Abstract: Disclosed is a method for quantifying HDL2 cholesterol in a test sample without requiring laborious operations. The method for quantifying cholesterol comprises allowing phospholipase to act on HDL to quantify cholesterol. Also disclosed is a method comprising: a first step of transferring cholesterols other than high-density lipoproteins in a test sample to the outside of the reaction system; and a second step of quantifying high-density lipoprotein 2 cholesterol among the high-density lipoproteins remaining in the reaction system; wherein, by performing the second step by the above method, high-density lipoprotein 2 cholesterol in the test sample can be quantified.

Abstract: Disclosed is the provision of a method for quantifying HDL3 in a test sample without requiring a laborious operation. The method for quantifying cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein 3 comprises allowing a surfactant(s) which specifically react(s) with a high-density lipoprotein 3 to react with a test sample and quantifying cholesterol, and the surfactant(s) is(are) at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ether and polyoxyethylene styrenated phenyl ether.

Abstract: Disclosed is an immunochromatographic test strip by which the influences by the interfering substances in the immunochromatography method, contained in test samples, are reduced, so that it enables to accurately and specifically measure a test substance in a test sample irrespective of the amount of the test sample supplied to the assay, and to provide an immunochromatography method using the immunochromatographic test strip. The immunochromatographic test strip includes, in the order from upstream, a sample pad, a labeled substance region, a detection region and an absorption band, wherein a polymer(s) in which hydrophobic cyclic monomer(s) having an ionic functional group(s) is/are polymerized is impregnated at a region(s) upstream of the labeled substance region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel method of detecting a test subject by an immunoassay, in which low sensitivity due to using a monoclonal antibody is improved in spite of using a monoclonal antibody in the immunoassay. The method of detecting a test subject is a method of detecting a test subject having two or more kinds of antigens which enable detection of said test subject, which method is performed by an immunoassay such as a sandwich method, using a monoclonal antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof which recognizes the two or more kinds of antigens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of estimating the number of urinary podocytes, including detecting podocalyxin in a urinary sediment sample liquid, and more specifically, to a method of estimating the number of urinary podocytes, including the following steps (1) to (3): (1) a step of preparing the urinary sediment sample liquid by separating urinary sediment from urine collected from a test subject and solubilizing podocalyxin in the urinary sediment; (2) a step of calculating a podocalyxin excretion amount in the urinary sediment sample liquid through detection of podocalyxin in the urinary sediment sample liquid; and (3) a step of calculating the number of urinary podocytes by dividing the podocalyxin excretion amount in the urinary sediment sample liquid by a podocalyxin amount per podocyte.

Abstract: Disclosed are an immunoassay method which can measure an antigen with high sensitivity and accuracy; and a reagent therefor. In the immunoassay method, an antigen-antibody reaction and/or a measurement is(are) carried out in the presence of a polycarboxylic acid type surfactant. The immunoassay reagent for use in the method is characterized by comprising the polycarboxylic acid type surfactant. By employing such a simple means that the polycarboxylic acid type surfactant is allowed to be present in the reaction and/or measurement system, non-specific reactions can be suppressed effectively even in a highly sensitive immunoassay, and an antigen can be measured accurately and specificity can be improved in the immunoassay.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve visibility by reducing background noise in order to accurately detect the signal from a target substance in an immunochromatographic device. The immunochromatographic device comprises a membrane having a detection region, to which an antibody or antigen serving as a capturing substance capable of capturing a target substance is immobilized, for detecting the target substance by using an antigen or antibody labeled with a labeling carrier that is a colored particle to form a complex of the capturing substance-target substance-labeled antigen or antibody in the capturing substance-immobilized detection region on the device, based on color of the labeling carrier, wherein a colorant having a color complementary to the color of the labeling carrier is allowed to be contained in a dry state in a constituent member of the device such that the colorant is developed together with a specimen when the specimen is developed on the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a test kit capable of rapid and highly sensitive detection.

Abstract: Provided is a method for separately or simultaneously quantifying whole HDL-C and cholesterol in HDL subfractions: ApoE-Containing HDL-C and ApoE-deficient HDL-C. A method for enzymatically and separately quantifying cholesterol in the ApoE-deficient HDL comprising: adding a surfactant composed of a polyoxyethylene benzyl phenyl ether derivative to a test sample in a final concentration of 0.05 to 0.10%, reacting the test sample with cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase, and quantifying hydrogen peroxide generated. A method for enzymatically and separately quantifying cholesterol in ApoE-Containing HDL comprising: adding a surfactant composed of a polyoxyethylene benzyl phenyl ether derivative so as to obtain a final concentration of 0.15 to 0.75%, reacting the test sample with cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase, and quantifying hydrogen peroxide generated.

Abstract: Provided is a test method for the assessment of the necessity of renal biopsy in a subject to be tested, who is suspected of having a renal disease. Specifically provided are a test method for a renal disease, including using urinary podocalyxin and one or more additional markers in combination, and a test reagent for use in the test method and a test reagent kit for use in the test method. The present invention allows the discrimination of a poor prognosis group even for poor prognosis cases with no overt findings in a conventional test method, and thus allows the assessment of a renal disease, the assessment of the necessity of renal biopsy, prognostic prediction, and the like to be performed exactly.

Abstract: Provided is a test method for the detection of diabetic nephropathy at an early stage as compared to a conventional method. Specifically provided are: a test method for diabetic nephropathy, including detecting urinary podocalyxin; the test method, further including assessing diabetic nephropathy at at least Stage I; a test reagent for use in the test method; and a test reagent kit for use in the test method. The present invention is based on a finding that urinary podocalyxin reflects the development and condition of diabetic nephropathy with high sensitivity at an early stage as compared to urinary albumin.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for increasing the sensitivity of an immunoassay system. In order to achieve the object, the present inventors have discovered that the sensitivity of an immunoassay system can be increased by pretreating urine and thus have completed the present invention.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for estimating the glomerular renal function in a convenient and non-invasive manner. As a result of intensive studies to achieve the above object, the present inventors found that there is a high correlation between the urinary megalin excretion rate and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in renal disease patients, and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can be estimated with high probability in a non-invasive manner by measuring the megalin level in the urine. This has led to the completion of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antibody-immobilized carrier that can be used in antibody screening, a method of producing the antibody-immobilized carrier, and use of the antibody-immobilized carrier. Efficient antibody screening can be carried out particularly by an antibody-immobilized carrier including two or more antibody immobilized regions onto each of which a heavy-chain low-molecular-weight antibody and a light-chain low-molecular-weight antibody are separately immobilized, the two or more antibody immobilized regions each being included in an independent manner, the heavy-chain low-molecular-weight antibody including a heavy-chain variable region, the light-chain low-molecular-weight antibody including a light-chain variable region, the heavy-chain low-molecular-weight antibody and the light-chain low-molecular-weight antibody each being derived from an antibody recognizing a different antigen.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for increasing the sensitivity of an immunoassay system. In order to achieve the object, the present inventors have discovered that the sensitivity of an immunoassay system can be increased by pretreating urine and thus have completed the present invention.

Abstract: A probe is fitted into cylindrical retaining holes formed in an upper block and a lower block. A plunger of the probe has a plate-like guide portion, and an edge contact portion. A bottomed one of the cylindrical retaining holes is formed in the upper block from a lower part thereof and a guide groove is formed from an upper surface thereof. The plate-like guide portion is movably guided vertically while being prevented from turning and slipping out by the guide groove.

Abstract: Means for enabling an immunoassay with a sufficient sensitivity in an immunoassay for measuring influenza virus in a sample using influenza virus M1 protein as an antigen is provided. A sample processing method in an immunoassay for influenza virus, which method comprises, in an immunoassay for influenza virus using an antibody which undergoes antigen-antibody reaction with influenza virus matrix 1 protein, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, bringing a sample containing influenza virus into contact with a sample processing liquid containing a surfactant having at least one group selected from the group consisting of palmityl, stearyl, and oleyl, is provided.

Abstract: A method for measuring influenza B virus by an immunoassay, which method enables specific detection of influenza B virus with a higher sensitivity than conventional methods, and a device or a kit therefor are disclosed. The method for measuring influenza B virus includes carrying out an immunoassay of influenza B virus by a sandwich method using two kinds of monoclonal antibodies each of which specifically reacts with the region of the 125th to 248th amino acids of matrix protein (M1) of influenza B virus, which two kinds of monoclonal antibodies are capable of binding to the region of the 125th to 248th amino acids of M1 at the same time, or antigen-binding fragments thereof.

Abstract: A method for measuring influenza A virus by an immunoassay using an anti-influenza A virus monoclonal antibody which is highly reactive with a wide range of subtypes is disclosed. The method for measuring influenza A virus includes measuring influenza A virus by an immunoassay utilizing antigen-antibody reaction between a monoclonal antibody which specifically reacts with matrix protein (M1) of influenza A virus, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, and influenza A virus in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an immunochromatographic test piece that makes it possible to achieve both highly sensitive detection of a substance to be detected and a simple test piece structure, which are usually difficult to be made compatible with each other.