Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of detecting an analyte (antigen) in a sample by an antigen-antibody reaction with an antibody fragment including an antigen binding region for the analyte antigen (hereinafter “an antibody fragment comprising an antigen binding region for an analyte antigen” will simply be referred to as “an antibody fragment against antigen”), the method suppressing nonspecific reaction that is caused by antibody fragments. More specifically, provided is a method of detecting an analyte antigen in a sample by an antigen-antibody reaction with an antibody fragment against antigen, the method comprising the steps of: a) bringing a sample into contact with a denatured antibody fragment; and b) bringing the sample into contact with the antibody fragment immobilized on an insoluble carrier after the step of a), the method suppressing nonspecific reaction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a more accurate and sensitive measurement method lowering the possibility of occurrence of nonspecific reaction in immunological measurement of L-FABP. More specifically, an object is to provide a measurement method that is accurate and sensitive even when the concentration of an analyte is low (e.g., an L-FABP concentration is around the normal value). In an immunological measurement method of L-FABP using an anti-L-FABP antibody, nonspecific reaction can easily be suppressed by a polypeptide consisting of amino acids No. 419 to No. 607 of the amino acid sequence of DnaK, a heat shock protein (HSP), derived from E. coli as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity with the polypeptide even in highly sensitive measurement.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a latex particle for a measurement reagent with which highly sensitive measurement can be performed even in measuring a measurement sample containing a test substance in a dilute concentration. The preset invention relates to a latex particle for a measurement reagent including a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing a monomer mixture containing the following polymerizable monomers (a) to (c): (a) a polymerizable monomer having a phenyl group; (b) a polymerizable monomer having a phenyl group and a sulfonate; and (c) a polymerizable monomer having a naphthyl group, in an aqueous medium containing 7.5 to 25% by weight of C1-4 alcohol without using a surfactant.

Abstract: A method for detecting renal disease or a method for assisting diagnosis of renal disease that is superior in sensitivity and specificity, as well as a kit that can be used therefor is provided. The present invention provides a method for detecting renal disease or a method for assisting diagnosis of renal disease comprising a step of detecting or quantifying free AIM in a biological sample derived from a test subject, as well as a kit for examining or assisting diagnosis of renal disease comprising an antibody that binds to free AIM.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing carbon isotope 14C is provided. A carbon isotope analyzer including an isotopic carbon dioxide generator to generate isotopic carbon dioxide from a carbon isotope; a spectrometer including an optical resonator having a pair of mirrors, and a photodetector to determine the intensity of light transmitted from the optical resonator; and a light generator including a light source, a first optical fiber to transmit a light beam from the light source, a second optical fiber for wavelength conversion, the second optical fiber branching from the first optical fiber at a point and combining with the first optical fiber at another point downstream of the branching point, and a non-linear optical crystal to generate light having the absorption wavelength of the isotopic carbon dioxide on the basis of the difference in frequency between light beams transmitted through the optical crystal.

Abstract: Provided is the development of a convenient LA detection method in which even a sample derived from a patient who receives anticoagulant therapy of warfarin, heparin or the like, is not affected by the anticoagulant therapy, discrimination from the deficiency of blood coagulation factors is enabled, and healthy person's plasma is not used. The method for detecting lupus anticoagulant includes the following steps (A), (B) and (C): (A) a step of adding a buffer solution composition containing blood coagulation factors to each of a blood sample and a diluted sample of the blood sample before measurement or at the time of measurement of the blood coagulation time; (B) a step of measuring the blood coagulation times for the various samples of step (A); and (C) a step of comparing the blood coagulation times for the various samples obtained in step (B).

Abstract: Provided is a detection method for a malignant tumor cell, including measuring a protein marker expressed on a malignant tumor cell surface. The detection method for a malignant tumor cell includes measuring LR11 on a cell surface in a sample to be tested.

Abstract: Provided is a method of measuring blood coagulation time, the method being capable of LA detection easily and with high sensitivity as compared with the method recommended by the ISTH, without being affected by deficiency of blood coagulation factors even in a blood sample of a warfarin taker, a person who suffers from vitamin K deficiency, or a hepatic failure patient. Disclosed is a method of measuring the blood coagulation time to detect lupus anticoagulant, the method including adding a buffer solution composition containing blood coagulation factors to a blood sample before measurement or at the time of measurement of the blood coagulation time, and measuring the blood coagulation time.

Abstract: A gradient liquid feed device allows reduction in size of a high performance liquid chromatography type sample analyzer. The gradient liquid feed device includes a plurality of carrier liquid reservoir tanks configured to store carrier liquids of mutually different compositions, a plurality of single plunger pumps capable of drawing and discharging the carrier liquid from the plurality of carrier liquid reservoir tanks, a mixer configured to mix the carrier liquids discharged from the plurality of liquid feed pumps and feed the mixed carrier liquid, and a pulse damper in communication with the mixer and configured to absorb pulsation that may occur during liquid feeding. The single plunger pumps have a function for variably setting a length of stroke for drawing and discharging the carrier liquid and a function for variably setting a ratio between the carrier liquid drawing time and the carrier liquid discharge time.

Abstract: A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an immunochromatographic test strip and a detection method using immunochromatography avoiding aggregation of colloidal gold conjugates while red blood cells in whole blood are agglutinated and then separated and removed in the case of using polybrene as a blood-agglutinating agent and the colloidal gold conjugates as a detection reagent. To solve the problem, the present inventers reviewed a past reagent configuration itself from a completely different viewpoint rather than selecting type and amount of polyanions and, as a result of extensive study on each element, the inventers surprisingly found that aggregation of colloidal gold can be suppressed by using a certain buffer solution without using neutralization by polyanions.

Abstract: A problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a method of avoiding an influence of hemoglobin in an immunological measurement method for an analyte in a biological sample. The problem is solved by reacting a sample suspected of containing an analyte with an antibody binding to the analyte in the presence of a polypeptide consisting of amino acids No. 419 to No. 607 of the amino acid sequence of DnaK, a heat shock protein (HSP), derived from E. coli as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity with the polypeptide.

Abstract: A problem to be solved by the present invention is to inhibit a nonspecific agglutination reaction in an agglutination test using a monoclonal antibody having a property of specifically biding to PIVKA-II and a monoclonal antibody having a property of specifically biding to prothrombin as well as two types of carrier particles carrying these monoclonal antibodies. The nonspecific agglutination reaction can be inhibited by adding certain divalent metal ions to a reaction solution containing the monoclonal antibody having a property of specifically biding to PIVKA-II and the monoclonal antibody having a property of specifically biding to prothrombin as well as the two types of carrier particles carrying these monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: Latex particles for a particle agglutination assay, with which it is possible to carry out high-sensitivity assay while highly suppressing a non-specific reaction are disclosed. The latex particles being obtained by emulsion polymerization with a polymerizable monomer having a phenyl group, and a polymerizable monomer having a phenyl group and a sulfonate in an aqueous medium including a nonionic surfactant at a concentration of 0.005 to 0.02 wt % based on the aqueous medium, the latex particles having an average particle size of 0.005 to 1.0 ?m.

Abstract: A problem is to provide a method of inhibiting nonspecific reaction unique to feces in a detection method using immunochromatography developing a fecal sample in an insoluble membrane so as to detect an analyte in the sample, and an immunochromatographic test strip used therefor. The present invention provides a method of performing an immunochromatographic reaction in the presence of an anti-IgA antibody so as to detect an analyte in a fecal sample without being affected by nonspecific reaction, and an immunochromatographic test strip used therefor.

Abstract: A problem to be solved by the invention is to provide an immunological measurement method for L-FABP in a sample using an anti-L-FABP antibody having a detection sensitivity equal to or greater than that of an existing pharmaceutical product for in-vitro diagnosis and having a favorable correlation. The problem is solved by a method of detecting L-FABP (liver-type fatty acid binding protein) in a sample with an anti-L-FABP antibody, comprising the step of bringing an anti-L-FABP antibody and a compound having a partial structure of NH2—C?N— and a cyclic structure in a molecule into contact with a sample suspected of containing L-FABP.

Abstract: Disclosed is an accurate and stable immunoassay reagent using a glycerophospholipid and a method for stabilizing the reagent. The reagent for assaying an analyte in blood by immune reaction with an antigen when the analyte is an antibody or with an antibody when the analyte is an antigen, wherein a glycerophospholipid and a polyvinylpyrrolidone are incorporated into the immune reaction system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a measurement method utilizing immunochromatography, an immunochromatographic test strip, and a reagent kit of immunochromatography capable of accurate short-time measurement of an analyte in blood with simple operations as compared to the conventional methods. The present invention provides a method of measurement by immunochromatography in which concentrations of an analyte and hemoglobin in the same sample are measured by immunochromatography to perform hematocrit correction of a measurement value of the analyte by using a measurement value of hemoglobin, as well as a test strip and a reagent kit for immunochromatography.

Abstract: A carbon isotope analyzer 1 includes a carbon dioxide isotope generator 40 that includes a combustion unit that generates gas containing carbon dioxide isotope from carbon isotope, and a carbon dioxide isotope purifying unit; a spectrometer 10 including an optical resonator 11 having a pair of mirrors 12, and a photodetector 15 that determines the intensity of light transmitted from the optical resonator 11; and a light generator 20 including a light source 23, a first optical fiber 21 to transmit a light beam from the light source 23, a second optical fiber 22 for wavelength conversion, the second optical fiber 22 splitting from the first optical fiber 21 at a point and combining with the first optical fiber 21 at another point downstream of the splitting point, and a non-linear optical crystal 25 that generates light having the absorption wavelength of the carbon dioxide isotope on the basis of the difference in frequency between light beams transmitted through the optical crystal 25.

Abstract: Provided is a container for preparing a diluted solution of a biological sample to be used for biological sample analysis. Specifically, provided is a container for specimen dilution, including: an open; a first bottom; a second bottom formed on an inner side wall of the container; and a groove upwardly formed, on the inner side wall of the container, from the second bottom, in which the groove has a constant width equal to a width of the second bottom, or the groove has, at a lower end thereof, a width equal to the width of the second bottom and upwardly widens.