Abstract: A lancing unit (U) includes a support member (1) provided with engagement means (19A) which is inserted into a housing (4) of a lancing apparatus (A) for engagement with an engagement surface (24a) of a lancing member (2) when the lancing member (2) is mounted to a movable member (5) of the lancing apparatus. The removal of the lancing member (2) from the movable member (5) after the lancing member (2) is mounted to the movable member (5) can be easily and reliably performed by inserting the engagement means (19A) into the housing (4) and then pulling the engagement means out of the housing (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for moving a mobile component such as a sample and a reagent, in an analyzing article. A method of analyzing a sample according to the present invention includes a first movement step of moving a mobile component from a fluid entrance port (61) to a first goal (511) in a passage (51), and a second movement step of moving the mobile component from the first goal (511) to a second goal (512) in the passage (51), in an analyzing article (Y1). The analyzing article (Y1) further includes a branch passage which branches from the first goal (511), and a first opening for releasing gas from within the branch passage. The first movement step is carried out by establishing communication between inside and outside of the branch passage via the first opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel test piece for creatinine measurement. The test piece includes a compound expressed by the following formula (1), a metal that forms a colored complex with the compound, and a buffer agent in a porous material. The amount of creatinine is determined by optically measuring a colored complex of the compound and the metal and evaluating the degree of inhibition of the colored complex formation by creatinine. In the formula (1), R1 represents H, SO3X, or COOX. R4 and R6 represent OH, SO3X, or COOX and may be either the same or different. R2, R3, R5, and R7 represent H, OH, Cl, Br, I, NO2, NO, or CH3 and may be either the same or different. Xs in the R1, R4, and R6 represent H, Na, K, or NH4 and may be either the same or different.

Abstract: A lancing member (2) is integrally provided with a cap (29) for covering a needle (21). Upon or after being attached to a holder (5) of a lancing device (A), the lancing member (2) is rotated relative to a cap (29) by a rotator (C). As a result, the boundary (28) between the cap (29) and the lancing member (2) is broken easily to expose the needle (21).

Abstract: An analytical kit for use in the analysis of given components of a sample solution. In particular, test kit (1) comprising infiltration layer (4) and multiple coloring layers (3) in contact with the infiltration layer (4) which is so constructed that sample solution (S) fed to the infiltration layer (4) is supplied through the infiltration layer (4) to the coloring layers (3). The infiltration layer (4) is one allowing the solution to predominantly penetrate in the direction of thickness of the infiltration layer (4) or substantially the direction of thickness of the infiltration layer (4) but restricting the penetration of solution in the direction of plane of infiltration layer (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a test piece having a simple structure, by which HDL cholesterol can be measured easily using a small amount of specimen. A reagent layer (2) is formed on a support (1), and an enzyme reagent for measuring cholesterol, a first surfactant that makes a solubility of a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) higher than that of a lipoprotein other than the HDL, and a second surfactant that inhibits the lipoprotein other than the HDL from dissolving are contained in the reagent layer (2).

Abstract: When a medical institution outsources an examination to an external examination institution, a transport identification number generated by a number generating section (16) of the medical institution's data management system (1) is printed out on a barcode label and affixed to a specimen container. The transport identification number is sent along with examination instruction information to a database server (3), and based on the transport identification number read from the barcode label affixed to the specimen container sent by the medical institution, a data management system (2) of the external examination institution obtains examination instruction information from the database server (3) and examinations are performed. The examination results are stored on the database server (3) along with the transport identification number. Based on the transport identification number, the data management system (1) of the medical institution obtains the examination results from the database server (3).

Abstract: A method capable of easily collecting microorganisms or cells in a short time without using a special device, comprising the steps of preparing a centrifugal tube (1) in which the inside thereof is divided into upper and lower parts by a filter (14) and water absorbing resin particles (15) are disposed on the filter (14), pouring liquid specimen in the centrifugal tube (1) so that the liquid specimen touches the water absorbing resin particles (15) to absorb the liquid specimen by the resin particles so as to arrest microorganisms or cells on the surfaces of the particles, pouring collecting liquid into the centrifugal tube (1) to collect the microorganisms or cells with the collecting liquid and, by centrifugal separation, accumulating the collecting liquid at the bottom part of the centrifugal tube (1) through the filter (14).

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: This invention relates to an analyzing device (1) including a rotating body (3) for transferring a target analyte (4). The analyzing device (1) holds the target analyte (4) on the rotating body (3) by applying a negative pressure on the target analyte (4) and transfers the target analyte (4) in circumferential directions D3-D4 of the rotating body (3). The rotating body (3) preferably includes an inner space (30) for negative pressure application, a plurality of positioning portions (31A) for placing and holding the target analyte (4), and through-holes (33) for connecting the positioning portions (31A) and the inner space (30). The inner space (30) is preferably provided with a blockade member (7) for selectively opening or closing the through-holes (33) by rotating relative to the rotating body (3).

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly reliable method of measuring an analyte in a sample using a redox reaction. In this method, a formazan compound is added to a sample prior to a redox reaction so as to eliminate the influence of any reducing substance in the sample. Thereafter, a reducing substance or an oxidizing substance derived from the analyte is formed, and the amount of the formed substance is measured by the redox reaction. The amount of the analyte is determined from the amount of the formed substance thus measured. As the formazan compound, for example, 1-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-5-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) formazan can be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a test piece having a simple structure, by which HDL cholesterol can be measured easily using a small amount of specimen. A reagent layer (2) is formed on a support (1), and an enzyme reagent for measuring cholesterol, a first surfactant that makes a solubility of a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) higher than that of a lipoprotein other than the HDL, and a second surfactant that inhibits the lipoprotein other than the HDL from dissolving are contained in the reagent layer (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical tool cartridge comprising a case having therein a storage space and a retrieval port that communicates the storage space with an external space, and a plurality of analytical tools stored in the storage space in a stacked state. This analytical tool cartridge further has a retrieval mechanism for retrieving the analytical tools one at a time from the case via the retrieval port. The analytical tool cartridge may also further have an opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing the retrieval port. The present invention also provides a set of the analytical tool cartridge, and an analyzer that is constituted so as to have installed therein an analytical tool retrieved from the analytical tool cartridge, and analyze a specific component in a specimen liquid supplied onto the analytical tool.

Abstract: A multiple pipette (X) comprising a first pipette (1) and a second pipette (2), wherein the first pipette (1) allows a liquid stored in a liquid storing section (17a) to be delivered a plurality of times by a fixed amount each and the second pipette (2) allows a liquid drawn in from outside to be delivered all at a time. The first pipette (1) is designed to deliver a liquid a plurality of times by a fixed amount each, e.g., by utilizing a ratchet mechanism (12d, 13a). The first pipette (1) preferably has a cap (19) removably attached to the front end thereof.

Abstract: A method of effecting lysis of acid-fast bacteria, comprising heating acid-fast bacteria in a liquid containing a non-ionic surfactant at a temperature of below the boiling point of the liquid. This method enables accomplishing secure lysis of acid-fast bacteria in a simple manner within a short period of time without the use of special apparatus and agent and enables extracting genes. The heating is preferably conducted at 96° C. for 10 min. As the nonionic surfactant, use can be made of a d-sorbitol fatty acid ester, a polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl ester, a polyoxyethylene glycol p-t-octylphenyl ether or the like. The pH value of the liquid is preferably 8, and the liquid preferably contains EDTA. It is also preferred that before the heating, the acid-fast bacteria be treated with lipase.

Abstract: A lancing device (A) includes an auxiliary member (8) located on a side of the tip end portion of a lancet (L). By moving the auxiliary member (8), the dimension (s) of the tip end of the lancet (L) projecting from the tip end portion (8a) of the auxiliary member (8) can be varied. The variation of the dimension (S) makes it possible to stick the lancet (L) into the skin (99) of a user precisely by an intended amount.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preventing erroneous color development of N-(carboxymethylaminocarbonyl)-4,4?-bis(dimethylamino)diphenylamine sodium salt as a color-developing substrate, thereby improving the accuracy of measurement utilizing a redox reaction performed using the color-developing substrate. A tetrazolium compound, sodium azide, and the color-developing substrate are added to a sample in the presence of a surfactant. A reaction between an oxidizing substance derived from an analyte in the sample and the color-developing substrate, which develops color by oxidation, is caused by an oxidoreductase. By measuring the color developed, the amount of the oxidizing substance is determined. The concentrations of the respective components in the reaction solution are set so that 0.01 to 1 mmol of the tetrazolium compound, 0.003 to 0.5 mmol of the sodium azide, and 0.006 to 0.

Abstract: An online manual capable of efficiently identifying a trouble cause and not requiring trouble for updating. A service engineer (SE) connects an SE terminal to a service support system (1) and transmits a trouble event caused in a device to be repaired. In a judgment route data storage section (16), judgment materials for identifying a symptom cause are stored in the descending order of the goodness of fit. A data extraction section (20) extracts the judgment material in that order and represents it to the SE terminal. When the SE selects a judgment material matched with the state of the device to be repaired, the data extraction section (20) extracts a countermeasure action content corresponding to the judgment material from the countermeasure-action data storage section (11), an action data storage section (12), and a content storage section (13) and displays it on the SE terminal.

Abstract: The invention relates to measuring the concentration of a target component in an object. The invention provides a component concentration measurement method including a first step in which light is irradiated onto a measurement object held in a first magnetic field state for detecting the light from the object, a second step in which light is irradiated onto the object held in a second magnetic field state different from the first state for detecting the light from the object, and a third step in which the concentration of the target component is calculated based on the detection results in the first and the second steps. The first magnetic field state may be a magnetic-field-modulated state, while the second state may be a non-magnetic-field-modulated state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for causing the temperature of a liquid component retained in an analytical tool (1) to be adjusted to a target temperature, wherein the analytical tool (1) is used for analyzing the sample. According to the present invention, the temperature of the liquid component (10) is raised by heating the liquid component utilizing light energy from a light source (23). The temperature raising of the liquid component may be performed by supplying the light energy directly to the liquid component. Alternatively, the temperature raising of the liquid component may be performed by thermal energy transferred from a temperature raise region adjacent to the liquid component to which the light energy supplied. Preferably, as the light source (23) for raising temperature, use may be made of a laser diode or a light-emitting diode.