to ensure that any samples taken are rendered safe for transport without compromising the integrity of the viral DNA needed for accurate identification.
SIGMA-MM™ is a transport medium that has been rigorously tested and shown to effectively inactivate a wide range of microorganisms, including RNA viruses such as Influenza and SARS-CoV-2. A study conducted by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) has expanded this to include the Mpox virus, a DNA virus known for its resistance to common disinfectants. What sets SIGMA-MM™ apart is its speed; the medium can inactivate deadly pathogens in just 60 seconds, making it 30 times faster than other inactivation mediums on the market today.
In the LSTM study, SIGMA-MM™ was tested across three different lots under four conditions to determine its efficacy in inactivating the Mpox virus. The results were promising: no viral plaques were observed in any of the serial dilutions or the undiluted resuspended pellets, indicating complete inactivation of the virus. In contrast, control samples retained a significant viral load, with titres averaging between 5.06×10² and 1.32×10³ PFU/mL. This demonstrates that SIGMA-MM™ is highly effective at neutralizing the Mpox virus, ensuring safe transport of the samples for testing, particularly in qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) diagnostics.
In addition to SIGMA-MM™, the Soft Touch Foam Swab plays a critical role in the collection of samples, especially from Mpox lesions. Given the painful nature of Mpox rashes and the sensitive areas they often affect, patient comfort during sample collection is paramount. The soft touch foam swab is specifically designed with a non-invasive, gentle texture, making it ideal for use on wounds. This innovative design not only ensures patient comfort but also maintains the integrity of the sample, which is crucial for accurate testing.
The combination of SIGMA-MM™ and the soft touch foam swab offers a comprehensive solution for healthcare providers, ensuring that samples can be collected safely and comfortably, then transported without risk of contamination or degradation. As Mpox continues to pose a public health challenge, these advancements represent a significant step forward in managing the outbreak and protecting both patients and healthcare workers.
With the continued global spread of Mpox, the integration of these advanced tools into routine diagnostic practices could be vital in controlling future outbreaks. As healthcare systems worldwide prepare for potential new waves of Mpox or similar infections, the SIGMA-MM™ medium and soft touch foam swab stand out as critical medical devices in the ongoing fight against infectious diseases.
We are thrilled to announce and welcome Richard Farmer as our new Export Sales Manager. Richard has completed his onboarding and induction with us over the past two weeks and is now fully integrated into our team, ready to bring his extensive experience and fresh perspectives.
Richard brings with him a remarkable 25 years of commercial experience in sales, distribution, and project management. His career journey has equipped him with a diverse skill set and a deep understanding of the industry. He began his career in the UK, where he held various roles including Account Manager, Product Specialist, Key Account Manager, and Regional Sales Manager. He then transitioned into export sales, covering regions in the Middle East and the US.
Following this, Richard took on the role of Production Segment Leader, broadly managing teams and products within the Biotech & Pharmaceutical sectors. His most recent role was leading a pan- European project for the complete electric vehicle value steam, coordinating efforts with teams and customers across Europe.
Richard holds an Honours degree in Analytical Chemistry and has spent three years working as a lab technician in contract testing laboratories. This technical foundation, combined with his extensive commercial experience, positions him uniquely to understand both the scientific and business aspects of our industry.
Richard is excited to leverage his previous experiences across various countries and regions, and he is particularly enthusiastic about collaborating and working on a global scale. He is passionate about understanding customers’ needs first to work towards mutual success.
“I’m looking forward to building on my previous experiences and collaborating globally. Being on the manufacturing side will be different for me. It presents new opportunities to drive initiatives and foster collaborations within distribution networks,” Richard shared.
In his new role, Richard will be very active in the clinical, food, and research sectors. He is also eager to represent our company at key industry events this year, including EMMD, ESCV, and Medica, where he will connect with customers in person alongside our sales and marketing teams. For those unable to attend these events, Richard is looking forward to engaging with you online.
We are confident that Richard’s expertise and dedication will be invaluable as we continue to grow and innovate. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Richard Farmer, our new Export Sales Manager.
Feel free to reach out to Richard to discuss any opportunities or collaborations. He is eager to connect and work towards shared success.
Join us in welcoming aboard Richard! We look forward to achieving great things together.
We are delighted to share a comprehensive report from Dr. Brad Spiller, an esteemed specialist in the field of microbiology. Dr. Spiller is currently Head of Medical Microbiology Reader in the Division of Infection & Immunity at the School of Medicine, Cardiff University, also holds notable positions at the UK Health Security Agency, and the University of Western Australia. He has provided invaluable insights into the application and benefits of our SIGMA VCM™ product.
In his detailed analysis, Dr. Spiller outlines the challenges faced in the long-term archiving of Ureaplasma spp. and Mycoplasma hominis, two bacterial species that are particularly difficult to culture and maintain. His findings highlight the effectiveness of SIGMA-VCM™ in preserving these microorganisms, thus facilitating ongoing research and clinical diagnostics.
“My laboratory at Cardiff University School of Medicine was fortunate to be supported by MWE for two final year Medical Pharmacology dissertation projects looking for improvements in the way that we archive clinical Ureaplasma spp. and Mycoplasma hominis isolates.
These bacterial species are notable for their lack of cell wall and cell size of less than half a micron. As my lab also provides the only antimicrobial susceptibility testing service for the UK Health Security Agency for these bacterial species, long term archiving of all tested clinical samples is therefore quite challenging and important.
The two projects assessed the stability of characterised strains of Ureaplasma parvum, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis at room temperature, 4oC, -20oC and -80oC. Testing viability at 24 hr intervals required freeze-thaw for the freezer samples and SIGMA-VCM™ was able to maintain viability after >10 freeze-thaw cycles for both Ureaplasmas and Mycoplasmas with minimal loss. After the project I had started using SIGMA-VCM™ as the primary method for archiving all of my clinical Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma samples given the encouraging results.
This week I returned to the original samples that the students Dr. Chris Rees and William Ridge had archived in the -80oC and found after seven years they still had viable titres of 104-107 bacteria. Because of their difficulty to culture, we assess growth by the change of a yellow to bright red colour generated by their unique metabolism in the 96 well plate shown – and you can see lots of red wells in the 10-fold dilution.
I will next be evaluating if MWE SIGMA-VCM™ can enable shipping of clinical strains between the UK and New Zealand at ambient temperature, as they would both perish quickly in their own solid growth medium (toxic metabolite accumulation even at room temperature) or sterile saline (no cell wall!) to avoid the several thousand pound bill for dry ice shipments between Northern and Southern Hemisphere that would be the alternative.
Many thanks to Douglas Shedden for his continuing support for our research and clinical diagnostic programmes over the years.”
Dr. Spiller’s report underscores the significant advantages of using SIGMA-VCM™ for the long-term archiving of delicate bacterial species. The key benefits highlighted include:
We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Spiller for his rigorous research and valuable contributions. His work not only highlights the robustness and reliability of SIGMA-VCM™ but also its critical role in supporting advanced microbiological research and diagnostics.
We are delighted to formally introduce our dedicated team of Account Managers, each strategically aligned to provide unparalleled support across specific regions.
The foundation of Sophie’s career began with an integrated master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Southampton. She embarked on her career in Research and Development laboratories, gaining invaluable insights into scientific principles and laboratory operations. Transitioning into sales, Sophie initially focused on non-clinical sales, leveraging her technical knowledge to deliver tailored solutions. Her dedication and expertise propelled her to advance into Micro Clinical Sales, where she honed her skills in addressing clinical challenges and ensuring precise outcomes.
Now serving as UK Sales Manager, Sophie is deeply committed to supporting our customers, ensuring they achieve dependable results for their patients. Sophie’s passion lies in bridging the gap between scientific excellence and customer satisfaction, making her a vital asset in driving innovation and reliability across diverse sectors.
Thomas Robinson brings extensive expertise as UK Account Manager, supporting the United Kingdom, excluding London and East of England. With degrees in Molecular Biology and Microbiology from Manchester Metropolitan University, complemented by studies at California State University San Marcos, Thomas has a solid foundation in biological sciences.
His career includes practical experience in pivotal roles in microbiology, specialising in pK/pD and antimicrobial research. He has contributed significantly to sectors such as food and water industries, Antimicrobial Reference Laboratories, and a start-up focused on rapid diagnostic platforms.
Thomas excels in customer support, prioritising enhanced lab workflows and efficiency. Combining his scientific background with a strong commitment to client satisfaction, he ensures seamless experiences that support critical laboratory operations.
Katerina Evangali recently joined MWE with a background in Biomedical Science and Medical Microbiology from Kingston University, London. Her experience at St George’s Hospital provided hands-on insight into lab operations, refining her ability to deliver effective solutions.
Specialising in clinical sales, Katerina integrates scientific expertise with a passion for building client relationships. She excels in optimising laboratory workflows through meticulous use of quality testing methods, focusing on London and South East England. Katerina is dedicated to enhancing efficiency in lab operations, ensuring reliable results crucial for patient care and research.
Her role as Account Manager underscores her commitment to supporting clients across clinical, pharmaceutical, and research sectors, empowering them with tailored solutions for their specific needs.
Our team boasts extensive experience within microbiology laboratories and excels in customer support. Their deep understanding of microbiology ensures that you receive informed and practical solutions tailored to your specific needs.
Our Account Managers are actively engaging with clients across their regions, ready to introduce themselves and showcase our exciting new products. At MWE, we value the importance of face-to-face conversations as the best way to connect, understand, and address your challenges.
We look forward to building strong, personal relationships with you and supporting you with our expertise and innovative solutions.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a meeting with your Account Manager, please feel free to contact us. We are here to ensure you receive the best possible support and to help your business thrive.
We are thrilled to welcome Katerina to the MWE team as our new UK Account Manager. Katerina joins us with extensive experience in microbiology and an eagerness to engage with our customers in finding solutions to their laboratory requirements. Her enthusiasm and expertise make her a perfect fit for our team as we continue to grow and innovate. Katerina is halfway through her two-week onboarding and is already eager to connect with clients and colleagues.
Katerina has a strong foundation in biomedical science and medical microbiology, having studied at Kingston University, London. During her time at university, she gained a deep understanding of the scientific principles that underpin our industry, as well as hands-on laboratory skills that are crucial in her role. After completing her studies, Katerina spent two years gaining valuable lab experience at St George’s Hospital, one of the leading healthcare institutions in the UK. This experience provided her with practical insights into laboratory operations and the challenges faced by lab professionals.
Transitioning from the lab to a customer-facing role, Katerina moved into clinical sales, covering the South East and London region. This shift allowed her to combine her scientific knowledge with her passion for building relationships with customers. Over the years, she has developed a keen understanding of the needs and expectations of clients in the clinical field. Katerina is particularly adept at identifying how quality testing methods can enhance and optimise laboratory workflows. She is excited to bring this expertise to her new role at MWE.
One of the things that drives Katerina the most is her passion for engaging with her customers in their laboratory environments. She loves seeing firsthand how the right selection of testing methods can lead to significant improvements in efficiency and accuracy. For Katerina, one of the most exciting aspects of the industry is the integration of automation within the microbiology lab. She finds it fascinating to see how advanced technologies can streamline processes and produce reliable results.
Katerina is also eager to expand her knowledge beyond the clinical industry. She is excited to delve into new sectors such as food, pharma, and forensics. Each of these industries presents unique challenges and opportunities, and Katerina is ready to tackle them head-on. She believes that by understanding the specific needs of each sector, she can help clients achieve their goals more effectively.
At MWE, we pride ourselves on our commitment to quality. Our solutions are designed to meet the highest standards because we know that results matter. Katerina is looking forward to helping our clients turn their frustrations into solutions with our innovative offerings. She believes that strong customer relationships are the key to success, and she is dedicated to building and maintaining these connections.
We are confident that Katerina’s extensive experience, combined with her enthusiasm and commitment to excellence, will make a significant impact at MWE. She is ready to contribute to our mission of providing top-quality solutions to our clients and driving innovation in the industry.
We encourage our clients and partners to connect with Katerina on LinkedIn or get in touch directly to learn more about how she can help you optimise your laboratory workflows and achieve your objectives by ensuring specimens are collected and transported in their optimum condition, because results matter.
Welcome to the team, Katerina! We are excited to have you on board and look forward to achieving great things together.
Further information regarding regions Katerina will be managing and the UK territories coming soon.
Medical Wire & Equipment Co. (Bath) Ltd is pleased to introduce our new POLYWIPE™ format: POLYWIPE™ + Stomacher Bag (Product Code: M451001). The re-designed composition neatly combines our famous POLYWIPE™ sponge swab with a stomacher bag, which is to be used as the glove for holding the sponge when sampling, for your convenience.
Our POLYWIPE™ products are sterile premoistened blue sponge swabs for easy and effective sampling of surfaces for the detection of pathogens such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile. The bright blue colour of the sponge material is highly visible, to ensure easy detection and retrieval, should it be dropped. POLYWIPE™ sponge swabs are manufactured using a special sponge material which contains no inhibitory substances, ensuring maximum recovery and optimum detection of all microorganisms.
The sponge swab (POLYWIPE™) is ergonomically designed for convenient sampling of large, flat, or irregularly shaped surfaces. The pliable POLYWIPE™ sponges are particularly suitable for sampling surfaces such as beds, chairs, floors, monitors, bedside cabinets, and other medical equipment.
MWE’s POLYWIPE™ is premoistened, in a phosphate buffer, and traditionally individually sealed in a peel pouch. In the new format, it is supplied inside a tamper evident, sealed stomacher bag to increase efficiency while collecting specimen samples and processing. The stomacher bag is inverted to become the glove for you to hold the sponge while sampling surfaces. It then becomes the transport bag for sending to the laboratory, where it can be directly processed for analysis. Any antimicrobial substances in the sample are instantaneously diluted to levels well below lethality due to the high quantity of buffer liquid held within the sponge. Other highlights of the new format include:
In the global battle on healthcare acquired infections, increasing attention is now on the role of the near patient environment as a reservoir for the responsible pathogens. Stringent cleaning policies are required, but there is also a need to monitor their effectiveness. Bacteria can hide within biofilms that may not be completely removed by cleaning. These can then recover, multiply, and become a source of infection. Pathogenic microorganisms may lurk, not only, on fixed items such as beds or monitors, but on personal equipment such as stethoscopes, name badges and lanyards.
Conventional, commercial sponge materials are not suitable for collection specimen samples as they may contain inhibitory substances such as orthophenylphenol, sulphur, and quaternary ammonium compounds, either by design, or left by the manufacturing process. These can kill or damage any microorganisms picked up and therefore prevent their recovery and detection in the laboratory. During sampling, traces of disinfectant may also be collected with the sample of a cleaned surface and kill any bacteria. Effective sampling will require a means of neutralising trace antibacterial reagents so that any surviving microorganisms remain available for culture testing and analysis. MWE’s POLYWIPE™ sponge swabs neutralise traces of disinfectant by immediately diluting it to sub-lethal concentrations while preserving other microorganisms.
Best, E., et al , 2010, The Potential for Airborne Dispersal of Clostridium difficile from Symptomatic Patients, Clinical Infectious Diseases 2010; 50:1450–1457
Steriopoulis, L., 2014, Is our current cleaning method effective at eradicating Clostridium difficile? ECCMID 2014 Poster P0787
Collins, D., et al 2024, Clostridium difficile contamination of Australian retail vegetables and households. ECCMID 2024 Poster P3381
Enquire now and be the first to use the innovative POLYWIPE™ + Stomacher Bag format.
We are delighted to have ranked 68th in the Growth Index Report 2024. It is a pleasure to be recognised in this leader board alongside other local businesses ‘Sponge’, ‘Nationwide Engineering Group’, and ‘Inspecs Group’ who took the lead for the South West Region. Click here to download the full report: Growth Index Report 2024
Oresa’s Growth Index Report celebrates the companies and leaders that drive exceptional growth within the UK. Growth Index is an independent list that measures and celebrates UK companies by shining a light on the success of the 100 fastest-growing UK businesses over the last two years. Following a period of unprecedented global upheaval, Growth Index examines the contributions of the business world in shaping the next chapter in economic growth in the context of building a brighter, more sustainable future.
It is significant to us to be highlighted as a purposeful company as we endeavour to deliver quality and assurance as trusted medical device manufacturers. Growth Index has defined a purposeful company as ‘those that have a clearly defined, public-accessible purpose that extends beyond financial results or the functional performance of the business’.
We take our contribution to society and to the planet very seriously. The quality of our diagnostics media is a testament to our dedication to patient care. It is our sincerest desire that every patient sample is collected, transported, and delivered to the laboratories in its optimum condition. We do this to ensure the best results can be measured and drive the actions to benefit the health of patients around the world.
Furthermore, as manufacturers, we are taking essential steps towards sustainable processes. To succeed in making positive environmental contributions, we have established a leadership team of passionate individuals from across all departments to drive the progress towards a greener and a positive future for MWE.
We do what we do because results matter.
Growth Index says that economic growth is the engine of progress and common prosperity. Good growth is modelled on doing better, not just doing more. Growth that is ethical, sustainable, and socially conscious is possible, and we see it all around us. It is a model of growth that is rooted in enlightened self-interest, enriching society as well as the business, providing good jobs, funding vital public services, and creating the dynamism to solve major problems like climate change and poverty. The Growth Index is not selected based on any ethical criteria, but nevertheless highlights a growth model which offers an optimistic and sustainable future for UK businesses. (Read more: growthindex.com)
On the importance of ethical and sustainable economic growth Orlando Martins, CEO of Growth Index & ORESA, commented, ‘The good news is that good growth – growth that is profitable (and ultimately profit is required), ethical, sustainable and socially conscious – is possible, and we see it all around us. It is a model rooted in enlightened self-interest. It enriches society as well as the business and its owners and investors – providing good jobs, funding vital public services, and creating the dynamism to solve major problems like climate change and poverty.’ (growthindex.com/why-growth-matters/)
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Medical Wire & Equipment Co. are delighted to welcome back our UK Sales Manager, Sophie Price, after her recent maternity leave. Sophie will be return to the office Tuesday, 5th March 2024, eager to hit the ground running and reconnect with MWE customers across the United Kingdom.
Returning to her role as UK Sales Manager, Sophie will be managing UK Key Accounts while also working closely with Sanjay Patel, North Accounts Manager, and Thomas Robinson, South Accounts Manager.
Sophie has several years within the industry and is excited to return. The foundation of Sophie’s career began with a degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Southampton. At the completion of her studies, Sophie started her first role within the industry in Research and Development laboratories. She then moved into sales, starting with non-clinical sales covering the West Midlands and Wales, then progressed to Micro Clinical Sales before becoming a UK Sales Manager.
Upon her return to MWE, Sophie is eager to reconnect with familiar customers and to meeting all our new customers. She is passionate about supporting our customers in the clinical sector to deliver reliable patient results and working with our partners in the food, water, veterinary, pharmaceutical and forensic markets with quality pre-analytics, because results matter.
If you’d like to get in touch with Sophie, please use the ‘contact us’ link located at the top of this page.
In January 2024, a bottle of Vacuneda® was returned to Medical Wire and Equipment Co. (Bath) Ltd headquarters. The bottle of blood culture medium was discovered after a hospital, based in South England, cleaned out a condemned office. The manufacture of Vacuneda® was discontinued in the 1980’s as laboratories centralised and adopted new technologies with automated platforms.
Amongst other aging treasures of a once bustling microbiology laboratory office, MWE’s Vacuneda® had settled on its side, still fully sealed, and sterile. Although the seal in still intact, we would advise against using it.
It is impressive and astonishing that this particular bottle has remained sterile several decades subsequent to this batch’s expiry in ‘84.
We will be displaying this gem of MWE history in our reception area and also congratulated our production and quality control teams on their high manufacturing standards.
SIMGA-VIROCULT has been through rigorous testing to allow us to extend the products shelf-life from 12-months from the date of manufacture to 24-months from the date of manufacture. This allows you to hold stock today and removes the worry of the product going out of date in within the year. If you have any suggestions on how further updates to mwe products can make life easier for yourself and your team, please contact us through our website!
MWE are looking forward to seeing you at the UK NEQAS Microbiology / Microbiology Scientific
Meeting On 24/11/2022 9:45 am – 3:30 pm @: Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, London
Moving forward MWE is going to change the way that the products are identified.
All Sigma products with a tube of medium and a packet swab, will have a different lot number for the medium to the lot number of the package and box label. This is a similar method that most other companies in the market use, and we are standardising this process.
This will give MWE better Traceability throughout our manufacturing processes, therefore reducing the time it takes for MWE to react to any potential user/patient risk.
Monkeypox is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus.
Its natural reservoirs are squirrels and monkeys in west and central Africa, but humans can be infected. Symptoms will appear approximately 12 days after infection beginning with fever and headache, followed within the next 3 days by a rash (pustules/blisters) and swollen glands.
While the disease is generally self-limiting, and not life-threatening, serious complications can occur. Vaccines are available for individuals at risk.
Monkeypox is diagnosed by performing a PCR test on a viral swab taken from one or more vesicles or ulcers, or from a dry scraping of the scab.
Swabs should be sent in viral transport media, such as Sigma Virocult® MW951S or Sigma VCM™ MW910S.
Scab scrapings should only be taken if there are no other lesions and sent in a dry sterile tube. Testing of scrapings may take longer than a lesion swab (1).
If specimens require to be inactivated (2,3) Sigma MM™ MWMM or MW0250 can be used.
MWE’s ranges have been the products of choice globally, and are being used as inactivation and liquid transport media for Monkeypox.
We also request that you refer to the guidelines in your country to find out the type of product being recommended (e.g. viral transport media vs dry swab).
Codes for DRYSWAB™ with Dry Sterile Tubes from MWE:
References:
Latex comes from the rubber tree and is widely known to cause allergic reactions. An allergic reaction is when your body overreacts to a particular substance (such as latex, kiwis or pollen).
These reactions can range from sneezing and itchy eyes to itchy, irritated skin or rash to full anaphylaxis (this is an allergic response affecting ability to breathe, including swelling of the throat to the point that it could be life threatening).
People with severe allergy to latex may need to carry an epi-pen or similar branded product, this is essentially a syringe of epinephrine/adrenaline which will counteract the symptoms of anaphylactic shock.
These products have been designed for use by non-professionals, although instructions should always be closely followed when dispensing them.
Latex can be used in everyday and medical products such as rubber plugs, bathmats, binocular/microscope eyepieces, gloves, urinary catheters. Most clinical environments will routinely substitute out latex products as a precautionary measure if possible.
MWE products do not contain latex.
Established for over 70 years, Medical Wire (MWE) began as a family run manufacturer of medical devices in the UK. Today, we have grown into a global enterprise supporting organisations and governments worldwide in industries including food, forensics, clinical, pharmaceutical, laboratories, and even veterinary.
Our global presence in over 120 countries has meant that we have had the opportunity to invest in our people, equipment, and the business. Our aim over the years has been to repatriate manufacturing skills and resources, reducing reliance from overseas.
Despite the growth, our customers have always been at the heart of the business and supporting their needs has been our main priority.
Every product innovation over the last 70 years has been driven by our efforts to deliver good quality, safe and reliable solutions to our customers.
As part of our service provision, we deliver bespoke training programmes to organisations and clinicians worldwide, helping them understand changing industry norms within medical devices and how to apply them.
The pandemic was challenging for people, businesses and communities, globally.
As COVID-19 spread, there was a global shortage of swabs, which meant that the UK government needed support in delivering COVID-19 testing. COVID-19 became the focus of hospitals, laboratories and businesses. Medical Wire decided to reinvest resources into supporting the nation in this crisis, becoming one of the biggest pre-analytics providers in the world and the only UK manufacturer of swabs.
We invested in new production capacity, new management, trained our teams all to meet this demand. It wasn’t always smooth sailing as we had to ensure our employees were safe and protected. We also had to make sure that our customers in laboratories and hospitals were looked after, while fulfilling the nation’s needs.
The Future
Over the last few years Medical Wire has gone from strength to strength.
We are now leading the market by providing reliable, safe, and good quality medical devices that meet manufacturing standards.
We have developed robust lean processes to ensure we have greater capacity to meet supply-chain demand in the UK and globally.
We will continue supporting the community of Wiltshire by providing job opportunities, leadership training, and aid to charities like the Wilshire Air Ambulance, Julia’s House, and GBS Society.
Our aim is to build a brighter future for the diagnostics industry but also make the present count.
MWE has been established for 70 years and has always been known for providing pre-analytics to the clinical industry that are compliant, excellent quality and manufactured to international standards. We were the inventors of the first transport swab, now used as the de facto in the industry. Our products are used worldwide in laboratories and in research organisations in genomics, new variant testing, or even testing for new products.
Our products are also used in other industries outside of clinical.
Within Food and Pharma MWE’s swabs, surface wipes, sponges and kits are designed to collect and transport bacterial samples, working across all surfaces, with a variety of sampling applicators. MWE also provides sample collection devices to determine the level of microorganisms on sterile surfaces, especially needed for the pharmaceutical industry.
The collection device is a critical component in any investigation in Forensics, and that careful attention to materials and manufacturing techniques are essential to ensure the integrity of the sample. MWE have dedicated swabs that have special features suitable for scene of crime forensic sampling. Tested with the most stringent standards, MWE swabs are certified DNA free and are produced under dedicated, controlled conditions ensuring complete reliability and integrity of samples.
The quality and dependability of veterinary laboratory consumables underpins the reliability of diagnostic tests, analysis, and research outcomes. MWE range of Veterinary swabs, include several longer swabs particularly suited to large animals. In some, the long shaft is enclosed in a silicone sheath into which the swab head can be withdrawn as the swab is retrieved from the sampling site.
MWE provides products for the Environmental industry for larger surface sampling in critical areas such as manufacturing. MWE’s products enable reliable sampling for monitoring hygiene and sterility of larger surfaces. The choice of formulations meets the requirements of industries or retailers and can provide early detection for key pathogens.
We are more than just Clinical.
MWE has been supporting 3 charities close to our heart. We would like to introduce you to them.
Julia’s House Children’s Hospice: Julia’s House provides clinical, practical and emotional support for families caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, providing frequent and regular support in their own homes, in the community or at their hospices. They are not a typical children’s hospice. The service they provide is totally flexible and bespoke for families – it is also completely free. Life-threatening situations can happen without warning but imagine the reassurance of having access to specialist care, to know your child is in safe, skilled hands. Giving parents the confidence to take a mental and physical break from the exhausting cycle of care is what they do.
The care provided by Julia’s House children’s hospice has been awarded ‘Outstanding’ following a recent inspection (December 2021) by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest rating to be awarded by the independent regulator of care and social care in England.
Group B Step Support: Group B Strep Support (GBSS) is the world’s leading charity working to eradicate group B Strep infection in babies. They educate the public, doctors and midwives about group B Strep and provide information and support to affected families. Group B Strep Support is completely independent, and is mainly supported by the kind donations from people. 800 babies a year suffer group B Strep infection, causing death and disabilities. Most GBS infections are preventable.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance: As the name suggests, WAA save lives. They are an air ambulance service in Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas. They are funded by donations made by their sponsors and businesses in the UK. Their helicopter can accommodate a pilot, two paramedics, a patient and a passenger. On board you’ll find all of the equipment you’d find on a land ambulance. They also have specialist kit so their crew can provide the best medical care possible. Their paramedics also use Rapid Response Cars to attend incidents by road when their helicopter is unable to fly or if it is quicker to reach the location using the cars. The cars have the same medical equipment that is onboard in their helicopter.
After a difficult two years of no face to face conferences being held due to the pandemic, MWE is back exhibiting at conferences globally.
This year we have already exhibited at Medlab Middle East, IBMS in the UK, the Dutch Microbiology Conference, ECCMID in Portugal, CVS in the US, and we have many more to come. We will also be at the AACC Conference in Chicago, ESCV in Manchester, Medica in Germany, Microbe and BSMT in the UK, to name a few.
MWE has been supporting the clinical industry worldwide including the UK for 70 years bringing compliant, innovative, and good quality specimen collection devices to the diagnostics market.
Our products like the Universal Transport Device ∑-VCM™ and viral transport media ∑-VIROCULT® along with our Swabs have been used globally throughout the pandemic.
At these conferences we will be showcasing our range of products including ∑-MM™, an inactivation media which has proven to save costs and improve efficiencies in many laboratories worldwide.
In addition, we will also be talking about how our products are used with various automated systems on the market, and have been validated by our customers, for molecular diagnostics.
Stay up-to-date on the conferences we will be attending in the events section of our website.
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