ALFAGEN, Your Long-Term Partner In Life-Science

About Us

Thistle Scientific Limited was founded in December 1997 and has its head office in Uddingston, Scotland. Thistle Scientific Ltd now incorporates WEB Scientific as a division and has ISO9001 certification.


Thistle Scientific Ltd has a long and proud history of bringing innovative and exclusive products to the UK market from leading international manufacturers, for the Life Science sector. We have a strong focus on equipment and consumables for Live Cell Imaging Applications, Molecular & Cell Biology, Liquid Handling, and general Laboratory equipment & consumables.


Thistle Scientific Ltd. employs a technical sales team that covers the whole of the UK. Our team with their strong scientific backgrounds and years of sales experience can support all our customers with our product portfolio. Our Territory Sales Managers are based throughout the UK and are fully trained internally and by our manufacturing partners in the products we offer. We retain close expert support from all our manufacturing partners to make sure we offer the customer not only the best products but also the best advice and support throughout the lifetime of the products we sell.


Thistle Scientific Ltd is recognised by many UK research scientists as both a well-established and a reliable company.

Mission Statement:

To provide Scientific Researchers with the tools needed to develop a healthier & sustainable future.

Our Vision:

To make research the best it can be.

Core Principles:

Sustainability as Standard

Reducing Our Carbon Footprint

Advancing Scientific Discovery

Collaborative Partnerships

Sustainability is an integral part of our operations. We source, distribute, and promote products that meet the highest standards of environmental responsibility. We bring new products to market that help researchers to minimise the environmental impact of their work.

We are a carbon neutral company and we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint throughout our operations even further. This includes minimising energy consumption, optimising logistics for efficient transportation, and actively seeking eco-friendly packaging solutions. By doing so, we aim to set an example for sustainable business practices in our industry. Our ambition is to be carbon negative by 2030.

Providing researchers with the sustainable tools and resources they need enables them to push boundaries and make breakthroughs that benefit all life.

We foster strong partnerships with suppliers and customers, striving to develop innovative solutions that reduce waste, energy consumption, and environmental impact without compromise.

Educating for Change

Empowering Research Excellence

Measuring and Improving

Join Us in Shaping a Sustainable Future for Science

We believe that knowledge is a catalyst for change. We are committed to educating our customers and the scientific community about the benefits of our sustainable practices and products, encouraging widespread adoption.

Our goal is to empower researchers to achieve excellence in their work. We provide comprehensive support, from sustainable product selection to personalised customer service, to help scientists achieve their goals efficiently.

We constantly measure, assess and benchmark our efforts, seeking ways to reduce our carbon footprint, decrease waste, and enhance eco-friendly sourcing. We’re on a journey of continuous improvement.

By adhering to these principles, we aspire to be leaders in the scientific research industry, driving positive change in research practices and setting an example for sustainable business operations. Together with our partners, customers, and the entire scientific community, we’re on a mission to make science not just better, but greener.

Our ultimate goal is to create a world where laboratory science and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. We envision a future where groundbreaking discoveries occur without harming our planet.

We invite you to join us in this journey. Together, we can innovate for a greener tomorrow, where scientific advancement and environmental responsibility coexist harmoniously. By choosing Thistle Scientific, you are not just advancing your research; you are contributing to a sustainable future for all. Science and nature in harmony.

Products:

Microscopy&Imaging:

MICROSCOPES AND IMAGERS
High Throughput Imagers
Cell culture microscopy
Portable field microscopes
Holographic Imaging
Microscope parts & accessories

IMAGING CHAMBERS
Dishes
Chambered coverslips
Bioinert Treated Chambers
Channel slides
Chemotaxis slides
Removable chambers
Imaging microplates
Micropatterning Slides
Coverslips
Slide holders and accessories

IMAGING REAGENTS
Other Imaging Reagents
Actin Visualisation
3D cell culture media

MICROSCOPE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Stage-top incubation systems
Gas incubation systems
Stage-top heaters
Heating inserts and accessories

LAB-IN-A-CELL DEVICES MEDIA PERFUSION
Media perfusion pump systems
Perfusion Sets
Additional Fluidic Units
Tubing & accessories

IMAGE ANALYSIS
Automated Image Analysis

Molecular&Cell Biology:

ELECTROPHORESIS EQUIPMENT
Agarose gel tanks
PAGE tanks
Electroblotters
Power supplies
Spares and accessories
Pulsed field gel electrophoresis
Vacuum Blotters
Gel Loading Tips
Cellulose acetate
Comet assay
Denaturing gradient gels
Isoelectric Focusing
DNA Sequencing
Automated blot processing

GEL DOCUMENTATION
Gel Documentation Systems
Chemiluminescence Documentation Systems
Gel & Chemi Doc accessories
Transilluminators
Gel Drying

ELECTROPHORESIS REAGENTS
Precast PAGE gelWEB
Precast agarose gelsWEB
PAGE Reagents
Agarose gel reagents
Blotting Reagents
Buffers & components
Cellulose acetate reagents

PCR AND QPCR
PCR thermal cyclers
qPCR thermal cyclers
PCR plasticware
PCR Cabinets
PCR Plate Seals

NUCLEIC ACID EXTRACTION
Automated extraction equipment
Automated extraction kits
Manual extraction kits
Cleanup kits
Spectophotometers
Gel extraction tools
Kit accessories

CELL CULTURE
Spheroid & organoid systems
Cell Culture Plasticware
Cell culture incubators
Cell culture incubator accessories
Transfection reagents
Freezing medium

BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINETS
Class I Cabinets
Class II Cabinets
Sterile & PCR Cabinets

PCR AND QPCR REAGENTS
MALDI TOF
Hot-Start PCR Polymerases
FAST end-point PCR Mixes
FAST qPCR Mixes
qPCR Mixes
Reverse Transcription
Standard PCR Polymerases
1-Step RT-qPCR
HRM
Other Reagents
End-point Multiplex and GC-rich PCR mixes

CELL LYSIS
Homogenisers
Homogenisation beads
Homogeniser vials & plates
Pre-filled lysis tubes
Homogeniser accessories

MICROBIOLOGY
Microbiolgoy Plasticware

General Laboratory:

AUTOCLAVES
Horizontal
Stainless Steel
Vertical Aluminium

BARCODING
Scanners
Tube Pickers
Tubes & Racks
Software

CENTRIFUGES
Benchtop Centrifuges

CRYOGENIC (-80°C) LABELS
Laser printable cryo-labels
Handwriting cryo-labels
Direct thermal cryo-labels
Thermal transfer cryo-labels
Ink Jet cryo-labels
Solvent resistant labels
WetGrip Labels

FREEZER LABELS
Handwriting freezer labels
Laser printable freezer labels
Thermal transfer freezer labels
Ink Jet freezer labels

GENERAL LABELLING
Wash off Labels
Labelling Tape
Radiation Tape & Labels

LABORATORY CHEMICALS
Acids
Decontamination Products
General Buffers
General Lab Chemicals
Hybridisation Reagents & Buffers
Solvents
Water (Laboratory Grades)

LIQUID HANDLING
Manual multi-channel pipettes
Manual single channel pipettes
Pipette Accuracy Checkers
Pipette Tips
Liquid Handling Microplates
Liquid Reservoirs
Pipette fillers
Pipetting Trackers
Spill Trays & Liners
Manual Pin Tools
Microplate Sealing
Serological Pipettes
Pastuer pipettes
Sample Containers

MAGNETIC BEAD SEPARATION
Magnetic Plates for Microplates
Magnetic Racks for Tubes
Magnetic Stand for Bottles

MIXING & STIRRING
SpinVessel
Mixers
Vortexes
Rockers & Shakers
Magnetic Stirrers
Stir Bars & Elements

RADIATION PROTECTION
Radiation Bags
Radiation Bins
Radiation Box Inserts
Radiation Boxes
Radiation Cabinets
Radiation Shields
Radiation Spill Trays
Pipette Shields

DISPOSAL
Autoclave Bags
Biohazard Bags

ROBOTIC LIQUID HANDLING
Robotic Pin Tools
Vacuum Manifolds
Tips for Automation
Tube & Vial Racks

SAMPLE CONTAINMENT
Glove Boxes

SCALES AND BALANCES
Precision Balances
Analytical Balances
Veterinary Scales
Calibration Weights
Scale and Balance Accessories
Other Balances

TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Sparkfree Fridges
Sparkfree Fridge Freezers
Advanced Laboratory Fridges
Sparkfree Freezers
– 40°C Laboratory Freezers
– 80°C Ultra Low Temp Freezers
Cooled Incubators
Cubed Ice Makers
Flake Ice Makers
Heat block accessories
Heat Blocks
Water Baths
Hotplates
Ice buckets & coolers
Chillers

TEMPERATURE & PH
pH Meter Accessories
pH Meters
Thermometers

TUBES AND VIALS
Centrifuge tubes
Microcentrifuge tubes
Cryovials
Storage vials
Test Tubes