Abstract: Antibody specific for a 5-HTOL compound. A glucuronide with 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) characterized in that it comprises the structure of the ?-glucuronide between the 5-hydroxy group of 5-HTOL and D-glucopyranosiduronic acid. An immunoassay and a diagnostic method utilizing the immunoassay wherein a 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) compound is determined by the use of an antibody specific for a 5-HTOL compound is used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assaying homocysteine in a sample such as blood, plasma or urine, which comprises the steps of contacting the sample with a homocystene conveying enzyme and at least one substrate for the enzyme other than homocysteine, and without chromatographic separation, assessing a non-labelled analyte selected from a homotysteine co-substrate and the homocysteine conversion products of the enzymic conversion of homocysteine by said enzyme.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of assessment of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in a transferrin containing body fluid, said method comprising the steps of:i) obtaining a transferrin containing liquid sample of or derived from a said fluid;ii) contacting said sample with a source of iron ions;iii) subsequently contacting said sample with an anionic ion exchange resin at a pH such as to cause carbohydrate-deficient transferrin to be retained by said resin;iv) subsequently contacting said resin with an eluant serving to release carbohydrate-deficient transferrin into the eluate from said resin;v) collecting a volume of said eluate substantially free from tetra- and penta-sialo transferrin; andvi) assessing the transferrin variant content in said volume of eluate.By including at least a proportion of the trisialotransferrin in the eluate, it is possible to use relatively simple assessment techniques such as turbidimetry in the assay.

Abstract: The invention provides novel labelled boronic acid conjugates of formula ##STR1## (wherein V is a reporter moiety; W.sup.2 is a bond or an organic linker moiety;W.sup.1 is a *SO.sub.2 NR.sup.2, *CONR.sup.2 or *CH.sub.2 N.sup..sym. R.sup.2.sub.2 group bound at the *-marked atom to the phenyl ring;R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an electron withdrawing substituent group; andeach R.sup.2 independently is hydrogen or an optionally hydroxylated and optionally C.sub.1-6 -alkoxylated C.sub.1-6 -alkyl group) and salts thereof, e.g. for use in assays for cis-diols such as glycated blood proteins, having enhanced water-solubility and storage stability.

Abstract: The invention provides novel labelled boronic acid conjugates of formula ##STR1## (wherein V is a reporter moiety; W.sup.2 is a bond or an organic linker moiety;W.sup.1 is a *SO.sub.2 NR.sup.2, *CON.sup.2 or *CH.sub.2 N.sym.R.sup.2 .sub.2 group bound at the *-marked atom to the phenyl ring;R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an electron withdrawing substituent group; andeach R.sup.2 independently is hydrogen or an optionally hydroxylated and optionally C.sub.1-6 -alkoxylated C.sub.1-6 -alkyl group) and salts thereof, e.g. for use in assays for cis-diols such as glycated blood proteins, having enhanced water-solubility and storage stability.