Abstract: A method for determining the presence of microorganisms in a liquid sample. The liquid sample is first filtered through a filter having a pore size which is small enough to prevent passage of microorganisms through the filter but large enough to permit passage of any free reducing agents present in the sample whereby microorganisms present in the sample are retained on the filter. A chromogenic reagent having an oxidation potential such that the reagent can be reduced by microbial dehydrogenase and selected such that reduction of the chromogenic reagent yields a visibly colored product is then passed through the filter, and the filter is monitored for the formation of a visibly colored product indicative of the presence of microorganisms in the sample.

Abstract: The presence of microorganisms in a liquid sample can be determined by a method comprising the steps of (a) filtering the liquid sample through a filter having a pore size which is small enough to prevent passage of microorganisms through the filter but large enough to permit passage of any free reducing agents present in the sample whereby microorganisms present in the sample are retained on the filter; (b) passing a test solution comprising a chromogenic reagent through the filter having the retained microorganisms thereon, said chromogenic reagent having an oxidation potential such that the reagent can be reduced by microbial dehydrogenase and said chromogenic reagent being selected such that reduction of the chromogenic reagent yields a visibly colored product; and (c) monitoring the filter for the formation of a visibly colored product, wherein the formation of a visibly colored product is indicative of the presence of microorganisms in the sample.

Abstract: Amplification of nucleic acids is performed by incubating in a polymerization vessel a reaction mixture which contains in a suitable buffer solution, one or several single-stranded target nucleic acids, suitable primers, deoxyribouncleoside triphosphates and a polymerase. After a sufficient time for polymerication to occur, the reaction mixture is transferred into another vessel for the denaturation of the nucleic acids into single stranded nucleic acids. After denaturation, the reaction mixture is transferred back into the original vessel. The amplification process is regulated to maintain a temperature advantageous for the action of the polymerization enzyme in the polymerization vessel and a temperature advantageous for denaaturation in the denaturation vessel.

Abstract: The invention comprises a prefilled and presealed apparatus for carrying out chemical, particularly immunochemical, analyses in non-laboratory environments. The apparatus comprises a test base containing therein wells, into which are introduced all the reagents necessary for performing the assay reaction in question. The apparatus further comprises a reagent stick having at one end a sharp reactive point onto which a sample to be assayed can be adsorbed. The base and wells are covered with an impervious foil layer which can easily be pierced with the sharp reactive end of the testing stick included in the apparatus, thereby allowing the adsorbed sample to contact the reagents used in carrying out the assay.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the new use of known catechol derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or alkanoyl having 2 to 5 carbon atoms; X is nitro, halogen or cyano and R.sub.3 is chlorine, nitro, cyano or a radical of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.4 is hydrogen, cyano, alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or alkanoyl having 2 to 5 carbon atoms and R.sub.5 is cyano, alkanoyl having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, carboxyl or phenylcarbonyl unsubstituted or substituted with one to three methoxy groups or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The new use is the treatment and prophylaxis of ulcers and lesions in the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: A compound of the formula ##STR1## and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, in which A is --N.dbd.N--NH--, --X--C(R.sub.2).dbd.N--, --N.dbd.C(R.sub.2)--X--, --X--C(R.sub.2)--CH(R.sub.2).dbd.N-- or --N.dbd.C(R.sub.2)--CH(R.sub.2)--X--, wherein X is sulphur, oxygen or nitrogen and R.sub.2 is provided that where two R.sub.2 -groups are present in the A group one of the R.sub.2 groups is hydrogen, amino, substituted amino, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, substituted acylamino or one of the following groups: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.a is hydrogen, amino, substituted amino, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, heterocyclic five membered ring or --NHCOR', wherein R' is C.sub.1-6 alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic five membered ring, R.sub.b is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, C.sub.1-6 alkylthio or hydroxy, R.sub.c is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl or oxygen and R.sub.d is C.sub.1-6 alkyl or oxygen, R.sub.e is hydrogen, hydroxy or C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, R.sub.f is C.sub.1-6 alkyl, provided that where two R.sub.2 -groups are present in the A group, one of the R.sub.

Abstract: A preparation for the detection of chlamydial infections using lipopolysaccharide of Re-lipopolysaccharide mutants of gram-negative bacteria. The lipopolysaccharide preparation is used in the production of group-specific antibodies to chlamydiae for diagnostic purposes or for the demonstration of antibodies to chlamydial group antigen in specimens.

Abstract: This invention relates to a kit for the detection of microbial nucleic acids and a method for identifying the nucleic acids using a one-step sandwich hybridization technique. The technique requires two complementary nucleic acid reagents for each microbe or group of microbes to be identified.