Abstract: Sulfate reducing bacteria are detected by preparing a lysate so as to release an enzyme essential to derive energy by reduction of sulfate such as adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase (APS reductase), containing the lysate with an antibody for the enzyme, and detecting the presence of the reaction product of the enzyme and the antibody. In one aspect, sulfate reducing bacteria are controlled responsive to such assay. In another aspect, a "test kit" is provided for carrying out the assay.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for determining the BZ-1 receptor activity of a test sample or a potential anxiolytic drug.

Abstract: There is described a unique instrument system employing a laser, having a polarized and collimated beam of radiation, which is split into a multitude of primary and secondary beams containing the same desirable properties of high collimation and monochromaticity. The secondary beams are used to measure simultaneously multiple antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) agglutinations reactions involving latex particles.

Abstract: Microbial activity in an aqueous medium is measured in a bioelectrochemical cell in which the working electrode comprises an electrically conductive carbon-bearing porous material; suitably a graphitized carbon felt or cloth. This enhances the BEC response by increasing the surface area and by absorbing microbes onto the surface; and the electrode material can also be used to preconcentrate the microbes prior to use as an electrode in the cell.

Abstract: An immunoassay device and a method of performing immunoassay using this immunoassay device are disclosed. The immunoassay device includes a plate substrate having a flat surface, a plurality of adjacent projections projecting on the flat surface of the plate substrate, and a plurality of immunoreaction regions formed by applying and fixing immunoassay reagents to and in flat regions defined by the adjacent projections. The immunoreaction regions are spaced apart from each other and have surface levels equal to or higher than a surface level of the plate substrate. The immunoassay device is used to simultaneously perform various types of immunoassay and requires a simple washing for immunoassay. Specimens do not flow out from the plate or mix with each other, and safe, accurate immunoassay can be performed.

Abstract: Methods for the detection and measurement of compounds containing beta-lactam rings by chemiluminescence of the compounds in the presence of a chemiluminescent compound such as luminol, and for improving the sensitivity of assays using chemiluminescent reactions such as the luminol reaction utilizing compounds containing beta-lactam rings are described. A kit for conducting such chemiluminescent assays is also described.

Abstract: Methods and kits are provided for detecting analytes, which can be measured directly or indirectly, by production of an enzymatic product. The enzymatic product reacts with a signal producing reagent bound to a bibulous strip. Various devices are employed for producing a reaction, directly or indirectly, with the analyte and then providing for migration of the product through the bibulous strip with reaction with the reagent to produce a detectable signal. The distance from a pre-determined site to the border of the detectable signal is a quantitative measure of the analyte in the sample.

Abstract: Living tissue lacking sufficient oxygenation due to conditions including anoxia and ischemia is treated with an aqueous solution containing acetoacetate in an amount sufficient for affording protection of the tissue from the effects of insufficient oxygenation. The solution may be in a form of an isotonic, hypertonic, perfusion, or cardioplegic solution and also may contain pyruvate and glycerol.

Abstract: An allergological test for detecting an allergic condition, said test consisting in contacting the mucous membrane direct with the allergen or the anti-IgE antibody linked to a solid phase, so that a rapid in situ incubation is obtained of the allergen or of the anti-IgE antibody with the mucous membrane antibodies, and in the successive in vitro determination of the specific or total IgE through radioimmunological or immunoenzymatic procedures. Said testing procedure is carried out by employing a plastic material application device comprising one or more receptacles or housing in which some supports are inserted, such supports bearing allergens or anti-IgE antibodies linked to the supports themselves. Said testing procedure can also be employed for performing a particular test of specific challenging.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzymatically-inactive, immunologically-active .beta.-galactosidase mutein, wherein, in the region between the amino acids 430 and 550, at least one amino acid of the natural sequence is changed to another amino acid and the enzymatic activity does not amount to more than 1%, referred to the native enzyme. The present invention also provides a process for the production of this mutein. Furthermore, the present invention is concerned with the use of this mutein in the immunological determination of serum proteins by the enzyme immunoassay principle.

Abstract: A micro-enzyme described immunosorbent assay (microELISA) method is described for detecting small amounts of thymosin alpha.sub.1 in a solution such as serum. The method uses a known amount of an antibody to the thymosin alpha.sub.1 which is reacted with the thymosin alpha.sub.1 in solution to form a first complex. The solution with the first complex and unreacted antibody is then contacted with thymosin alpha.sub.1 bound to a solid phase which quantitatively forms a second complex with the unreacted antibody. The amount of the second complex is determined and correlated with the amount of thymosin alpha.sub.1 of the solution. Thymosin alpha.sub.1 is an important hormone the presence or absence of which is significant clinically.

Abstract: Serum samples for vitamin B.sub.12 analysis can be pretreated using a combination of peroxy acid and dithiothreitol. The pretreatment makes vitamin B.sub.12 bound to serum binding proteins available for analysis by any of a variety of currently available assay techniques. The pretreatment finds particular use in an assay using solid phase intrinsic factor as a specific binding protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the determination of .alpha.-amylase by cleavage of a substrate in the presence of one or more auxiliary enzymes and measurement of a cleavage product, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of monoclonal antibodies against .alpha.-amylase.The present invention also provides a reagent for the determination of .alpha.-amylase containing a substrate, one or more auxiliary enzymes and a system for the measurement of a cleavage product, wherein it also contains at least one monoclonal antibody against .alpha.-amylase.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting specific binding pair assays, such as immunoassays, is described. A porous membrane capable of non-bibulous lateral flow is used as assay substrate; a member of the binding pair is affixed in an indicator zone defined in the substrate. The sample is applied at a position distant from the indicator zone and permitted to flow laterally through the zone; any analyte in the sample is complexed by the affixed specific binding member, and detected. A novel method of detection employs entrapment of observable particle in the complex. Blood is a particularly preferred sample as the red blood cells can be used as the observable particles for detection of the complex.

Abstract: A means for identifying C. jejuni, from stool specimens, by the extraction and agglutination of its soluble antigen(s). More specifically, bacteria are concentrated from fresh (unpreserved) stool specimens, soluble antigen is released--preferably either by a specified heating protocol or by the action of a particular enzyme--and the antigen is detected by agglutination upon exposure to monoclonal, polyclonal or other corresponding antibodies. The method of the invention not only fosters efficiency in the laboratory but also provides rapid diagnosis of the presence of C. jejuni, so that appropriate patient treatment may begin at the earliest opportunity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a screening assay for determining the amount of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD-1) in extra-cellular body fluids, for use in determining Trisomy 21 Down syndrome in a fetus. The assay can be done by any of a number of well known techniques including Radioimmunoassay, an Enzyme Linked Immunoassay, or a luminescence assay, single or tandem antibody type, carried out in solid or liquid phase. Polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies can be used. In the preferred embodiment, the assay is used to determine SOD-1 levels in amniotic fluid. A level above a threshold indicates a high probability of Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome for the fetus.

Abstract: A dry analytical element having functional layers which contain dehydrogenase, oxidized nicotinamide coenzyme, pyruvate, an electron transport compound and an electron acceptable dye-forming compound is disclosed. The improvement the analytical element resides in that the coenzyme and dye-forming compound are contained in one or two layers which are different from a layer containing pyruvate.

Abstract: An in vitro method for screening Glycine max cells for resistance to a disease caused by Phialophora gregata, brown stem rot, is disclosed. The method is useful for identifying brown stem rot resistant soybean varieties. Means for selecting mutant soybean cells for resistance to a toxin produced by P. gregata is also provided, as are cells and plants selected by this process. The invention involves culture of soybean calli in the presence of a filtrate of used fungal growth medium.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence of an analyte in a fluid is described along with various components of an apparatus specifically designed to carry out the method. The method involves taking a reflectance reading from one surface of an inert porous matrix impregnated with a reagent that will interact with the analyte to produce a light-absorbing reaction product when the fluid being analyzed is applied to another surface and migrates through the matrix to the surface being read. Reflectance measurements are made at two separate wavelengths in order to eliminate interferences, and a timing circuit is triggered by an initial decrease in reflectance by the wetting of the surface whose reflectance is being measured by the fluid which passes through the inert matrix. The method and apparatus are particularly suitable for the measurement of glucose levels in blood without requiring separation of red blood cells from serum or plasma.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with novel monoclonal antibodies which bind to Interleukin-1.beta. and do not bind to Interleukin-1.beta.. The antibodies bind to Interleukin-1.beta. and block receptor binding and biological activity. The antibodies find use in, for example, diagnostic methods such as an assay for the detection of Interleukin-1.beta..