Abstract: A new detection method, for detecting a target substance using formation of an aggregate due to binding of a target substance and a binding substance that binds thereto, that is excellent in detection accuracy, and sensitivity, and a new detection reagent used for the same are provided. Modifying substances having a maximum diameter of about 50 nm or less bind to a binding substance that binds to a target substance, and a modified binding substance is prepared as a binding reagent. A target substance in a sample is detected by bringing this modified binding reagent into contact with the sample, and optically detecting an aggregate that is formed by binding of the modified binding substance and the target substance in the sample. Preferably, the modifying substance includes biotin or a biotin derivative and further includes avidin or an avidin derivative, and the avidin or the avidin derivative binds to the biotin or the biotin derivative.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a test instrument (X) including a capillary (5) for moving a sample liquid (B), a liquid pooling portion (4) communicating with the capillary (5) for retaining the sample liquid (B) to be introduced into the capillary (5), and a liquid introduction selector (12) for selecting whether or not the sample liquid (B) retained in the liquid pooling portion (4) is introduced into the capillary (5). The present invention also relates to an attachment provided with the test instrument (X), and a concentration measuring apparatus to which the attachment is mounted for use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus that measure the concentration of glycated hemoglobin by an optical technique. A wavelength in which the molecular extinction coefficient of oxyhemoglobin agrees or substantially agrees with the molecular extinction coefficient of deoxyhemoglobin is adopted as a measurement wavelength. Preferably, the measurement wavelength is set at from 417 to 421 nm. In the present invention, the concentration of glycated hemoglobin is measured by making use of column chromatography and of using a sample prepared from red blood cells in blood.

Abstract: An analysis method includes the steps of causing a moist sample to react with a reagent and measuring concentration of a particular component contained in the sample based on the state after the reaction of the sample with the reagent. The reaction step and the measurement step are performed while the amount of moisture contained in the air in a space accommodating the sample and the reagent is directly or indirectly measured. The method further includes the step of correcting the measurement result of the concentration of the particular component based on the amount of moisture contained in the air.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of collecting microorganisms and a method of collecting nucleic acids, which both can be carried out easily and can achieve a high collection rate. A method of collecting microorganisms according to the present invention includes a microorganism adsorption step of bringing a sample into contact with fine particles so as to cause microorganisms contained in the sample to be adsorbed onto the fine particles. In this method, the fine particles have a particle diameter of 6 ?m or less and a specific surface area of 50 m2/g or less. Furthermore, a method of collecting nucleic acids according to the present invention includes: a microorganism adsorption step of causing microorganisms to be adsorbed onto fine particles; and a nucleic acid elution step of eluting nucleic acids from the microorganisms that have been adsorbed onto the fine particles. The microorganism adsorption step in this method is the microorganism collection method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lancet 1 including a puncture body 4 with a puncture needle 41, and a hollow member 3 having an internal space 30 for accommodating the puncture body 4. The lancet 1 further includes a sealing part 5 for sealing and accommodating the puncture needle 41 arranged in the hollow member 3. The hollow member 3 has an opening 32 for allowing the movement of the puncture needle 41 when the puncture needle 41 is moved in a puncturing direction N1. The sealing part 5 includes a seal member securely attached so as to cover the opening 32.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical tool (1) comprising a substrate (10), a capillary (13) which is formed on the substrate (10) and into which a sample liquid is to be loaded by movement of the sample liquid in the capillary. The substrate (10) is provided with a liquid movement preventer for preventing the sample liquid loaded into the capillary (13) from moving further. Preferably, the liquid movement preventer includes a stepped portion (18B) projecting from the substrate or a recess provided at the substrate.

Abstract: A measurement support system includes a measurement device and a management device connected to the measurement device via a communications network. When the measurement device uses consumable materials such as reagents, the management device manages the stock of consumable materials, supplies the consumable materials, and corrects measured data in accordance with the state of the consumable materials. Thus, the measurement support system can reduce the burden on users of the measurement device. The reagents that are used in measurement by a personal measuring instrument (3) located at each of patients' homes (B, C, . . . ) are assigned a reagent ID number beforehand. This reagent ID number and measured data are transmitted to a host computer (1) of a medical institution (A). The host computer (1) determines the stock of reagents based on the consumable material identifier received from the personal measuring instrument (3) and ships the reagents to the patient's home when the stock is running low.

Abstract: This invention relates to a technique for adjusting the temperature of a liquid held on an analyzing instrument (1) to a target value. The invention provides a temperature control method wherein thermal energy is supplied to liquid (10) by passing a magnetic flux across an analyzing instrument (1) for raising the temperature of the liquid. The invention also provides an analyzing instrument (1) and analyzing apparatus (X) which are suited to raising the temperature of a liquid (10) using a magnetic flux.

Abstract: A method for detecting a DNA having the mitochondrial DNA 3243 mutation is disclosed. Quantitative PCR is used with a primer having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence starting from the nucleotide number 243 in SEQ ID NO: 2 and having a length of 12 to 30 nucleotides. A method is also disclosed for detecting a DNA having the mitochondrial DNA 3243 mutation by using a nucleic acid probe which is end labeled with a fluorescent dye. The fluorescence of the fluorescent dye decreases upon hybridization. The nucleic acid probe has a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence starting from nucleotide number 230 in the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and a length of 14 to 40 nucleotides. The 3? end of the probe is labeled with the fluorescent dye.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid chromatography apparatus X, which is provided with a deaerator 4. The liquid chromatography apparatus X is further provided with a dissolved oxygen density adjusting means for maintaining a density of dissolved oxygen in an eluting solution to be supplied to a column 60 constant. Preferably, the dissolved oxygen density adjusting means is configured so as to adjust the density of the dissolved oxygen in the eluting solution by adjusting a degree of decompression in a decompression space of the deaerator 4 based on a measurement result by temperature measurement means 40A, 40B, and 40C for measuring the temperature of the eluting solution.

Abstract: A method of producing a PCR amplification product is provided that suppresses an effect of precipitate, turbidity, or the like derived from a whole blood sample on a detection in the detection of an amplified nucleic acid by an optical unit. The amplification product complementary to a target nucleic acid in the whole blood sample is produced by PCR in a condition where a ratio of the whole blood sample in a PCR reaction solution is in the range of 0.1 to 0.9% by volume or 0.01 to 1.8 g/L in term of hemoglobin content. When the PCR is carried out with such conditions, even with an untreated whole blood sample, a monitoring of the amplification product by the optical unit can be done while suppressing the effect of the precipitate or the turbidity.

Abstract: Primer sets for amplifying target regions containing sites to be detected in the CYP2C19 gene by a gene amplification method are provided, wherein the primer sets can amplify the regions specifically. Two pairs of primer sets are used including forward primers consisting of the base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 12 and 32 as well as reverse primers consisting of the base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 22 and 48, respectively. The use of these primer sets makes it possible to amplify two target regions including parts where two types of polymorphisms (CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3) of the CYP2C19 gene are generated, respectively, in the same reaction solution at the same time.

Abstract: A mutant glucose dehydrogenase having an improved substrate specificity to glucose, which is a protein comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:3 or an amino acid sequence having the substitution, deletion, insertion or addition of one or more amino acid residues excluding amino acid 365 in the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:3 and having a glucose dehydrogenase activity, the amino acid residue corresponding to amino acid 365 being substituted by other amino acid residue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical tool (1) including a capillary (5) for moving a sample liquid introduced through a liquid introduction port (51), and a window (43) for checking that the sample liquid of an amount necessary for measurement is supplied into the capillary (5). In the analytical tool (1), an opaque region (45) is defined between the liquid introduction port (51) and the window (43). For example, the analytical tool (1) includes a substrate (2), a cover (4) defining the capillary (5) together with the substrate (2), and a working electrode (21) and a counter electrode (22) which include respective exposed portions (21a, 22a) facing the interior of the capillary (5). Preferably, at least part of the window (43) is formed at a region which avoids a position directly above the exposed portions (21a, 22a).

Abstract: A case unit C1 includes a case 1 which includes a front surface 11 formed with a take-out opening 19 for taking out an article stored in the case, a cover 2 including a sealing portion 21 for closing the take-out opening 19, and guiding means 30, 31 for enabling the cover 2 to slide relative to the case 1 so that the sealing portion 21 moves reciprocally along the front surface 11. When the sealing portion 21 is positioned in front of the take-out opening 19, the guiding means 30, 31 displaces the sealing portion 21 toward the front surface 11 so that the sealing portion 21 is pressed against the periphery of the take-out opening 19. With this arrangement, the opening and closing of the take-out opening 19 is performed smoothly and easily, and the take-out opening 19 is properly closed even when the sealing portion 21 is worn out. Further, the case unit C1 is suitable for reduction in size and weight.

Abstract: The present invention provides a colorimetric method that can perform a simple and reliable analysis in a short time. The method includes transferring an electron from an analyte to a coloring reagent that produces color by reduction via a mediator by using an oxidoreductase; and performing qualitative or quantitative analysis of the analyte by measuring color produced in the coloring reagent. The enzyme reaction of this method is a single stage reaction, and the color production reaction occurs via the mediator. Therefore, the measurement can be performed in a short time. Since this reaction requires neither hydrogen peroxide nor oxygen, the measured values are highly reliable.

Abstract: Primer sets for amplifying two genes (the CYP2C9 gene and the VKORC1 gene) by a gene amplification method are provided, wherein the primer sets can amplify respective target regions of the two genes specifically and efficiently in the same reaction system simultaneously. Two pairs of primer sets are used including forward primers consisting of the base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 5 and 29 as well as reverse primers consisting of the base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 18 and 38, respectively. The use of these primer sets makes it possible to specifically amplify target regions including sites where polymorphisms to be detected are generated in the CYP2C9 gene and the VKORC1 gene, in the same reaction solution simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for storing a tetrazolium compound stably is provided. The tetrazolium compound is stored in the presence of sodium azide. The tetrazolium compound (A) and the sodium azide (B) are present at a ratio (A:B) in the range from 1:0.02 to 1:6.2. Furthermore, when the tetrazolium compound is stored as a solution, the concentration of the sodium azide is in the range from 0.08 to 3.2 mmol/L and the concentration of the tetrazolium compound is in the range from 0.5 to 8 mmol/L. As the tetrazolium compound, it is preferable to use 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a puncture needle (11) formed with a first blade surface (12A), a second blade surface (12B), and a third blade surface (12C). The first blade surface (12A) has a site most distant from a needlepoint formed within a range of 1.5 and 2.5 mm as a distance (D1) in an axial direction (L1) from the needlepoint, and the second and third blade surfaces (12B, 12C) have a site most distant from the needlepoint formed in a range of 0.4 to 0.68 mm as a distance (D2) in the axial direction (L1) from the needlepoint. A ratio (D2/D1) of the distance (D2) with respect to the distance (D1) is preferably set in a range of 0.22 to 0.38.