Merck Introduces IsoBag™ for Faster and Easier Transfer of Contact and Settle Plates

• Prepacked gamma-irradiated plates streamline environmental monitoring workflows
• Save time, reduce costs by eliminating need to decontaminate plate bags
• Mount to Alpha port of isolators, keeping plates readily available
• Designed for environmental monitoring in isolators and critical cleanrooms

Darmstadt, Germany, March 21, 2016 — Merck, a leading science and technology company, today introduced the IsoBag™ for faster, easier and more convenient transfer of contact and settle plates to production isolators.

The new IsoBag™ offers a more streamlined alternative for environmental monitoring, and helps make workflows more efficient, productive and flexible. In traditional environmental monitoring workflows, single-bagged plates are decontaminated and stored in the isolator. Limited space in the isolator allows storage of only a small supply of ready-to-use plates. When this supply runs out, workflows are interrupted for additional decontamination cycles. The new IsoBag™ increases operation up-time by eliminating these decontamination cycles and allowing for an uninterrupted workflow.

“An uninterrupted workflow means improved productivity for our environmental monitoring customers,” said Theresa S. Creasey, head of Applied Solutions Strategic Marketing and Innovation at Merck’s life science business. “We understand how precious time and lab space are to our customers. Our new IsoBag™ is a great example of our continued focus on the development of high-impact innovations.”

The complete product is gamma-irradiated for immediate use and includes sterile bags for safe transport of used plates.

The IsoBag™ extends Merck’s comprehensive portfolio of products specifically designed for environmental monitoring in isolators and critical cleanrooms. All plates are produced in cleanrooms and are available with four neutralizers for inactivation of a wide range of disinfectants and inhibiting residues. The plates are designed for long shelf life and room temperature stability and meet European and U.S. pharmacopeia recommendations.

About Merck
Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck generated sales of € 12.5 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.