Nova News
Stay tuned to our news to learn about updates in our water testing & antimicrobial and microbiology testing services.
01/01/2012 - Radiopharmaceutical sterility testing is required during the sterilization validation process as well as for routine product release testing. USP <71> sterility testing is an official test to determine sterility of a product. Nova's understanding of USP <71> is important to the radiopharmaceutical industry because it allows us to assist in designing a sterility test validation process. USP <71> testing of radiopharmaceuticals is a scientifically complex process that must be performed by trained and qualified radiological and microbiological laboratory personnel. Nova's highly qualified and experienced staff provides the technical expertise and customer communication skills required for project completion.
USP <71> Sterility Testing of Radiopharmaceuticals requires the following: Outcome-based, comprehensive project planning to include preparation and assimilation of product batch book documents, testing and testing support utilizing Current Good Laboratory Practices (cGLP), compliance with all appropriate radiation safety measures and regulatory requirements, compliance with all appropriate microbiological safety and regulatory requirements, compliance with USP <71> Sterility Testing, suitability testing to include USP <71> culture media growth promotion testing of aerobes, anaerobes, and fungi, sterility testing of selected number of test articles (determined by number of test articles per batch).
USP <85> Bacterial Endotoxin Testing is an official test to detect and quantify bacterial endotoxin that may be present in or on the test article to which the test has been applied. Nova's understanding of USP <85> is important to the radiopharmaceutical industry because it allows us to assist in designing a test validation process. USP <85> testing of radiopharmaceuticals is a unique process that must be performed by trained and qualified radiological and microbiological laboratory personnel. Nova's highly qualified and experienced staff provides the technical expertise and customer communication skills required for project completion.
USP <85> Bacterial Endotoxin Testing of Radiopharmaceuticals requires the following: Outcome-based, comprehensive project planning to include preparation and assimilation of product batch book documents, testing and testing support utilizing Current Good Laboratory Practices (cGLP), compliance with all appropriate radiation safety measures and regulatory requirements, compliance with all appropriate microbiological safety and regulatory requirements, compliance with USP <85> sections related to endotoxin standards preparation, determination of maximum valid dilution (MVD), establishment of endotoxin limits, and selection of appropriate endotoxin assay (i.e. gel-clot, turbidimetric, chromogenic).
06/22/2011 - Microsoft selects Nova Biologicals, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and NexDocs as winners of the 2011 Microsoft Life Sciences Innovation Awards. This year, Microsoft recognized Nova Biologicals, Inc. as a special life sciences organization that is boosting productivity, improving reporting and enhancing customer service, thanks to a laboratory information management system and document management system.
Nova Biologicals
Nova Biologicals was selected as a winner of the Microsoft Life Sciences Innovation Awards for Best Innovative Collaboration along with Thermo Fisher Scientific and NexDocs. Nova Biologicals, a provider of laboratory testing and consultant services to the water, environmental, medical device and pharmaceutical industries, deployed a multi-product information solution to boost productivity, improve reporting and enhance customer service.
Nova Biologicals was looking to change its way of working to enhance quality and enhance its FDA, EPA, and NELAC accreditations, and identified streamlined information management as a solution. The company also recognized the need to transition from manual, paper-based processes to an automated solution. Leveraging Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS and NextDocs DMS, Nova implemented a seamless solution developed with their unique needs in mind.
"The life sciences industry is uniquely positioned with many new challenges, and pressure is stronger than ever to cut costs and bring new drugs and therapies to market faster," said Michael Naimoli, worldwide managing director, Life Sciences, Microsoft Corp. "Each year, we are impressed with how the winners demonstrate sustainable impacts through technology, and are proud that Microsoft's software platforms play an important role in enabling these achievements in life sciences."
Award participants consisted of worldwide life sciences corporations in pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies that are innovatively applying technology to create therapeutic innovations. Winners were selected by an esteemed panel of industry experts and will be highlighted on the Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com/lifesciences .
About Nova Biologicals, Inc.: Nova is a leading full-service laboratory for the water, medical, device, pharmaceutical, and food industries globally. Nova is FDA registered, and accredited by NELAC through the State of Texas and the U.S. EPA. For more information on Nova Biologicals, Inc. and our services visit www.novatx.com.
05/16/2011 - Nova launces the first 24-hour test for P. aeruginosa the organism associated with swimmers ear. Nova has recently launched Pseudalert, the first 24-hour test for P. aeruginosa. Pseudalert can measure the actual number of Pseudomonas bacteria in your pool or other recreational water.
In the United States, May 23-29, 2011, has been designated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as National Recreational Water Illness and Injury (RWII) Prevention Week. RWII Prevention Week focuses on simple steps swimmers and pool operators can take to ensure a healthy and safe swimming experience for everyone.
This year, the theme of RWII Prevention Week is swimmer’s ear (otitis externa), an itchy red rash or ear infection typically caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Swimmer’s ear is a common problem for swimmers of all ages and one that can cause severe pain and discomfort. During RWII Prevention Week, the CDC’s Healthy Swimming program will provide information and recommendations on how to prevent swimmer’s ear.
One of the easiest ways to prevent outbreaks of swimmer’s ear in recreational water is by regularly testing for P. aeruginosa.
04/08/2011 - Biology students host lecture about health care-associated infections.
McLennan Community College will present a lecture by Dr. Paul Pearce about the burden of health care-associated infections (HAIs). The event will be 5-6 p.m. April 21 in MCC's Lecture Hall and is part of the BioChatter Lecture Series sponsored by biology students at MCC.
Pearce is president and owner of Nova Biologicals Inc., a leading provider of product safety testing and consulting services to several industries, including water, food, medical device and pharmaceutical. Based in Conroe, Texas, Nova has provided nationwide testing serves since 1993 and is certified by the EPA.
During his lecture at MCC, Pearce will provide information and research about HAIs, the microorganisms associated with HAIs, the effects of these microorganisms and how to prevent HAIs.
For more information, contact Stephanie Randell at 299-8183 or srandell@mclennan.edu.
http://mclennan.edu/news/812.html
05/17/2010 - Nova Biologicals, Inc. Helping Property Owners and Construction Companies Comply with the EPA’s New Lead Laws. Nova Biologicals, Inc. (Nova), an EPA-approved and nationally recognized environmental testing laboratory and consulting company, is working with property owners and construction companies to support their compliance with the EPA’s new lead laws. Nova provides evaluation and assessment of buildings and facilities to determine the risk of lead contamination, the building materials that may contain lead, laboratory and on-site testing for lead, lead renovation planning, and lead clearance testing. Nova’s testing and services are specifically designed to protect people, especially children, from toxic lead poisoning, ensure public health and safety, and support property owners and construction companies.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a new law aimed at protecting people from toxic lead hazards. The law applies to renovators and maintenance professionals that work in housing, child-care facilities and schools built prior to 1978. The law, Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program requires that contractors and maintenance professionals be certified; that their employees be trained; and that they follow protective work practice standards. These standards prohibit certain dangerous practices, such as open flame burning or torching of lead-based paint. The required work practices also include posting warning signs, restricting occupants from work areas, containing work areas to prevent dust and debris from spreading, conducting a thorough cleanup, and verifying that cleanup was effective.
The law became fully effective in April 2010. This law is one component of a comprehensive program that also includes an education and outreach campaign to promote lead-safe work practices. This program will help to meet the goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning as a major public health concern by the year 2010. While the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned lead-based paint for residential use in 1978, almost 38 million U.S. homes still contain lead-based paint, with two-thirds of the houses built before 1960 containing lead-based paint. Renovation activities that disturb lead-based paint can create lead hazards.
The law applies to paid contractors working in pre-1978 housing, child care facilities, and schools with lead-based paint. Contractors include home improvement contractors, maintenance workers in multi-family housing, painters, and other specialty trades. Buildings covered by this law include residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis and all rental housing. The rule applies to renovation, repair or painting activities. Failure to comply with the new lead law results in a $30,000+ fine per day, per occurrence.
For more information about the new EPA lead law and Nova’s services, please contact: Tamara Trow, 936-756-5333
ttrow@novatx.com.
5/28/2008 - Texas Commission on Envrionmental Quality (TCEQ) accredits Nova Biologicals, Inc. under the EPA's National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) for multiple fields of accreditation including drinking water and non-potable water.
09/04/2008 - Nova receives NARSA approval. Nova is now a NARSA registered laboratory and can access the central repository of isolates for investigative studies. NARSA is responsible for tracking and procuring staphylococcal isolates (including S. aureus and the coagulase-negative staphylococci) with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (MIC's > 4 mg/ml) for inclusion into a central repository (NARSA Repository). NARSA approval will allow Nova to help our clients provide products and services that fight the emergence of new disease-causing microorganisms.
11/01/2006 - Nova Biologicals, Inc. named Small Business of the Year. Nova Biologicals, Inc. of Conroe, has been selected by North Harris Montgomery Community College District as the Montgomery College District’s Small Business of the Year for 2006.
Dr. Paul Pearce, President of Nova received the award at the 20th Anniversary Small Business Awards Banquet. Each year millions of Americans depend on Nova. Since 1993, Nova Biologicals has provided worldwide product safety testing to the drinking water, medical products, food, and cosmetic industries. Specializing in microbiological, chemical, and toxin testing, Nova is a fully certified laboratory. Each day, Nova helps its customers by living its motto of Enhancing Human Life. Dr. Pearce has managed and directed Nova Biologicals, Inc. to its current status as one of America’s largest independent drinking water laboratories and service companies and leader in specialty microbiological evaluation, testing, and related remediation planning. Nova has been featured in Security Director News for its work with the City of Conroe in implementing a state-of-the-art security program for Conroe’s Plant 5. Most recently, Nova has been recognized on both a State and Federal level with appointments by the FBI’s InfraGard Member’s Alliance and Governor Rick Perry to represent the Water Sector by providing strategic and operational guidance for implementation of a Homeland Security Strategic Plan.
11/01/2005 - Paul Pearce, President of Nova Biologicals selected by Governor Perry to serve on the State of Texas Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource Protection Council. Governor Perry just released his five year Homeland Security Strategic Plan for the state of Texas which will serve as a high level road map to improve homeland security capabilities across all disciplines and jurisdictions in Texas.
The second of the Governor’s three goals is to reduce the vulnerability of the state’s Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources from all hazards. Texas is home to several Critical Infrastructures and Key Resources which are vital to our national security, public safety, public health, and economy. In order for the state to reduce the vulnerability of our Critical Infrastructures and Key Resources they are seeking the advice from experts such as Dr. Pearce.
Dr. Pearce was chosen for his expertise in the Drinking Water Industry. Drinking Water is one of our most Critical Infrastructures and Key Resources. Dr. Pearce has managed and directed Nova Biologicals, Inc. to its current status as one of America’s largest independent drinking water laboratories and service companies and leader in specialty microbiological evaluation, testing, and related remediation planning. Most recently Nova was featured in Security Director News for its work with the City of Conroe in implementing a state-of-the-art security program for Conroe’s Plant 5.
Dr. Pearce is a 2005 Graduate of the FBI’s Private Citizen’s Academy and Program Director for the FBI’s InfraGard Drinking Water Security Program in Washington D.C. Dr. Pearce is currently involved in providing scientifically valid and appropriate responses to emerging issues related to the Safe Drinking Water Act as amended by Title IV of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002. His special interest is protecting our dinking water through a multiple barrier, advanced monitoring, reactive communications center for public water systems.