Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. announced this week it has acquired NanoDrop Technologies LLC, a manufacturer of microvolume ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) instrumentation, for an undisclosed amount. Thermo Fisher said the acquisition will strengthen its portfolio of UV-Vis spectrophotometry instruments for applications involving small sample volumes, such as measuring DNA and proteins for life sciences research. NanoDrop, which is based in Wilmington, Del., has annual revenues of approximately $35 million. "Growing demand from our laboratory customers to accelerate sample preparation time is now compounded by the need to work with smaller sample sizes," said Marijn E. Dekkers, president and CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific. "NanoDrop's patented technologies uniquely allow customers to quickly and easily analyze difficult microvolume samples without the need for dilution. This preserves precious samples to greatly increase laboratory productivity." NanoDrop currently makes two UV-Vis spectrophotometers and a fluorescence spectrometer used in life sciences research and industrial applications. Those products will be integrated into Thermo Fisher's scientific instruments business, part of its analytical technologies segment, and will be marketed under the Thermo Scientific brand. For more information, visit: www.thermofisher.com