Abstract: A method for measuring the presence of calprotectin (S100A8/A) heterodimer in a biological sample using a particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) based on monoclonal antibodies. The method can be adapted on automated standard analyzers and provides a reliable clinical measurement of calprotectin in faecal samples and extracts. The method is comparable to commerical two-site sandwich ELISA. The disclosed method counters spontaneous agglutination caused by calcium ions and low-molecular weight calcium-binding S100 proteins as observed with conventional PETIAs. The method can be used for measuring the presence of human calprotectin in stool, urine, serum, plasma, synovial liquid and other body liquids. Metrological traceability and high commutability with conventional immunoassays (ELISA) has been shown despite of different measurement principles used.

Abstract: A diagnostic reagent that is suitable for turbidimetric analysis with a simple photometer and has high sensitivity for quantitative determination of procalcitonin in a sample is provided. The reagent is an aqueous suspension of polymer particles with antibodies against procalcitonin covalently bound to said polymer particles, in which no or only an extremely slight tendency to agglutination/sedimentation is detectable even after longer standing times and the specific reactivity of the particles remains largely unchanged. The suspended polymer particles have an average particle size in the range from 150 to 450 nm, the suspension includes a proportion of sugar or sugar alcohol dissolved therein in the range from 25 to 250 g/l and the suspension has a pH in the range from 8 to 10.

Abstract: A method for measuring the presence of calprotectin (S100A8/A) heterodimer in a biological sample using a particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) based on monoclonal antibodies. The method can be adapted on automated standard analyzers and provides a reliable clinical measurement of calprotectin in faecal samples and extracts. The method is comparable to commerical two-site sandwich ELISA. The disclosed method counters spontaneous agglutination caused by calcium ions and low-molecular weight calcium-binding S100 proteins as observed with conventional PETIAs. The method can be used for measuring the presence of human calprotectin in stool, urine, serum, plasma, synovial liquid and other body liquids. Metrological traceability and high commutability with conventional immunoassays (ELISA) has been shown despite of different measurement principles used.

Abstract: A method for quantitatively determining the amount of acetaminophen in a sample with greater precision, greater sensitivity and fewer interactions and fewer spectral and chemical interferences with other compounds contained in the sample. The method includes acetaminophen being hydrolyzed and the resulting p-minophenol being reacted with a compound of general formula (III) in the presence of an oxidant, wherein R1 and R2, independently of one another, are selected from H, —CH3, and —OCH3, R3 is —C2H5 and R4 is a C1-4 alkyl moiety with a terminal sulfonate group, with the proviso that at least one of R1 and R2 is —OCH3 and/or R4 additionally has at least one OH substituent, and then the amount of the compound of general formula (IV) in the reaction mixture being photometrically determined.

Abstract: A method for determining the amount of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), in which—if required—the erythrocytes in a sample are hemolyzed, the haemoglobin that is then released—if required—is contacted with a proteolytic agent and the glycated hemoglobin degradation products obtained in this way or otherwise are quantified is disclosed. In order to provide such a process and reagents employable therein that has/have the property of sufficient stability of the chemical compounds that are essential to the reaction, the provision of the requisite proteolytic agent in the form of an inactivated protease is proposed, which is then only reactivated in situ.

Abstract: A method for determining the amount of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), in which—if required—the erythrocytes in a sample are haemolysed, the haemoglobin that is then released—if required—is contacted with a proteolytic agent and the glycated haemoglobin degradation products obtained in this way or otherwise are quantified is disclosed. In order to provide such a process and reagents employable therein that has/have the property of sufficient stability of the chemical compounds that are essential to the reaction, for the stabilization of the haemoglobin which is unfolded at a very low pH in the range from 1 to 3, at least one suitable stabilizer is present in the haemolysis solution.

Abstract: An interchangeable disposable measuring cassette for insertion into a measuring apparatus for detecting target molecules in a liquid sample by measuring fluorescence emission has a flow measurement cell in which an excitation radiation provided by the measuring apparatus produces an evanescent field in the liquid sample beyond a boundary layer for the liquid sample and the measurement cell. To be better able to ensure that no sample liquid can cross from the measurement cell into the measuring apparatus, the measuring cassette includes a body including an optically transparent material and a base in contact with the underside of the body. The measurement cell is formed by a cutout provided in the body, the base, or both. The areas on which the body and the base are on top of one another around this cutout are connected to one another directly and in fluid-tight fashion by laser welding.

Abstract: An interchangeable disposable measuring cassette for insertion into a measuring apparatus for detecting target molecules in a liquid sample by measuring fluorescence emission has a flow measurement cell in which an excitation radiation provided by the measuring apparatus produces an evanescent field in the liquid sample beyond a boundary layer for the liquid sample and the measurement cell. To be better able to ensure that no sample liquid can cross from the measurement cell into the measuring apparatus, the measuring cassette includes a body including an optically transparent material and a base in contact with the underside of the body. The measurement cell is formed by a cutout provided in the body, the base, or both. The areas on which the body and the base are on top of one another around this cutout are connected to one another directly and in fluid-tight fashion by laser welding.

Abstract: An interchangeable disposable measuring cassette for insertion into a measuring apparatus for detecting target molecules in a liquid sample by measuring fluorescence emission has a flow measurement cell in which an excitation radiation provided by the measuring apparatus produces an evanescent field in the liquid sample beyond a boundary layer for the liquid sample and the measurement cell. To be better able to ensure that no sample liquid can cross from the measurement cell into the measuring apparatus, the measuring cassette includes a body including an optically transparent material and a base in contact with the underside of the body. The measurement cell is formed by a cutout provided in the body, the base, or both. The areas on which the body and the base are on top of one another around this cutout are connected to one another directly and in fluid-tight fashion by laser welding.

Abstract: A method of identifying a blockage at the receiving opening of a pipetting needle which at or in the proximity of the receiving opening has an electrode (E1) or is itself in the form of an electrode (E1), in an analysis apparatus when taking liquid from a liquid-containing vessel and/or when delivering liquid into a liquid-containing vessel, in which the pipetting needle is displaced in such a way that the receiving opening is immersed in the liquid in the liquid-containing vessel, an amount of liquid is sucked up into the pipetting needle or delivered from the pipetting needle, the pipetting needle is further displaced in such a way that the receiving opening comes out of the liquid in the liquid-containing vessel, during the displacement of the pipetting needle the capacitances (Kmeasurement) between the electrode (E1) and a counter-electrode (E2) are detected in dependence on the position of the pipetting needle, the detected capacitances (Kmeasurement) are compared to predetermined reference values (Kr

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of automatically metering and mixing liquids effectively as quickly as possible and in few steps. The following steps: a) dispensing the liquid from a needle into the vessel, wherein the operation begins when the needle is at starting position (S), the dispensing operation is continued while the needle is moved in a vertical direction down toward end position (E), wherein the starting position is at a spacing from the bottom of the vessel; b) sucking up a part of the liquid present in the vessel while the needle is in the end position (E); c) moving the needle in a vertical direction to the starting position (S); and d) dispensing the liquid from the needle, wherein the dispensing begins when the needle is at starting position (S), dispensing operation is continued while the needle is moved in a vertical direction downwardly in the direction of the end position (E), and dispensing operation ends when the needle is at end position (E).