Abstract: A measuring instrument (A) includes: a storage (1) which has an insertion port (10) for insertion of measuring articles (S) and is capable of storing the measuring articles stacked in a direction of the insertion; and movable members (2A, 2B) for a movement of dispensing a predetermined quantity of the measuring articles (S) out of the storage (1) toward a measuring position (P). With such an arrangement, refilling of the measuring articles (S) to the measuring instrument (A) becomes easy, and the measuring instrument (A) can be always loaded suitably with a quantity of the measuring articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical tool including a plurality of flow paths 21 each including a detection cell 26 for detecting a particular component contained in a sample and configured to move the sample by capillarity, and a common path 22 connecting the plurality of flow paths 21 to each other. Each of the flow paths 21 includes a water stopper 29 for preventing the sample from flowing into the common path 22. Preferably, the water stopper 29 suppresses the movement of the sample by differentiating a cross sectional area at a target portion in a direction perpendicular to the sample flow direction from a cross sectional area at a portion near the target portion.

Abstract: A method for assaying bilirubin in which a dry reagent is used, which is capable of accelerating the reaction of bilirubin oxidase, and an assay instrument to be used in the method for assaying bilirubin, are provided. The method for assaying bilirubin is characterized in that a biological sample and a bilirubin oxidase-containing dry reagent are mixed first, and then the mixture obtained and a surfactant-containing dry reagent are mixed. An assay instrument (1) to be used in bilirubin assay is characterized in that a bilirubin oxidase and a surfactant are arranged in any of a sample supply part (11), passages (12, 13, 14), and a detection part (15) in a manner such that the bilirubin oxidase is positioned closer to the sample supply part (11) than the surfactant is.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical tool pack (1) including an analytical tool (13) accommodated in one or between a plurality of sealing sheets (12a, 12b). The analytical tool pack (1) includes a stopper portion (146) for holding the analytical tool (13) with the analytical tool (13) caused to project from the sealing sheets (12a, 12b). Preferably, the analytical tool pack (1) further comprises a base film (14) bonded to the sealing sheets (12a, 12b). For example, the stopper portion (146) comprises the bonded portion of the sealing sheets (12a, 12b) and the base film (14). The present invention further relates to an analyzer which uses the analytical tool pack (1). The analyzer comprises an opening mechanism for making a cut (15) in the analytical tool pack (1), and a pushing mechanism for moving the analytical tool (13) relative to the sealing sheets (12a, 12b) to cause the analytical tool (13) to project through the cut (15).

Abstract: An analyzing tool (Y) has a liquid-introducing opening (61), one or more flow passages (51) through which a sample liquid introduced from the liquid-introducing opening (61) is moved, and a separation film (8) for filtrating the sample liquid supplied to the liquid-introducing opening (61) and then introducing the liquid filtrated to the one or more flow passages (51). The analyzing tool (Y) is structured such that a liquid sample is filtrated by being advanced in the thickness direction of the separation film (8). The flow passage (51) is structured such that the sample liquid is moved by, for example, a capillary phenomenon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a puncture device 1 for moving a puncture element 21 in a piercing direction N1 and for piercing a target site with the puncture element 21. The puncture device 1 is for moving a second member 42 retaining the puncture element 21 in the direction N1 and in a direction N2 by the rotational motion of a third member 40 as a first member 41 moves in the directions N1 and N2. The puncture device 1 further comprises a piercing depth adjusting mechanism 6 of adjusting a piercing depth of the puncture element 21 to the target site by regulating a rotation angle of the third member 40.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lancet device 2 which is attached to a puncture device and is used for piercing a target site, and which retains a lancet 4 having a puncture needle in an internal space 35 of a casing 3. The casing 3 has a visible region 36 through which a leading end of the lancet 4 is visually recognizable. The casing 3 comprises, for example, a main body 30 which has the internal space 35, and a cover 31 which covers a part of the internal space35. The visible region 36 has an opened part in the internals space 35 which is not covered by the cover 31 and is adjacent to the cover 31.

Abstract: There is provided an analysis tool having a plurality of electrodes formed on a substrate. The plurality electrodes include two or more first electrodes having working electrodes and one or more second electrodes having counter electrodes. The analysis tool may also additionally have a flow channel for transferring a sample. The electrodes are preferably disposed so that the working electrodes and the counter electrodes have a symmetrical positional relationship with each other in a transferring direction of the sample in the flow channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a test tool feeder (X1) including a storage portion for storing a plurality of test tools (4A, 4B), and a transporting member (2) provided with at least one loading portion (21, 22) for loading the test tools (4A, 4B) stored in the storage portion, where the transporting member transports the test tools (4A, 4B) one by one. The storage portion includes a plurality of storage spaces (11, 12) each storing a plurality of test tools (4A, 4B). Preferably, in the test tool feeder (X1), with respect to each of the storage spaces (11, 12), selection can be made between a state in which the test tools (4A, 4B) are taken out from the storage space (11, 12) and a state in which the test tools (4A, 4B) are not taken out from the storage space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing an analytical tool having recesses (20) formed therein for moving a sample liquid, a base plate (2) made of polymeric material, and a cover laminated to the base plate (2) to cover the recesses (20). This producing method includes the step of applying a hydrophilic treatment to the inner surfaces of the recesses (20). The hydrophilic treatment includes a primary modifying operation for primarily modifying the properties of the inner surfaces of the recesses (20) by contacting a modifying gas with the inner surfaces of the recesses (20), and a secondary modifying operation for secondarily modifying the properties of the inner surfaces of the recesses (20).

Abstract: A lancet device is configured for performing a puncture by mounting a lancet including a puncture needle to the tip of a puncture body holder. The lancet device has a simple configuration that makes it possible to strengthen the retaining force for retaining the lancet when the lancet is used. In the lancet device, an insertion portion of a puncture body that is inserted into a mounting portion of the puncture body holder is retained by means of the frictional force. A fastening member provided in a main body side makes contact with the outer peripheral portion of the mounting portion of the puncture body holder and inwardly fastens the mounting portion when the fastening member is moved in the puncture direction relative to the puncture body holder.

Abstract: This invention is a method for a substrate concentration measurement method including measuring a concentration of a substrate in a blood specimen containing hemoglobin. In the method, the substrate concentration is calculated by using a measurement value correlating with a substrate concentration influenced by hemoglobin, and a hemoglobin concentration or a value correlating with the hemoglobin concentration.

Abstract: Primer sets for amplifying target regions containing sites to be detected in the NAT2 gene by a gene amplification method are provided, wherein the primer sets can amplify the regions specifically. Three pairs of primer sets are used including forward primers consisting of the base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 7, 33, and 60 as well as reverse primers consisting of the base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 18, 48 and 81, respectively. The use of these primer sets makes it possible to amplify three target regions including parts where three types of polymorphisms (NAT2*5, NAT2*6, and NAT2*7) of the NAT2 gene are generated, respectively, in the same reaction solution at the same time.

Abstract: A liquid reagent in which a methylene blue compound color former is stably stored in a liquid state; and a method of stabilizing a methylene blue compound color former in a liquid state. A methylene blue compound color former is stabilized by causing it to coexist with either a quaternary ammonium compound having a C12 or higher hydrocarbon chain or a salt thereof in a liquid medium. Examples of the methylene blue compound color former include 10-(carboxymethylaminocarbonyl)-3,7-bis(dimethylamino) phenothiazine.

Abstract: This invention provides a substrate concentration measuring method for measuring a concentration of a substrate included in a specimen based on an output for measurement from an enzyme electrode when the enzyme electrode and the substrate are reacted with each other, the substrate concentration is calculated using an output for correction from the enzyme electrode obtained when a reference solution whose substrate concentration is known and the enzyme electrode are reacted with each other before or after the enzyme electrode and the substrate are reacted with each other. For example, the output for correction is measured by each specimen. In this method, the substrate concentration may be calculated using the output for correction for the specimen to be measured and an output for correction corresponding to the at least one other specimen and measured prior to the output for correction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a deaerator 2 including: a liquid flow space; reduced-pressure spaces 25A, 25B, and 25C; gas permeable films 21A, 21B, and 21C that separate these spaces; and a pump for discharging gas from within the reduced-pressure spaces 25A, 25B, and 25C to the outside, and to a liquid chromatograph equipped with the deaerator 2. The deaerator 2 further includes gas partial pressure variation suppression means 23A, 23B, 23C, 25Ab, 25Bb, 25Cb, 29A, 29B, and 29C for suppressing variations in partial pressures of a specific gas in the reduced-pressure spaces 25A, 25B, and 25C.

Abstract: When the concentration of glycated hemoglobin is measured, a plurality of wavelengths are selected as measurement wavelengths from the wavelength range of 400 to 450 nm. Preferably, by use of a liquid chromatography, at least the light of different peak wavelengths in the wavelength range of 415 to 430 nm are continuously or intermittently received to obtain a three dimensional chromatogram having as variables the wavelength, the elution time and the amount of detection. The concentration of glycated hemoglobin is calculated based on this three dimensional chromatogram.

Abstract: An analysis instrument (2) has a hole (23) for allowing a laser beam, which is applied to a skin to withdraw bodily fluids, to advance through it and also has a cover (25) for closing an opening (23B), into which the laser beam enters, of the hole (23) and allowing the laser beam to pass through it. The analysis instrument (2) has electrodes (20, 21) stacked one upon another while being electrically connected and having through-holes (20A, 21A) defining the hole (23). Preferably, the analysis instrument (2) further has a gas discharge flow path (26) for discharging gas in the hole (23) to the outside.

Abstract: This invention relates to a lancing apparatus (A1) used for inserting an insertion element (21) into a human skin (Sk) for sampling a body fluid. The lancing apparatus (A1) includes a housing (1) with a cylindrical portion (12) brought into contact with the skin (Sk), a negative pressure generator (6) that generates a negative pressure inside the cylindrical portion (12) to cause the skin (Sk) to swell upward, and a detector (5) that detects that the skin (Sk) has been raised to a predetermined height inside the cylindrical portion (12).

Abstract: The method for forming an optical reading code and an analytical tool includes performing pattern formation of a plurality of pits by irradiating a target surface for code formation with a laser in order to form a desired optical reading code. The analytical tool includes a substrate on which a cover is laminated and an optical reading code being formed by pattern formation of a plurality of pits.