Abstract: Disclosed is a reagent for measuring L-biotin, comprising an optically isomeric biotin-binding site and an azobenzene derivative represented by following formula (I): wherein R1 to R10 are each independently a group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, C1 to C6 dialkylamino groups having no substituent or a substituted group, C1 to C6 alkyl groups having no substituent or a substituted group, and C1 to C6 alkoxy groups having no substituent or a substituted group, provided that at least one of R1 to R5 is a hydroxy group or a C1 to C6 dialkylamino group having no substituent or a substituted group, and at least one of R6 to R10 is a carboxy group.

Abstract: A method of generating smear quality control information according to an embodiment may include: obtaining a plurality of image data from a plurality of smears, respectively; obtaining, from the plurality of image data, feature values each of which reflects a staining state of each smear; and generating quality control information based on the feature values.

Abstract: A cartridge to be installed in a detection device for detecting light generated from a measurement sample containing a test substance is provided. The cartridge includes: a plurality of detection chambers fluidly isolated from each other and each receiving a measurement sample; and a transmission suppression unit provided between one detection chamber and another detection chamber of the plurality of detection chambers, and configured to suppress transmission of light generated from a measurement sample in the one detection chamber to the another detection chamber.

Abstract: A reagent selection support apparatus for supporting selection of a reagent used for cell measurement is provided. The apparatus includes a processing unit configured to acquire order information including a first measurement item and a second measurement item different from the first measurement item, and determine a combination of a first fluorescence reagent used to measure a first target molecule corresponding to the first measurement item and a second fluorescence reagent used to measure a second target molecule corresponding to the second measurement item, based on information on a property of the first target molecule and a property of a first fluorescent stain contained in the first fluorescent reagent, and information on a property the second target molecule and a property of a second fluorescent stain contained in the second fluorescent reagent; and an output unit configured to output the determined combination of the first fluorescence reagent and the second fluorescence reagent.

Abstract: A sample measurement method of performing first measurement for a blood coagulation test and second measurement for a test different from the blood coagulation test includes: dispensing a sample for use in the first measurement into a first container from a sample container; dispensing the sample for use in the second measurement into a second container different from the first container from the sample container from which the sample for use in the first measurement has been dispensed; performing the first measurement based on the sample dispensed into the first container; and performing the second measurement based on the sample dispensed into the second container.

Abstract: A blood coagulation analyzing method according to one or more aspects may include: calculating a coagulation time based on data representing a coagulation curve of a change in an optical detection value of a blood specimen added with a reagent for starting a coagulation reaction; calculating an index value related to derivatives calculated concerning the coagulation curve represented by the data used in the calculating the coagulation time; and determining whether an early reaction error has occurred based on a comparison result obtained by comparing the index value to a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for applying a control reference value regarding a quality control sample to a specimen analyzer by a computer, the method comprising: generating the control reference value on the basis of a measurement result of the quality control sample measured by the specimen analyzer; and applying the control reference value to the specimen analyzer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reference electrode comprising: an ionic-liquid-containing membrane; and a hydrophilic membrane disposed on the ionic-liquid-containing membrane.

Abstract: A method of preparing a measurement specimen according to one or more embodiments may include removing red blood cells from a blood sample using a solid phase substance capable of binding to red blood cells and reacting the blood sample from which the red blood cell is removed with a reagent to immunostain cells. Removing red blood cells may include forming a complex comprising red blood cells and the solid phase substance; and separating the formed complex.

Abstract: A specimen preparation apparatus includes a holder that holds a sample container and a centrifuge tube, a centrifugation section that centrifuges a specimen stored in the centrifuge tube, a transfer unit that transfers the centrifuge tube between the holder and the centrifugation section, and a dispenser that dispenses a sample stored in the sample container or a specimen prepared based on a sample into the centrifuge tube held in the centrifugation section. The transfer unit transfers the centrifuge tube storing a centrifuged sample or specimen to the holder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving affinity of an antibody for an antigen, comprising, in an unmodified antibody, improving affinity for an antigen as compared to the unmodified antibody, by changing 74th, 76th and 77th amino acid residues of a light chain defined by Kabat method to charged amino acid residues.

Abstract: Disclosed is a urine specimen analysis method for obtaining information about a urine particle in a urine specimen, and the urine specimen analysis method includes: obtaining count information about the number of Trichomonas vaginalis cells and first information including count information about at least one of the number of squamous epithelium cells and the number of white blood cells, based on detection data of the urine particle in the urine specimen; and outputting information about suspicion of Trichomonas infection based on at least the count information about the number of Trichomonas vaginalis cells, and the first information.

Abstract: Automation of analysis of cells contained in different types of specimens collected from different organs or sites is enabled. This sample preparation method is a method for preparing a sample for analyzing cells contained in a specimen, and includes: obtaining a dispersion condition corresponding to the type of the specimen; and dispersing the cells aggregated and contained in the specimen, according to the obtained dispersion condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving affinity of an antibody for an antigen, comprising, in an unmodified antibody, improving affinity for an antigen as compared to the unmodified antibody, by changing 3rd, 5th and 9th amino acid residues of a light chain defined by Kabat method to charged amino acid residues.

Abstract: Disclosed is a container rack configured to hold a plurality of containers, the container rack configured to be installed in a rack installation portion of a specimen analysis device, the container rack comprising: a holding portion including a plurality of holding holes through which body portions of the containers pass and which hold head portions of the containers; and a leg portion configured to support the holding portion, the leg portion provided from the holding portion to below the containers held in the holding holes, wherein the leg portion is configured such that the containers in the holding holes are exposed in a bottom view, and wherein the container rack is configured such that when the container rack is installed in the rack installation portion of the specimen analysis device, movement of the containers held in the holding holes is restricted by the rack installation portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for measuring a biomarker in a biological sample of the IPAF patient, wherein the biomarker comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of CXCL9 and CXCL10, and a measurement result of the biomarker is used as an index for determining treatment responsiveness to anti-inflammatory therapy.

Abstract: A specimen analysis system includes: a measurement data acquisition unit that acquires measurement data of particles obtained from a flow cytometer measuring the particles contained in a measurement specimen prepared by adding a reagent to a sample; an output mode information acquisition unit that acquires output mode information indicating an output form of the measurement data; and an output unit configured to output the measurement data in the output form in accordance with the output mode information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a specimen transfer device connected to a rack transportation path of a specimen testing system, and the specimen transfer device includes: an ascending/descending mechanism configured to move a rack between a first ascending/descending position at which the rack in a first tier is disposed, and a second ascending/descending position at which the rack in a second tier is disposed; a container transfer mechanism configured to transfer a specimen container, to a second rack disposed in the second tier, from a first rack moved by the ascending/descending mechanism from the first ascending/descending position to the second ascending/descending position; a rack waiting region disposed in the first tier and configured to cause the rack to stay in a waiting state between the first ascending/descending position and a carrying-out position to the rack transportation path; and a first transportation mechanism configured to transport the first rack moved by the ascending/descending mechanism from the second

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving affinity of an antibody for an antigen, comprising, in an unmodified antibody, improving affinity for an antigen as compared to the unmodified antibody, by changing 18th, 20th and 22nd amino acid residues of a light chain defined by Kabat method to charged amino acid residues.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving affinity of an antibody for an antigen, comprising, in an unmodified antibody, improving affinity for an antigen as compared to the unmodified antibody, by changing 17th, 18th and 20th amino acid residues of a light chain defined by Kabat method to charged amino acid residues.