Blogs & Interesting Articles
Here is a really interesting article including applicational data about the HandiPrep™ product line and how it can be used to shorten your sample preparation workflow: (7 min read).
Boosting Workflow Efficiency with the LabExact® HandiPrep™ Syringe Filter Device
In laboratories across food, environmental, and industrial sectors, consistent sample preparation is the foundation of reliable analytical results. Filtration plays a pivotal role in ensuring samples are free from particulates, emulsions, or contaminants that could compromise analytical instruments or data integrity. The LabExact® HandiPrep™ syringe filter device is engineered to deliver streamlined sample clarification and particulate removal across diverse industries—from food safety and dairy processing to petrochemical and wastewater applications. Equivalent to the competitive products known as Cytiva Autovial* and Neogen 9420* devices, HandiPrep™ provides an advanced, cost-effective, and U.S.-manufactured alternative that enhances workflow precision, safety, and productivity.
*Use of competitive tradenames is for technical reference only. No license rights or ownership is implied.
Reimagining Sample Preparation Efficiency
Traditional multi-step filtration methods often involve several handling points—loading syringes, connecting filters, transferring clarified liquids, and managing disposables—all of which add time, risk of contamination, and potential sample loss. The HandiPrep™ device integrates multiple stages of filtration into a single, sealed housing, combining prefilter and final membrane in one self-contained unit.
This design allows users to filter directly from sample to vial, reducing operator time, improving consistency, and minimizing instrument downtime caused by particulates. Whether filtering viscous syrups, complex slurries, or oily suspensions, the HandiPrep™ delivers predictable flow rates and reproducible clarity every time.
Applications and Workflow Improvements
Food & Beverage Industry
1. Food Safety & Mycotoxin Testing
In food safety laboratories, accuracy and speed are paramount. Sample preparation for mycotoxin inspections—including testing corn, wheat, sorghum, rice, and related derivatives—often requires consistent particulate removal before HPLC, LC/MS, or ELISA analysis.
The HandiPrep™ device simplifies this process by combining coarse and fine filtration in one step, significantly reducing sample prep time and preventing clogging of analytical columns. This efficiency translates to higher throughput and improved reproducibility across multiple matrix types such as:
- Corn and corn-based derivatives (cornmeal, gluten meal, DDGS)
- Wheat products (whole grain flour, middlings, screenings)
- Rice and sorghum samples used in feed and beverage applications
By reducing manual steps, laboratories experience fewer operator errors and lower risk of cross-contamination—key factors in maintaining compliance with FDA, USDA, and AOAC food safety standards.
2. Honey Filtration
Honey’s natural viscosity and inclusion of wax and pollen particulates present unique filtration challenges. HandiPrep™ devices provide clean, clear filtrate for compositional and adulteration analysis without additional dilution or centrifugation steps. The result: faster preparation, less sample waste, and consistent data quality.
3. Syrup Purification
Corn syrup, maple syrup, and other viscous sweeteners demand clarity and consistency during quality control testing. The HandiPrep™ device withstands high viscosity, maintaining smooth filtrate flow without clogging. This ensures uniform analytical conditions for sugar profile, color, and microbial testing—critical to ensuring batch-to-batch uniformity in production environments.
4. Dairy Processing
In milk, yogurt, and cheese analysis, the HandiPrep™ efficiently clarifies samples by removing proteins, fats, and particulates prior to enzymatic or chromatographic evaluation. Users benefit from consistent flow and reduced backpressure, extending instrument lifespan and improving method repeatability.
5. Edible Oil Refining
Filtration before analysis of edible oils such as canola, soybean, and olive oil is vital to evaluate purity and oxidation stability. The HandiPrep™ handles high-viscosity matrices with ease, providing particle-free samples for reliable GC or spectrophotometric testing—saving time and reducing solvent use.
Chemical & Petrochemical Industry
1. Polymer & Resin Filtration
In polymer synthesis, solid impurities can alter viscosity or compromise polymer chain integrity. The HandiPrep™ ensures precise particulate removal during quality control and R&D analysis, maintaining the stability and consistency of resin formulations.
2. Lubricant Purification
High-viscosity lubricants require strong, solvent-resistant filters for sample preparation. The HandiPrep™ device’s integrated dual-stage filter system allows for controlled flow even under heavy load conditions, producing clear filtrates for viscosity, elemental, or spectrographic analysis.
3. Adhesives & Sealants
Sticky, resinous samples can clog traditional filters. HandiPrep™ maintains reliable performance under pressure, enabling analysts to prepare samples quickly for dilution and solids content testing—reducing downtime and cleanup compared to multi-component systems.
Oil & Gas Industry
1. Crude Oil & Fuel Testing
Crude oil, diesel, and biodiesel analyses depend on removing sediments that can interfere with detection equipment. The HandiPrep™ device’s robust construction resists chemical attack while ensuring consistent particulate removal. Its integrated prefilter prevents premature membrane loading, optimizing efficiency in even the heaviest samples.
2. Hydraulic & Gear Oil Clarification
Air and particulate contamination can lead to cavitation and equipment wear. The HandiPrep™ allows operators to clarify oil samples rapidly, minimizing trapped air and ensuring representative testing—ideal for maintenance and condition-monitoring programs.
Paints, Coatings & Inks
In quality assurance testing of paints, pigment dispersions, and inks, particle uniformity dictates final appearance and performance. The HandiPrep™ provides smooth, particulate-free filtrate suitable for viscosity, color, and dispersion stability testing. The sealed, disposable design reduces solvent cleanup and operator exposure to volatile components.
Cosmetics & Personal Care
1. Lotions & Creams
Viscous emulsions such as moisturizers and sunscreens require filtration before HPLC or microbial testing. The HandiPrep™ efficiently separates fine particulates post-dilution, producing clear, homogeneous samples without phase separation.
2. Mascara & Nail Polish
Consistency is key in cosmetic QC. The HandiPrep™ removes stray fibers, pigment aggregates, or resin clumps prior to analytical or visual inspection. Its simplicity allows production labs to filter and test in one motion, boosting productivity and ensuring stable formulations.
Wastewater Treatment & Environmental Analysis
1. Sludge Dewatering & Analysis
Environmental testing laboratories rely on consistent sample clarity before analysis of metals or organics. The HandiPrep™ device simplifies preparation of thick sludge samples, reducing water content and producing reproducible filtrates for spectroscopic or chromatographic evaluation.
2. Industrial Effluent Filtration
Highly viscous or particle-laden waste samples can quickly block conventional filters. The HandiPrep™ combines robust prefiltration with fine membrane clarification, extending filter life and improving analytical throughput for compliance monitoring and environmental reporting.
Conclusion: A Smarter Way to Filter
The LabExact® HandiPrep™ syringe filter device brings practical innovation to sample preparation—combining speed, safety, and precision across industries that demand dependable results. Laboratories benefit from:
- Reduced preparation time through integrated filtration
- Improved reproducibility and clarity across complex matrices
- Lower contamination risk via self-contained design
- Reduced solvent use and waste
- Compatibility with diverse sample viscosities and chemistries
By uniting the advantages similar to competitive products known as Cytiva Autovial* and Neogen 9420* devices with U.S.-based manufacturing quality, the HandiPrep™ empowers labs to work faster, smarter, and cleaner—turning filtration from a bottleneck into a competitive advantage.
*Use of competitive tradenames is for technical reference only. No license rights or ownership is implied.