Abstract: A method of determining allergen activity in dust comprises: providing a dust sample; extracting from the dust sample at least one breakdown component or proteins or peptides; reacting the extracted at least one breakdown component with a colorimetric amine detection reagent such as TNBSA; and quantitatively measuring the intensity of any resulting coloration. The allergen activity may be gauged by the intensity of coloration.

Abstract: Diagnostic testing apparatus for evaluating entrainable substances (e.g. for determining allergen activity in house dust), comprising a housing for collection and testing of entrainable substances, the housing having: an inlet; an outlet; a filter disposed between the inlet and the outlet which is configured to capture substances entrained in air flowing from the inlet to the outlet; a reservoir for storing fluid for use in evaluating substances captured on the filter; and means for releasing stored fluid from the reservoir onto the filter.

Abstract: A method of determining allergen activity in dust comprises: providing a dust sample; extracting from the dust sample at least one breakdown component or proteins or peptides; reacting the extracted at least one breakdown component with a colorimetric amine detection reagent such as TNBSA; and quantitatively measuring the intensity of any resulting coloration. The allergen activity may be gauged by the intensity of coloration.

Abstract: A method of determining allergen activity in dust comprises: providing a dust sample; extracting from the dust sample at least one breakdown component or proteins or peptides; reacting the extracted at least one breakdown component with a colorimetric amine detection reagent such as TNBSA; and quantitatively measuring the intensity of any resulting coloration. The allergen activity may be gauged by the intensity of coloration.

Abstract: Diagnostic testing apparatus (10) for evaluating entrainable substances (e.g. for determining allergen activity in house dust), comprising a housing (12) for collection and testing of entrainable substances, the housing (12) having: an inlet (14); an outlet (16); a filter (18) disposed between the inlet and the outlet which is configured to capture substances entrained in air flowing from the inlet (14) to the outlet (16); a reservoir (20) for storing fluid for use in evaluating substances captured on the filter (18); and means (21, 24) for releasing stored fluid from the reservoir (20) onto the filter (18).

Abstract: The subject invention provides for detecting the presence of food residue and/or microorganisms. The invention relates to hygiene monitoring and may be used to test a sample collected from an environment that originally was, or has subsequently been tested and been shown to be, free of sugar.

Abstract: An assay device comprises a tube, a removable top part and a bottom part, wherein an elongate member with a swab at its distal end is mounted on the top part, the top part includes a compartment containing liquid and partly defined by a first frangible membrane that can be ruptured to release the liquid into the tube, and the bottom part contains a reagent and is partly defined by a second frangible membrane that can be ruptured on movement of the bottom part relative to the tube.Reaction occurring in the bottom part can be observed through a window. This reaction may be of the type involving amplification of say, ATP, e.g. by providing AMP, glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), adenylate kinase, glucokinase and reagents that convert glucose (G) to give a color, whereby the following reactions occurAMP+ATP.fwdarw.2ADPG6P+ADP.fwdarw.ATP+G.

Abstract: A fluoride ion sensitive material suitable for use as the active component in a fluoride ion sensitive electrode comprises a sintered mixture comprising of up to 99.9 molar % of Lanthanum trifluoride and from 0.1 to 20 molar % Calcium difluoride formed from a body that has been pressed at 10.sup.7 Pa or more and then sintered in a inert atmosphere at 900.degree. C. or more.