Abstract: Novel combinations comprising (a) at least one peptide having the following amino acid sequence ##STR1## wherein X.sub.1, X.sub.2, and X.sub.3 are selected from a group consisting of N-terminal and desamino alpha-carbon substitutions and a and b are 0 or 1, provided that a and b are always 0 when A.sub.1 is a desamino residue; A.sub.1 and A.sub.4 are selected from a group consisting of histidyl, arginyl, lysyl, .alpha.-naphthylalanyl, .beta.-naphthylalanyl, isoquinolyl, tyrosyl, tryptophyl, phenylalanyl, homologues and anlogues thereof, and, with respect to A.sub.1 only the desamino forms thereof; A.sub.2 and A.sub.5 are selected from a group consisting of D-histidyl, D-arginyl, D-lysyl, D-.alpha.-naphthylalanyl, D-.beta.-naphthylalanyl, D-isoquinolyl, D-tyrosyl, D-tryptophyl, D-phenyalanyl, homologues and analogues thereof; A.sub.

Abstract: Pentapeptides which act directly on the pituitary to release growth hormone therefrom.

Abstract: A membrane for use in the determination of calcium ion concentration in an aqueous solution, the membrane being of the type comprising a calcium ion selective component and a carrier material.

Abstract: A creatine kinase reagent of the type comprising a buffer, creatine phosphate, adenosine diphosphate, D-glucose, hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, a thiol compound, magnesium ion, adenosine monophosphate, and a coenzyme selected from a group consisting of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, and mixtures thereof. The reagent is characterized in that it further comprises an effective amount of an enzyme selected from a group consisting of phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating).An electrophoretic technique for assaying the relative distribution of creatine kinase characterized in that the above reagent is employed therein.

Abstract: A T.sub.3 uptake polarization fluoroimmunoassay where a sample is assayed by contacting a serum sample with T.sub.3 to form a solution, contacting the solution with a separating agent and incubating the same, separating T.sub.3 bound to the separating agent from the serum sample, contacting the T.sub.3 bound to the separating agent with an antibody against T.sub.3, incubating and separating the agent-anti-body combination, separating free anti-body and contacting the free antibody with fluorescent labeled T.sub.3 and fluorometrically measuring the fluorescence polarization.

Abstract: A polarization fluoroimmunoassay for T.sub.3 or T.sub.4 thyroid hormones where a serum sample is assayed by contacting the sample with a base to denature the thyroxine binding globulins and thereby form a solution, incubating the solution, contacting the solution with a separating agent and separating bound thyroid hormone from the serum, contacting the separating agent with bound thyroid hormone with an antibody against the thyroid hormone, incubating the separating agent-antibody combination, separating free antibody and thyroid hormone bound antibody from the separating agent, contacting the free antibody with fluorescent labelled thyroid hormone and measuring the fluorescence polarization as an indication of the thyroid hormone in the sample.

Abstract: A stable blood serum conjugated bilirubin reference composition characterized in that the composition possess a pH of from about 8.2 to bout 9.2 and comprises (a) a sulfhydryl compound in an amount sufficient to enhance the stability of the conjugated bilirubin and (b) a chelating agent in an amount sufficient to bind all the metals present in the blood serum moiety of the composition. This blood serum conjugated bilirubin composition when stored in a gas impervious vial under an inert atmosphere has an excellent shelf life.

Abstract: A membrane for use in the determination of calcium ion concentration in an aqueous solution, the membrane being of the type comprising a calcium ion selective component and a carrier material.

Abstract: An albumin reagent of the type comprising bromcresol green, a buffering agent having a buffering capacity in the pH range of about 4 to about 4.2, and polyoxyethylene(23) lauryl ether. The albumin reagent is characterized in that it contains from about 0.18 to about 0.22 gm/l bromcresol green and has a polyoxyethylene(23) lauryl ether:bromcresol green weight ratio of from about 10:1 to about 12:1.

Abstract: A stable enzyme reference composition having an excellent shelf-life. The composition comprises at least one enzyme of known value; about 20 to about 40 weight percent of at least one alkylene polyol having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms; about 3 to about 8 grams (gm) per deciliter (dl) total protein present in a human serum albumin matrix; and about 60 to about 80 weight percent water.

Abstract: An improved blood serum reference composition of the type comprising blood serum having constituents of known values, characterized in that said composition further comprises a water soluble amine chloride. The water soluble amine chloride is employed to adjust the negative electrolyte balance of said reference composition without interfering with presently employed blood serum clinical assay procedures or analytical equipment used therein.

Abstract: An electrophoretic gel of the type comprising a polysaccharide. The electrophoretic gel is characterized in that it further comprises either an acid polysaccharide and salts thereof, wherein the acid moiety of the acid polysaccharide comprises at least one carboxyl group and/or a galatomannan polysaccharide.An improved electrophoretic technique for assaying the relative distribution of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes of the type wherein a sample to be assayed is applied to an electrophoretic gel and the electrophoretic gel is electrophoresed. The electrophoretic technique is characterized in that the above described electrophoretic gel is employed therein.

Abstract: An electrophoretic gel of the type comprising a polysaccharide. The electrophoretic gel is characterized in that it further comprises an acid polysaccharide and salts thereof, wherein the acid moiety of the acid polysaccharide comprises at least one carboxyl group.An improved electrophoretic technique for assaying the relative distribution of proteins of the type wherein a sample to be assayed is applied to an electrophoretic gel and the electrophoretic gel is electrophoresed. The electrophoretic technique is characterized in that the above described electrophoretic gel is employed therein.

Abstract: A kinetic method for directly assaying total bilirubin in a sample. The kinetic assay entails mixing the sample to be assayed with an azo reagent and measuring the rate of formation of azobilirubin, wherein the rate of azobilirubin formation is directly proportional to the concentration of bilirubin in the sample being assayed. The azo reagent comprises a diazotized aromatic amine and accelerator and the composition and pH thereof is selected such that the rate constants for the conjugated and unconjugated reactions are approximately equal and such that the half-lives of both reactions are greater than 1 second and less tha 5 minutes.

Abstract: An assay which is capable of determining the endogenous glycerol and endogenous triglycerides content of a sample without the necessity of performing a separate glycerol assay. The assay of the instant invention can be performed in a single cuvette and is made possible by the use of a novel reagent kit.The reagent kit is of the type comprising lipase; glycerol kinase; adenosine triphosphate; and at least one reagent capable of being used to assay glycerol-1-phosphate or adenosine diphosphate. This reagent kit is characterized in that the lipase employed therein is from Staphylococcus epidermidis NRRL B-12072. In the absence of an auxiliary agent, this lipase does not cleave triglycerides to glycerol. Accordingly, the reagent kit further comprises, as the auxiliary agent, a surfactant which is capable of activating the lipase. Because these surfactants do not absorb at either 340 or 520 nm, one can determine a sample's endogenous glycerol content and endogenous triglycerides content in a single cuvette.

Abstract: A solid state electrode for use in determining ion concentration in an aqueous solution comprising an electrically conductive element; a first lipophilic-hydrophobic (hereinafter referred to as LH) layer in intimate contact with the element; and a second LH layer in intimate contact with the first layer. The first LH layer comprises an adhesive, LH polymer having an intrinsic viscosity of from about 0.4 to about 0.9 ml/g; and an LH plasticizer. The second LH layer comprises a LH polymer having an intrinsic viscosity of from about 1 to about 1.5 ml/g; an LH plasticizer, and an LH ion-selective ligand of the ion to be determined.Preferably, the first LH layer further comprises an LH charge carrier.As used herein, the term "lipophilic-hydrophobic (LH)" denotes an organic solvent soluble-water insoluble substance.

Abstract: A membrane for use in the determination of calcium ion concentration in an aqueous solution, the membrane being of the type comprising a calcium ion selective component and a carrier material.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor for determining the O.sub.2 content of a fluid characterized in that the electrolyte employed therein is selected from a group consisting of amino alcohols having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, morpholine, and mixtures thereof. Optimally, the electrolyte can further comprise a supporting electrolyte selected from a group consisting of inorganic halides, organic supporting electrolytes, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An improved T.sub.3 uptake test procedure characterized in that the separating agent employed therein comprises precipitated nylon 6, precipitated nylon 66, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An electrophoretic technique for assaying the relative distribution of lactate dehydrogenase (LD) isoenzymes characterized in that the electrophoretic and/or substrate buffer employed therein comprises a first and second moiety wherein the first moiety is selected from a group consisting of alkali metal 5,5-diethylbarbiturate, ammonium 5,5-diethylbarbiturate, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the second moiety is selected from a group consisting of bicine (N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine), tricine (N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methylglycine), and glycylglycine. The buffer has a pH of from about 7 to about 9 at 25.degree. C.Preferably, the buffer further comprises a solid organic water soluble acid and either 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (AMPD) or 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol (Tris) or mixtures thereof.Buffers within the scope of the instant invention, when compared to prior art buffers, increase the relative percentage of LD.sub.