Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying capillary electrophoresis data wherein absorbance with respect to time is related to graphic values within a graphic range or scale of values and selected graphic values are displayed with respect to time. The selected graphic values may comprise a range hues, color saturation and/or brightness or may represent a monochromatic scale. The resulting representation may be horizontally aligned with the corresponding electrophoretogram absorbance values to provide both a quantitative value (electrophoretogram absorbance values) and qualitative (graphic stripe) display.

Abstract: A reagent segment including a body and trough formed therein with the floor of the trough sloped towards a drainage zone. The reagent segment is adapted for transporting reagents within an automated analyzer by having at least two protrusions on the exterior wall of the trough that fit within corresponding cavities of a transport arm. The reagent segment is retained by a latching mechanism through a protuberance on the exterior surface of the trough that conforms with a hole in the latching mechanism. The reagent segment can also have a concave depression on the interior surface of the trough at the drainage zone. The depression can coincide with the protuberance on the exterior surface of the trough that associates with the hole in the latching mechanism. Further, the reagent segment may include at least one indexing rib, between the exterior surface of the trough and the rim of the body, that can be inserted within an indexing slot of a holding means.

Abstract: A method for making a homogeneous succinylated polypeptide is disclosed. The method can be carried out by adding a succinyl-containing compound to a polypeptide solution, followed by raising the pH of the polypeptide solution to a pH of between about pH 10 to pH 12.5. The succinylation reaction between the succinyl-containing compound and free amino groups of the polypeptide is essentially complete upon raising the polypeptide solution pH to the alkaline pH.

Abstract: A trifunctional conjugate is providing having three chemical moieties attached through a spacer moiety. At least two of the chemical moieties are relatively small molecules, usually less than about 7,000 Daltons in size. The spacer moiety is selected to impart certain steric properties to the conjugate. In one embodiment, the binding of a macromolecular specific binding partner to one of the chemical moieties sterically inhibits the binding of a different macromolecule to another chemical moieties. In another embodiment, the binding of a first chemical moiety to a macromolecule restricts the subsequent binding of a second tridentate member to a proximate location on the same macromolecule. The three chemical moieties are preferably a nitrophenylazido residue, a phenyl boronic acid residue, and a solid support or a label such as biotin. The spacer is preferably cysteine, lysine, glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid, S-acetylmercaptosuccinic anhydride or .omega.-carbobenzoxylysine.

Abstract: A capillary and capillary retaining system including a capillary assembly having first and second end holders. The first and second end holders are adapted to be received by first and second retainers. The first end holder may include protruding portions and the first end retainer includes clips or clamps to engage the protruding portions. The second end holder may include opposite recesses and the second retainer is adapted to receive optical cables that are received within the recesses to retain the second end holder. The second retainer can further include a lever on the retainer body to pry the second holder out of the second retainer. Locks or clips retained by the second end retainer cooperate with grooves in the optical cables to retain the optical cables.

Abstract: A buffer and method useful for the analysis of glycoproteins by capillary zone electrophoresis. The buffer comprises water, a sugar complexing compound, a base compound for adjusting the pH, and a zwitterionic compound. An embodiment of the buffer comprises sodium borate as the complexing compound, sodium hydroxide as the base, and 3-cyclohexylamino-1-propanesulfonic acid as the zwitterionic compound. In the method, a selected glycoprotein is subjected to capillary zone electrophoresis. The proportion or the amount of the glycoprotein is determined by quantitative analysis of the resulting electropherogram.

Abstract: An initial rate photometric immunoassay method useful for detecting and quantifying analytes in various physiological fluids is disclosed. The method is carried out by combining in a liquid medium an undiluted sample of analyte-containing physiological fluid, such as serum, and an excess of an anti-analyte antibody. A substantially constant initial rate of increase of the liquid medium's turbidity, due to the resulting immunoprecipitation reaction, is measured in real time and compared to a calibration curve prepared from known analyte concentrations to detect and quantify the analyte. Detection and quantification of numerous analytes including, haptens, drugs and proteins, in a wide variety of physiological fluids can be rapidly carried out by the present method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determines the analyte content of a sample by generating first and second input signals and directing the input signals to the sample. The input signals differ in wavelength by at least 3 nanometers. Due to the interaction between the input signals and the sample, first and second output signals are generated. Each output signal comprises a resonant signal whose peak wavelength is substantially independent of the wavelength of the respective input signal, and a non-resonant output signal whose peak wavelength is dependent upon the wavelength of respective input signal. A detector is used to detect the two output signals, and by distinguishing the resonant output signals from the non-resonant output signals, data about the analyte content of the sample is determined. Principal components regression analysis or multivariate quantitative analysis can be applied to the output signals, for the purpose of distinguishing between the resonant and non-resonant signals.