Abstract: A method for stabilizing cell-free nucleic acids. The method includes providing a composition and applying the composition to a biological sample as a stabilizing agent for the cell-free nucleic acids contained in the biological sample. The composition includes at least one buffering compound that buffers to a pH value of 7 or below, at least one anticoagulant and urotropin in aqueous solution.

Abstract: A device for making available sample carriers includes a tube with a receiving chamber for a plurality of sample carriers. The receiving chamber is delimited, at its front end, by a holding means for individualized release of the sample carriers and, at its rear end, by a plunger for exerting a force on the sample carriers. The holding means is elastic. To prevent a plurality of sample carriers being released at the same time from the tube, a plurality of fins are mounted on the plunger. The fins are mutually offset in the circumferential direction of the plunger. The offset arrangement of the fins has the effect that, under the action of the force, the plunger is pressed into the interior of the tube by in each case only a predefined ejection stroke. The ejection stroke is adapted to the length or the diameter of one of the sample carriers.

Abstract: A sealing cap seals a sample tube for receiving a liquid, in particular blood. The sealing cap includes a cavity delimited by a membrane and a base having an opening that can be sealed by a non-return valve. In order to reduce the volume of liquid which, during centrifugation of the sample tube sealed by the sealing cap, flows out of the sealing cap through the then open opening into the sample tube, the cavity of the sealing cap has a separating wall that divides the cavity into a first and a second sub-area. Only the second sub-area is above the opening, also meaning that only the volume of liquid in the second sub-area can flow into the sample tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for stabilizing the total nucleic acids from whole blood, in particular RNA, and to a process for stabilizing the total nucleic acids from whole blood for subsequent isolation and at the same time serves for the disruption of cells so that cellular nucleic acids in the state at contacting the composition, especially at the point of time of blood collection, are released and are maintained stable in respect of quality and concentration and can be isolated subsequently. Therein, the composition is characterized in that it especially prevents the degradation and new synthesis of RNA in whole blood, into which it is mixed. The isolation of RNA by contacting the mixture of the aqueous composition and blood with an adsorption agent can be made directly from the complete mixture of the aqueous composition with blood, i.e. e.g. without precipitation and separation of nucleic acids from the mixture, optionally after a storage, during which the mixture is e.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a separator for separating blood plasma and blood cells in a blood collection tube. The separator comprises a float with a first density and at least one passage opening. In addition to the float, the separator comprises a ballast with a second density that is greater than the first density. The total density of the separator, that is, the float and the ballast together, lies between the density of the plasma and the density of the cells in the blood. The float forms a valve together with the ballast. The float and the ballast are arranged so as to be movable relative to each other. In accordance with the invention, the ballast has at least one valve element for opening or closing a passage opening in the float.