Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods, medical profiles, kits and apparatus for use in determining the risk that a pregnant individual has for developing pre-eclampsia based on amounts of certain biochemical markers in a biological sample from the individual and biophysical markers. The disclosure also relates to methods, medical profiles, kits and apparatus for use in determining the risk that a pregnant individual is carrying a fetus having a chromosomal abnormality based on amounts of certain biochemical markers in a biological sample from the individual and biophysical markers.

Abstract: A method for diminishing variation between and/or within individual sheets of filter papers which are suitable for collecting samples of biological material, e.g. blood, is described. The method includes at least one of the following: subjecting the sheets of filter paper to gaseous substance containing at least 30 grams water per cubic meter and/or wetting the sheets of filter paper with water and subsequently drying the sheets of filter paper. According to tests, the above-described treatment significantly reduces the undesirable variation between results analyzed from sheets of filter paper and impregnated with same biological material for test purposes.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods, medical profiles, kits and apparatus for use in determining the risk that a pregnant individual has for developing pre-eclampsia based on amounts of certain biochemical markers in a biological sample from the individual and biophysical markers. The disclosure also relates to methods, medical profiles, kits and apparatus for use in determining the risk that a pregnant individual is carrying a fetus having a chromosomal abnormality based on amounts of certain biochemical markers in a biological sample from the individual and biophysical markers.

Abstract: A device for cutting off one or more sample regions from a sample carrier that contains impregnated sample material, e.g. blood, is described. The device includes: a cutting unit (103) for cutting off the one or more sample regions from the sample carrier, an optical imaging unit (101) for producing an electronic image of the sample carrier, and a processor (102) for controlling a display screen (108) to display the image (104) and one or more indicators (105, 105?) each expressing the location of one sample region to be cut off. Thus, an operator of the device is enabled to monitor, without direct visual communication to the sample carrier, what region or regions of the sample carrier is/are to be cut off. As no direct visual communication with the sample carrier is needed, the working ergonomics of the operator can be improved.

Abstract: The present technology discloses biotinidase assay, biotinidase substrates (I) and a kit wherein the biotinidase substrate includes a label molecule separated from the biotin carbamoyl group by a linker X longer than about 4 ? but shorter than about 27 ?.

Abstract: A device for cutting off one or more sample regions from a sample carrier that contains impregnated sample material, e.g. blood, is described. The device comprises: a cutting unit (101) for cutting off the one or more sample regions from the sample carrier, a support element (102) for supporting a sample well element (117) so that a sample well of the sample well element is able to receive each sample region cut off from the sample carrier, and an ionizer (103) for ionizing gas, e.g. air, that is, when the sample well element has been placed to the support element, in contact with the sample well element so as to discharge possible static electricity from the sample well element with the aid of the ionized gas. Therefore, the adverse effect of static electricity that can be present in the sample well element can be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: An apparatus and a system for filtering a liquid sample in a sample well (310) by transferring the liquid out of the sample well (310) through a filter member (320) situated at a bottom part of the sample well (310). The apparatus and the system include a syringe (100), and a seal member (200) arranged around a nozzle (140) of the syringe (100) in such a way that the syringe (100) is adjustable in connection with an upper part of the sample well (310) in a substantially airtight manner. A method for filtering a liquid sample and use of the system for filtering eluted blood are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for determining from a sample carrier containing an impregnated biological sample a sample region to be removed. The method comprises optically imaging the sample carrier into a digital matrix form, where the optical brightness of each physical location of the sample is represented by elements of the matrix; determining a first threshold value at least partly on the basis of the elements of the matrix; and calculating coordinates corresponding to the sample region to be removed from the sample carrier, the coordinates being such that the sample region contains only areas of the sample carrier having an optical brightness lower than or equal to said first threshold value. The invention allows for more efficient use of samples in sample cards.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes: an excitation light source (120) arranged to produce an excitation beam for at least one of samples to be measured and a detector (132) arranged to detect an emission beam emitted by one of the samples to be measured and to produce a detection signal responsive to the detected emission beam. The optical measurement instrument further includes an arrangement for controlling temperature of the samples to be measured. The arrangement includes: one or more temperature sensors (176) for producing one or more temperature signals responsive to temperature of a measurement chamber (170) of the optical measurement instrument, one or more heating resistors (171-175) arranged to warm the measurement chamber, and a controller (177) arranged to control electrical power supplied to the heating resistors on the basis of the one or more temperature signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated method of nucleic acid analysis, and more particularly to a simplified sample pre-treatment, which renders the method more easily automated, where the sample is provided on or applied onto a solid matrix and the subsequent amplification and detection steps are performed in one single, sealed reaction vial without removing the matrix.

Abstract: A device for cutting off one or more sample regions from a sample carrier that contains impregnated sample material, e.g. blood, is described. The device comprises: a cutting unit (101) for cutting off the one or more sample regions from the sample carrier, a support element (102) for supporting a sample well element (117) so that a sample well of the sample well element is able to receive each sample region cut off from the sample carrier, and an ionizer (103) for ionizing gas, e.g. air, that is, when the sample well element has been placed to the support element, in contact with the sample well element so as to discharge possible static electricity from the sample well element with the aid of the ionized gas. Therefore, the adverse effect of static electricity that can be present in the sample well element can be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: This invention relates to a group of novel chelating agents, novel chelates, biomolecules labeled with said chelates or chelating agents as well as solid supports conjugated with said chelates, chelating agents or labeled biomolecules. Especially the invention relates to novel chelating agents useful in solid phase synthesis of oligonucleotides or oligopeptides and the oligonucleotides and oligopeptides so obtained.

Abstract: The present description relates to a method for determining the risk of a pregnant woman developing a hypertensive disorder, more specifically gestational hyper-tension or late onset preeclampsia. The present description provides methods useful for determining risk that a pregnant individual will develop a hypertensive disorder or condition of pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension, early preeclampsia, late preeclampsia and related disorders. Several useful combinations of biochemical markers and related clinical population studies are described herein. Additionally, it is proposed herein that certain sets of biochemical markers can be used to determine risk of multiple hypertensive disorders in a single screen. The biochemical markers are PlGF, Activin A and optionally P-Selectin.

Abstract: This invention concerns novel labeling reactants based on azacycloalkanes, wherein a suitable group is linked to the molecule allowing introduction of the said molecules to bioactive molecules in solution or on solid phase.

Abstract: This invention relates to a group of novel chelating agents, novel chelates, biomolecules labeled with said chelates or chelating agents as well as solid supports conjugated with said chelates, chelating agents or labeled biomolecules. Especially the invention relates to novel chelating agents useful in solid phase synthesis of oligonucleotides or oligopeptides and the oligonucleotides and oligopeptides so obtained.

Abstract: A lens and reflector unit for optical measurements includes first and second convex surface sections of the lens and reflector unit. Both have their respective central normal lines. A first flat surface section has a normal direction that divides the angle between the central normal lines into equal halves. A third convex surface section has a third central normal line, and the fourth convex surface section has a fourth central normal line. A second flat surface section has a normal direction that divides the angle between the third and fourth central normal lines into to equal halves.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument, which is equipped with transportation protection, includes a body structure (201), a mechanical support element(202) for supporting an optical interface, a moveably supported receptable element (211) for receiving a sample plate and located between the mechanical support element and the body structure, and a detachable transportation protection element (212-215) arranged to mechanically restrict movements of the receptable element and the mechanical support element. The transportation protection element is arranged to be pressed between the mechanical support element (202) and the body structure (201). Hence, for the transportation protection, there is no need to use e.g. a bolt that may be more laborious to install and remove than the transportation protection element to be pressed between the mechanical support element (202) and the body structure (201).

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes one or more temperature sensors (122) arranged to measure sample well specific temperatures from sample wells (111-117) arranged to store samples (103-109) to be optically measured. A processing device (121) of the optical measurement instrument is arranged to correct, using a pre-determined mathematical rule, measurement results obtained by the optical measurements on the basis of the measured sample well specific temperatures. Hence, the adverse effect caused by temperature differences between different samples on the accuracy of the temperature correction of the measurement results is mitigated.

Abstract: A body module of an optical measurement instrument includes: a reception device (201) for receiving samples, a first plate (202), a second plate (203) substantially parallel with the first plate and movably supported relative to the first plate in a direction perpendicular to the first and second plates, and walls extending from outer edges of the first plate to outer edges of the second plate. The reception device is located in a measurement chamber constituted by the walls and the first and second plates. At least the second plate includes a fastening interface provided with an aperture. The fastening interface is suitable for an optical module to be mounted to the second plate. The measuring chamber provides protection against undesired stray light from surroundings. The movability of the second plate allows adjustment of a distance between a sample and an optical module mounted to the second plate.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes a measurement head and mechanical support elements arranged to support a sample well plate. The measurement head is moved towards the sample well plate and, after the measurement head has touched the sample well plate, the measurement head is moved backwards away from the sample well plate so as to provide a desired distance between the measurement head and the sample well plate. A sensor device is attached to the mechanical support elements and arranged detect a mechanical effect occurring in the mechanical support elements due to force directed by the measurement head to the sample well plate. Hence, the situation in which the measurement head touches the sample well plate can be detected without a need to provide the measurement head with a force sensor. This is advantageous because the measurement head can be a changeable module of the optical measurement instrument.