Abstract: A method for adjusting the coagulation time during the manufacture of calibrators and controls produced from frozen plasma or plasma treated for lyophilization thereof, for haemostatis tests relating to assaying and to monitoring anticoagulant treatments in a patient. The plasmas selected to prepare the calibrator plasmas or the control plasmas are treated with a view to lyophilization and supplemented with different predefined doses of a drug and a procoagulant factor.

Abstract: Peptide substrates selected from the group consisting of (i) the tri- and tetra-peptides of the formulaQ-A.sub.1 -A.sub.2 -Gly-A.sub.4 -R (I)having SEQ ID NO: 1 in which Q is a group which blocks the N-termnal end of the peptide chain, A.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of Leu, Ile, Nle, Nva, CHA, CHG, CHT, Phe, Ala and Lys groups, where the basic side-group of the Lys residue is blocked with a suitable group which substantially removes the basic character of said side-group, A.sub.2 is a single bond, Asp or Glu, the carboxylic acid side-group of Asp and Glu being capable of esterification or amidation, A.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of Arg and Lys groups, and R is pNA; and (ii) their addition salts. These peptide substrates are useful in the determination of Factor Xa.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a serum rich in factor Va for the preparation of compositions useful as pathological controls or calibrants in methods for analyzing resistance to activated protein C (APC), as well as said compositions, the method for their preparation and a method for the detection of resistance to activated protein C.

Abstract: A centrifuge tube and a kit for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms, particularly bacteria and yeasts, in a liquid sample of a biological material. The centrifuge tube has a cylinder portion; a frustoconical portion; a capillary at the bottom of the tube; and contains a gel system for detecting microorganisms. The gel system includes a development phase of a gel containing microorganism culture medium and a reagent capable of inducing a detectable variation in optical measurement in the presence of microorganisms and a first phase intimate mixture which includes water originating wholly or partly from the culture medium and water-absorbing polymer particles so that, in the first phase intimate mixture, the polymer particles have a particular concentration and size.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms belonging to the group which consists of bacteria and yeasts in a liquid sample (5) of a biological material. The method comprises placing the liquid sample (5) in a centrifuge tube (6a, 6b) above a gelled system (10) comprising at least (a) a first so-called development phase (1), i.e. a gel comprising a microorganism culture medium and a reagent for inducing a detectable optical measurement change in the presence of microorganisms, said gel being an intimate mixture of water and water-absorbing polymeric particles that have swelled in such a way that, in said intimate mixture, said polymeric particles have (.alpha.) a dry weight concentration of 0.05-0.2 g/ml, and (.beta.) a swollen-state diameter of 90-320 .mu.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining, assaying and identifying strains of Candida and pathogenic strains belonging to species Torulopsis glabrata by means of chromogenic substrates of monoamino acid or peptide type without the isolation of the strains to be identified.

Abstract: The present invention relates, by way of novel industrial products, to peptide compounds selected from the group consisting of(i) the tripeptides of the formulaY--A.sub.1 --A.sub.2 --A.sub.3 --R (I)in whichY is H or an appropriate group blocking the N-terminal end,A.sub.1 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of (2-oxothiazolidin-4-yl)carbonyl [abbreviated to THC], (2-oxotetrahydro-1,3-thiazin-5yl)carbonyl [abbreviated to TZC], thiazolidine-4-carbonyl [abbreviated to ATC] and (tetrahydro-1,3-thiazin-5-yl)carbonyl [abbreviated to AZC] residues,A.sub.2 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of Pro, 3Hyp and 4Hyp residues, where the OH side-group of 3Hyp and 4Hyp is capable of being protected by an ether or ester protecting group,A.sub.3 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of Arg and Lys residues, andR is a labeling means; and(ii) their addition salts.These novel compounds are useful as substrates in the determination of Protein C.

Abstract: The new invention relates, by way of novel industrial products, to compounds selected from(i) the symmetrical amino acids and peptides of the formulaR--A--B--CO--Q--CO--B--A--R (I)in whichQ is a polyalkylene glycol residue selected from the polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol residues of the formula--O[CH(X)CH.sub.2 O]--in which X is H or Me and n is an integer greater than or equal to 1,B is a single bond, a monoamino acid residue or a peptide chain comprising from 2 to 9 monoamino acid residues,A is a basic monoamino acid residue selected from the group consisting of .alpha.-amino acid residues containing a basic group on a side-chain, andR is a labeling means making it possible to develop the enzyme substance to be identified or assayed; and(ii) their addition salts.These novel compounds are useful as substrates for the assay of enzymes, especially proteases and peptidases.

Abstract: A device for the measurement of time at which the physical state of a fluid medium is modified, comprises a vertical cup which contains the fluid and the necessary reagents, and in which a ferromagnetic ball is placed and is driven in rotation by an external magnetic field. The cup has at its lower part an annular travel path for the ball and it comprises a detection device which delivers an electric signal whenever the ball passes in front of it which is associated with a measurement unit determining the variation of the time interval between two consecutive passages of the ball.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for determining the time of modification of the physical state of a fluid medium of the kind in which a ferromagnetic ball is placed in the bottom of a cup containing the fluid to be studied and driven with a periodic movement under the effect of an external magnetic field and in which the modifications of the movements of this ball, due to the modification, are detected. The method is characterized by the fact that the ball always follows at each period the same imposed path and in that the amplitude variations and/or the frequency of its movement are detected.