Abstract: The invention relates to a fusion protein having epitopes of at least two of the autoantigens glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), islet cell antigen (IA2) and preproinsulin (PPINS) wherenin said epitopes are connected with a linker peptide. The fusion protein must be able to bind to a solid phase. The invention also concerns the cDNA, and a vector and cell comprising said cDNA. Furthermore, this invention relates to the use of said fusion protein in an immunoassay for the simultaneous detection of autoantibodies related to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: An imaging device for biochemical or medical samples, the pulse mode light source of which incorporates flash lamps and a rotating mirror in an inclined position, the said mirror reflecting the light emitted by each flash lamp in turn along the same optical path to the sample. The flash lamps are switched on alternately in phases and synchronised with the rotating mirror and the emission light chopper, which comprises two rotating discs. The turning mirror directs the light at the sample from above and/or below, in which case a double-acting transparent scattering plate can be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a multichannel pipetting system that can be used with a plurality of well plates used for medical, biological or biochemical research involving liquid materials. The system includes a multichannel pipettor and novel pipette tips having a crown that can be fitted over the opening of more than one channel. The multichannel pipettor may optionally be provided with an array of air pressure channels placed among the array of pipetting channels and enables the pipettor to aspirate and dispense a crude large volume of liquid material through the novel pipette tips of the present invention.

Abstract: Bifuncitonal chelating pyridine compound and its use for conferring chelating properties on organic compounds. The pyridine compound has the structure ##STR1## where (i) n is an integer 1 or 2,(ii) R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 represent groups that have no electrons capable of significantly delocalizing or resonating with the pyridine ring, such as hydrogen, alkyl or aralkyl having an aliphatic carbon atom next to the pyridine ring; at least two of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.

Abstract: A method for handling a microplate, in which liquid (22) is dosed into a sample well (21) and the liquid is removed and, if necessary, the sample wells are further washed and/or rinsed. According to the invention, the liquid to be dosed is dosed into the sample well (21) of the sample plate (10), after which the sample plate is centrifuged so that the centrifugal force is exerted towards the bottom of the sample well to remove air bubbles, and/or the sample plate is centrifuged so that the centrifugal force is exerted away from the bottom of the sample well to empty the sample plate. The device relating to the invention comprises a dosing device and at least one centrifuge (24). In dosing, a distributing valve (14) and a dosing nozzle (12) are usually needed, and where necessary, a vibrator device (32, 33) to bring the liquid (22) in the sample well (21) of the sample plate (10) into a motion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel labeling reactant, suitable for labeling of a biospecific binding reactant using solid-phase synthesis. The invention further concerns new labeling methods. The novel labeling reactant has the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein -A- is a bivalent aromatic structure capable of absorbing light or energy and transferring the excitation energy to a lanthanide ion after the product made by the said solid-phase synthesis has been released from the used solid support, deprotected and converted to a lanthanide chelate;-G- is a bridge replacing a hydrogen atom in A;R is a protected amino acid residue --CH(NHX)COOH, where X is a transient protecting group, or its active ester, where said ester is e.g. an N-hydroxysuccinimido, p-nitrophenol or pentafluorophenol ester; andR' is --COOR'" where R'" is an alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, phenyl or benzyl, which phenyl or benzyl can be substituted or unsubstituted.

Abstract: There is disclosed a microplate affording an array of discrete, separate sample wells in which each sample well consists of a well of a first polymer composition, the well having side walls and a base, and being located in a matrix of a second polymer composition, the second polymer composition being opaque, the said matrix shrouding the side walls of the said well and extending beyond the ends of the side walls of the wells, each well being thermally bonded to the matrix of the second polymer composition, so as to form an integral structure.

Abstract: A compact optical instrument for performing various laboratory measurements utilizing different technologies of spectroscopy, i.e., photoluminescence, absorption and chemical luminescence, from liquid and solid samples. The measuring head of the instrument includes a continuous wave lamp unit (cw-lamp unit), a photometric detector unit and an emission unit and further includes an optomechanical coupling unit having at least one movable or replaceable mirror for allowing the optical path of the measurement or optimizing the optical path of the measurement. A controller including electronics and computer interface are also provided.

Abstract: A non-competitive method for the determination of analytes. Initially the analyte is bound to a specific binding partner, after which the unoccupied binding sites of the binding partner are inactivated. The bound analyte is then dissociated from the binding partner and replaced by a labeled marker, after which the bound labeled marker is determined. The signal from the bound labeled marker is directly proportional to the initial amount of analyte in the sample, which makes the present method more favorable than the competitive assays.

Abstract: The invention is a luminescence energy transfer based bioaffinity assay comprising a first group labeled with an energy donating compound (donor) and a second group labeled with an energy accepting compound (acceptor), wherein the donor is a luminescent lanthanide chelate having a long excited state lifetime and the acceptor is either a luminescent compound having a short excited state lifetime or a nonluminescent compound. The increase or decrease, respectively, in the energy transfer from the donor to the acceptor resulting from shortening or lengthening, respectively, of the distance between the said groups, is measured. Characteristic for the invention is that the lanthanide energy emission and the acceptor energy absorption do not essentially or not at all overlap each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to a detectable molecule comprising a biospecific binding reactant attached to a luminescent lanthanide chelate comprising a lanthanide ion and a chelating ligand of the formula ##STR1## wherein --A-- is a bivalent aromatic structure selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## One of the two groups G.sub.1 or G.sub.2 is used for coupling the chelate to a biospecific binding reactant. The lanthanide ion is europium(III), terbium(III), dysprosium (III) or samarium (III).

Abstract: A multi-purpose optical scanner that is provided for performing different type of high sensitivity imaging of planar biochemical samples. These types of samples include stimulable phosphor image plates, fluorescently labelled samples like electrophoretic gels, TLC-plates, blots etc. or multi-well support of samples and colored planar samples. According to an embodiment of the present invention the multi-purpose optical scanner comprises a measurement unit, a sample support and a scanning mechanics to provide relative movements between the sample on the sample support and the measurement unit. The measurement unit includes a fiber-coupled light source and a measuring head having a fixed light source, a detector, optics and a holder for interchangeable and application specifics filter cubes. The filter cubes include necessary filters and beamsplitters for different operating modes and applications. The orientation of the beamsplitter in the specific filter cube determines which light source will be in use.

Abstract: Method for a homogeneous biospecific affinity assay for determining the content of a substance (analyte) in a biological sample. The assay is carried out in an aqueous reaction medium by means of time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and with a biospecific affinity reactant labeled with a lanthanide chelate in which a lanthanide ion exhibiting ionic fluorescence is chelated by a ligand bound covalently to the reactant. The characteristic feature is(i) that the lanthanide chelate formed by the lanthanide ion together with the covalently bound ligand forms a fluorescent chelate, and(ii) that a modulator is added which stabilizes the lanthanide chelate so that the lanthanide fluorescence as measured from the medium becomes a practically pure function of the analyte concentration therein.

Abstract: Lanthanide chelates which contain three heterocyclic rings covalently coupled to each other (either one 2,6-pyridylene and two five-membered unsaturated heterocyclic ring moieties or two 2,6-pyridylene and one five-membered unsaturated heterocyclic ring moiety) and two chelating groups so seated that they together chelate the same lanthanide ion even in aqueous solutions. These lanthanide chelates can optionally contain a reactive group for coupling to biologically active molecules. The new chelates are suitable for classical lanthanide chelate applications and are also useful as probes in time-resolved fluorescence microscopy, cytometry, multilabelling techniques and in process controls in industry.

Abstract: A gain stabilization system for photomultiplier tubes using a pulsed light source, preferably a light emitting diode (LED), the signal of which is detected at the cathode and at the anode. The gain of photomultiplier tube is stabilized by keeping the ratio between the two signals constant.

Abstract: Method for handling blood samples (32) wherein a blood sample is absorbed into a filter paper (30) and a sample piece (36) is taken from the filter paper from the opposite side of the absorption side. The sample piece is placed in a sample well of an uncoated micro titration plate (45) and is dissolved in a liquid so that a sample solution is formed in the well. The sample solution is transferred to a second micro titration plate (52-54) coated for the analysis. The apparatus comprises a camera (43), which identifies the filter paper (30), locates the blood sample (32), and informs the punch (47) of the location of the sample. The filter paper (30) is placed in a package, (22) having openings (25) for absorbing and punching of the sample and the covering (23) is provided with a bar code (29).

Abstract: A method of conducting assays for analytes, usually from biological samples, utilizing bioaffinity reagents linked to luminescent lanthanide chelates, which are synthesized so that the non-radiative quenching of the ion luminescence through C--H bond vibrational energy manifolds is avoided using a stable chelate where the CH and CH.sub.2 groups in the vicinity of the emittive ion are substituted with CD and CD.sub.2 groups hence producing improved luminescence quantum yield and higher assay sensitivities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a DNA molecule with the sequence coding for a mammalian luteinizing hormone wherein the codon for the amino acid located at position 8 of the LH.beta. chain is replaced by a codon for arginine or the codon for isoleucine at position 15 of the LH.beta. chain is replaced by a codon for threonine.

Abstract: A device for counting liquid scintillation samples which can count a single sample or several samples simultaneously. A transport system moves samples from a storage section to a counting section. The samples are placed on sample plate holders to assist the transport system in movement of the sample from the storage section to the counting section.

Abstract: A method and a liquid scintillation counter for measuring a sample, a mixture of the specimen to be analysed and a scintillator, in a liquid scintillation counter where the sample (14) is measured with two photo multiplier tubes (23, 24) situated on different sides of the sample. The photo multiplier tubes situated on different sides of the sample operate in coincidence. Asymmetric samples are measured in such a way that the counting efficiency is measured with the photo multiplier tubes (23, 24) operating in coincidence ad calculated using the amount of coincidence pulses, whereas the amplitude and the pulse height distribution are measured only with one photo multiplier tube (23 or 24).