Abstract: This invention concerns novel labeling reactants, which are derivatives of macrocyclic chelators and which allow site specific introduction of the ligand of said derivatives to oligonucleotides molecules on solid phase.

Abstract: This invention concerns novel labeling reactants suitable for labeling of a biospecific binding reactant using solid-phase synthesis. The novel reactants are derivatives of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), wherein a suitable group is linked to the DTPA molecule, thus allowing site specific introduction of the ligand of said derivatives to bioactive molecules on solid phase in an oligopeptide synthesizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enhancement solution for an assay technology using lanthanide ions or their chelates as labels and dissociative fluorescence enhancement as a tool for detection, wherein said enhancement solution comprises a ?-diketone of formula I wherein R1 is an aryl, optionally mono- or multi-substituted, and R2 is a straight or branched alkyl chain with 2 to 9 carbon atoms substituted with four or more fluorine atoms. The invention further relates to a bioaffinity assay using lanthanide ions or their chelates as labels and dissociative fluorescence enhancement as a tool for detection comprising the use of said enhancement solution.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for focus detection in an optical measuring apparatus. The invention is applicable to focus detection for measuring biological or chemical samples or for compiling an image. The position of a focus for an objective lens in a microscope can be measured more precisely than before. Another aim is to decrease scatter-inflicted interferences in the focusing of samples with a microscope and to reduce reflected light which disturbs focus detection. The aims are accomplished with an inventive solution, in which light reflecting from a measured object is occluded with a mask, positioned essentially in an image plane, and in which, at a suitable distance downstream of the mask, is a detector detecting the space distribution of light. According to a second aspect of the invention, the aims are achieved by a method and arrangement, wherein disturbing reflected light is eliminated by utilizing the polarization of light.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of biochemical laboratory instrumentation for different applications of measuring properties of samples on e.g. microtitration plates and corresponding sample supports. The object of the invention is achieved by providing an optical measurement instrument for photoluminescence, chemiluminescence and/or AlphaScreen measurements wherein different optical modules are used for alternative measurements. The excitation pulses for the alternative measurements are guided via two different routes to optical modules, the routes reaching the module in different angles. This way it is possible to use alternative radiation sources without optical switches and without changing the optical system. The object of the invention is further achieved by providing an additional lens in the optical module when a thermo plate is used. This way it is possible to achieve a correct optical focus in different measurement modes not depending on the use of the thermo plate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a biospecific assay method, in which microparticles coated with the bioaffinity reactant A binding the analyte to be assayed; the sample to be analyzed, and the labelled bioaffinity reactant B are mixed. After the binding reaction the signal strength from the labelled bioaffinity reactant B bound to the microparticles is quantitated for the determination of the concentration of the analyte in the sample. According to the invention, such an amount of sample and microparticles is used in the assay that after binding of the analyte of the sample to the said amount of microparticles, each individual microparticle will emit such a signal strength as to allow the measurement of the analyte concentration over the whole range of typical analyte concentrations, and the signal strength from each microparticle is measured separately.

Abstract: The invention applies to the binning procedure of data, which is measured with a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor unit. There is created a solution for measurement of radiation, in which a good signal-to-noise value is achieved, and still it is possible to exploit standard CCD units. This is achieved by selecting the binning areas on the basis of position of defected pixels (461, 462) in a CCD unit (411). One idea is to determine the locations of the defected pixels and to use this information for determining pixel groups that form the super pixels. In a preferable embodiment super pixels (A1–A5, B1–B5, C1–C5, D1–D5, E1–E5) are first determined using a selected binning factor, and those super pixels that would be affected by defected pixels are then reduced into one or more smaller super pixels (B2i–E2i, B2k–E2k, C4i–E4i), which are not affected by the defects.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel time-resolved lanthanide-based energy transfer assay utilizing non-overlapping acceptor fluorophores, having their absorption maximum energetically at higher level than the main emittive energy level of the donor. In this assay the lifetime of the energy transfer enhanced acceptor signal is partially independent of the energy transfer rate. The use of non-overlapping acceptors enables an anti-Stokes' shift FRET measurement, in which the acceptor emission is created and measured at a shorter wavelength than the actual donor emission.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of biochemical laboratory. More particularly the invention relates to more reliable, intelligent instrumental features of equipment used as e.g. fluorometers, photometers and luminometers. The object of the invention is achieved by providing an optical measurement instrument where a selectable optical component is identified by the measurement instrument. The instrument therefore has means for identifying an optical component by e.g. reading a code from the component. The object is also achieved by a changeable/selectable optical component such as optical module or filter for a measurement instrument, the component comprising a readable identification means. The identification comprises information on the type/properties of the optical component so that the components suitability for a selected measurement can be verified.

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: The invention relates to a novel labeling reactant of formula (I) suitable for labeling an oligonucleotide wherein: R is a temporary protecting group. A is either a phosphorylating moiety or a solid support tethered to a bridge point Z via a linker arm E. E? is a linker arm between G and Z. G is a bivalent aromatic structure, tethered to two iminodiacetic acid ester groups N(COOR??)2 or G is a structure selected from a group consisting of G is a protected functional group. The invention further concerns a method for direct attachment of a conjugate group to an oligonucleotide structure enabling the attachment of a desired number of these groups during chain assembly. The method comprises a Mitsonobu alkylation.

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 invention relates to a method for improving the detection sensitivity in homogenous TR-FRET based bioaffinity assays. The sensitivity is improved by the use of long lifetime donors together with a high energy transfer efficiency and by carrying out the detection of the energy transfer based emission of the acceptor in a time window which is opened after a delay of 1 microsecond or more, but less than 50 microseconds, calculated from the donor excitation, and which time window has a width of 1 microsecond or more, but less than 100 microseconds. The invention concerns also the use of the improved method in multianalyte assays. Furthermore, the invention concerns a device suitable for carrying out the improved method.

Abstract: The present invention provides an assay, suitable for neonatal screening of hemoglobinopathies by quantitatively determining the presence of at least one pair of hemoglobin (Hb) variants, determining the ratio between the signals obtained from each variant; and, based on that ratio, determining whether the tested subject is afflicted or not.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of biochemical laboratory. More particularly the invention relates to the improved and more accurate instrumental features of equipment used as e.g. fluorometers, photometers and luminometers. The object of the invention is achieved by providing an optical measurement instrument where there is an interface (218, 223, 233a, 233b, 238) for a changeable optical module (240), and excitation and/or emission beam is guided through an aperture of the optical module. This allows performing various types of measurements by changing an optical module without a problem lenses becoming unclean due to manual handling of the optical modules. The invention also makes possible to achieve an accurate measurement location and area within a sample.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for focus detection in an optical measuring apparatus. The invention is applicable to focus detection for measuring biological or chemical samples or for compiling an image. The position of a focus for an objective lens in a microscope can be measured more precisely than before. Another aim is to decrease scatter-inflicted interferences in the focusing of samples with a microscope and to reduce reflected light which disturbs focus detection. The aims are accomplished with an inventive solution, in which light reflecting from a measured object is occluded with a mask, positioned essentially in an image plane, and in which, at a suitable distance downstream of the mask, is a detector detecting the space distribution of light. According to a second aspect of the invention, the aims are achieved by a method and arrangement, wherein disturbing reflected light is eliminated by utilizing the polarization of light.

Abstract: A method for checking the operation of a laboratory instrument used in biochemistry by means of an individual test plate (10) by comparing measured values of sample units (20, 21) placed in the wells (12) of the frame plate (11) to previously known measured values verified by a reference device. The sample unit (20) placed in the frame plate (11) of the test plate (10) is a teflon plastic cup (22) provided with an aluminum cover (23), the sample material (24) in powdery form being placed in said cup, or an optical filter (21), which is locked in place by means of a locking spring ring (25).

Abstract: A method and a multichannel pipetting apparatus (40) for simultaneous pipetting of a plurality of sample wells (44) or containers. The pipetting channels (12) of the apparatus have been divided into groups, which are connected via an adapter (30) containing a plurality of channels (31) to pipetting tips (20) of a known type. By changing the adapter or the adapter zone (22), a suitable configuration for different sample plates (42) or containers is selected.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of biochemical laboratory. More particularly the invention relates to the improved and more efficient instrumental features of equipment used as e.g. fluorometers, photometers and luminometers. The object of the invention is achieved by providing an optical measurement instrument where there is an interface (218, 223, 233a, 233b, 238) for a changeable optical module (240), the interface being adapted for at least one excitation beam and at least two emission beams. This allows performing various types of measurements by changing an optical module. The change of module and related parameters can be performed automatically controlled by software. It is also possible to easily upgrade the instrument for new types of measurements by just providing the instrument with a new optical module and the related software.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the processing of measured data. Especially the invention applies to the binning procedure of data which is measured with a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor unit. The invention is preferably used in photometrics for measuring radiation from samples on a well plate. It is the objective of the present invention to create a solution, in which a good signal-to-noise value is achieved, and the measuring results of the neighbouring sample wells can still be well separated. This objective is achieved in photometrics application by selecting the binning factor on the basis of position and size of sample wells on a well plate (530, 550). With the present invention it is possible to achieve a maximal signal-to-noise ratio, because all pixels within the image area of one sample are accumulated. However, since the pixels between the sample images are not accumulated with the pixels within the sample images (526, 546), the problem of interference between samples can be avoided.