Technical Note

BioPointe Scientific uses a proprietory ‘gold standard’ resin which, unlike resins used by most other injection molders, is free of “animal-derivatives” such as tallow and other clarifying agents. In addition, this ‘gold-standard’ polypropylene resin offers superior clarity, flexibility, strength, and resistance to gamma irradiation over other competitor’s polypropylene resins.

Many resin manufacturers add tallow to their raw material as a lubricant to facilitate the injection molding process. The concern for researchers is that this agent, from rendered animal fat (almost exclusively bovine), could conceivably be contaminated with BSE/TSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy / transmissible spongiform encephalopathy). If such animal derivatives are used, then certain sterilization procedures must be followed in order to remove the risk of BSE/TSE. Clearly this extra process is not desirable.

BioPointe Scientific resin is classified as USP Class 6 for FDA-approved medical and food-grade products. Any products made with colorants or other additives are guaranteed to be heavy metals-free, thereby meeting EU Directive 2002/95/EC Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS).