Abstract: Provided is a dry reagent that allows measuring with good precision, in accordance with a transmission method that utilizes light of the ultraviolet region, increases or decreases of a nicotinamide coenzyme, in order to quantify a component contained in a liquid sample. A dry reagent 4 for performing a quantitative analysis of a specific component in a liquid sample S contains a nicotinamide coenzyme and a leveling agent for smoothing the dry reagent 4. Increases or decreases of the nicotinamide coenzyme are measured in accordance with a transmission method that utilizes light of the ultraviolet region. The leveling agent is a combination of an alkali and at least one type selected from among a saccharide and a surfactant.

Abstract: A lancet cartridge is provided with a skin contact section that is held in the interior of a lancet holder and that includes a second pricking opening. A first pricking opening is formed to a size such that a skin contact section can be accommodated therein. Upon pressing in the pricking direction, the skin contact section is accommodated in the first pricking opening, and the leading end section of a pricking member protrudes through the second pricking opening.

Abstract: A test piece transfer apparatus includes a transfer mechanism for transferring a test piece in a transfer direction. The transfer mechanism is provided with a test piece holder for holding the test piece, and with a driving portion. The test piece transfer apparatus further includes a test piece adjusting mechanism cooperating with the transfer mechanism for adjusting the direction of a test piece being transferred. The test piece holder includes a lower surface holding portion, an upstream holding portion and a downstream holding portion. The lower surface holding portion comes into contact with the lower surface of the test piece. The upstream holding portion is arranged on an upstream side of the test piece in the transfer direction. The downstream holding portion is arranged on a downstream side of the test piece in the transfer direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an immunoassay analyzer capable of discriminating between normal coloring due to a specific immunoreaction and abnormal coloring due to a cause other than the specific immunoreaction in a measurement region of a sample analysis tool. An immunoassay analyzer 1 of the present invention includes an optical detection unit 4 and a determination unit 5. The optical detection unit 4 includes an optical signal measurement unit for measuring an optical signal at each of two or more different wavelengths including a main wavelength for detecting color change due to the specific immunoreaction and a sub-wavelength(s) other than the main wavelength. The determination unit 5 includes a discrimination unit for comparing the respective optical signals at the two or more different wavelengths and discriminating between the color change due to the specific immunoreaction and color change due to a cause other than the specific immunoreaction based on a comparison criterion determined previously.

Abstract: A sample analyzer includes a first measurement unit, a second measurement unit, a detection section which detects information about an amount of a sample in a sample container before the first measurement unit aspirates the sample in the sample container, and a control section. Based on a detection result by the detection section and based on information about a predetermined sample amount necessary for performing both in the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit, when the control section has determined that the amount of the sample in the sample container is insufficient for the predetermined sample amount, the control section controls the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit so as not to aspirate the sample in the sample container.

Abstract: Provided is a substrate modification method that enables improvement of reproducibility in measurement with use of capillary electrophoresis. The substrate modification method includes immobilizing, to a substrate surface, at least two types of modification groups selected from three types of modification groups that are a type of a modification group having one functional group, a type of a modification group having two to nine functional groups, and a type of a modification group having ten or more functional groups.

Abstract: Provided are an analytical instrument and an analytical method that allow for the direct analysis of a target substance in an undiluted specimen by a transmission photometry in a tightly closed cell container space. An analytical instrument is an analytical instrument for analyzing a target substance contained in a specimen flown in the tightly closed cell container by utilizing an oxidative color-developing agent and an oxidative enzyme reaction, in which an upper substrate and a lower substrate are arranged facing each other and at least a part of the upper substrate and/or at least a part of the lower substrate are/is made of a material transmitting light used for the analysis and having oxygen transmission properties.

Abstract: Provided is a protein concentration assay method that uses a protein indicating reagent and that enables highly accurate assay. The protein concentration assay method includes: optically analyzing a color exhibited after a sample to be assayed and a protein indicating reagent are brought into contact with each other; measuring pH of the sample to be assayed; and assaying a concentration of protein in the sample based on the result of the optical analysis, the measured value of pH, and data for protein concentration assay, wherein the protein indicating reagent is a protein indicating reagent whose color varies with pH and a concentration of protein, and the data for protein concentration assay include information indicating a way to assay the result of the optical analysis corresponding to the measured value of pH.

Abstract: A modified pyrroloquinoline quinone glucose dehydrogenase that exhibits a high selectivity for glucose is provided. A modified pyrroloquinoline quinone glucose dehydrogenase is disclosed in which the amino acid residue G at Position 99 of a pyrroloquinoline quinone glucose dehydrogenase (PQQGDH) represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or the amino acid residue G at Position 100 of the pyrroloquinoline quinone glucose dehydrogenase (PQQGDH) represented by SEQ ID NO: 3, is substituted by the amino acid sequence TGZN (where Z is SX, S, or N and X is any amino acid residue). The modified PQQGDH of the present invention may additionally comprise one or more mutations selected from the group consisting of Q192G, Q192A, or Q192S; L193X; E277X; A318X; Y367A, Y367F, or Y367W; G451C; and N452X (where X is any amino acid residue).

Abstract: An analysis device of performing predetermined analysis processing to a sample. The analysis device includes: a first analysis unit, a second analysis unit and a simple analysis unit to perform at first analysis process to the sample, a second analysis process to the sample and a short-time analysis process to the sample, by which an analysis result is given in a shorter time than by the first analysis process, respectively; and a judging unit to judge, before a result of the first analysis process is given, whether or not to perform the second analysis process on a basis of a result of the first analysis process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a probe for detecting a polymorphism, a method of detecting a polymorphism, a method of evaluating the efficacy of a drug, and a reagent kit for detecting a polymorphism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of recovering a heavy metal by which the variation in heavy metal recovery rate among samples can be suppressed. A mixture of a sample and a chelating agent capable of chelating with a heavy metal is prepared. A complex between a heavy metal being in the sample and the chelating agent is formed in the presence of a masking agent for a thiol group in the mixture. The heavy metal in the sample is recovered by recovering the complex. By this method, a heavy metal can be recovered with suppressing the variation in the recovery rate among samples. The chelating agent preferably is 1,5-diphenyl-3-thiocarbazone (dithizone). As the masking agent, N-ethylmaleimide, iodoacetamide, iodoacetic acid, or the like can be used.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a probe for detecting a polymorphism, a method of detecting a polymorphism, a method of evaluating the efficacy of a drug, and a reagent kit for detecting a polymorphism.

Abstract: A lactate sensor capable of accurately measuring a lactate concentration in a short period of time. The lactate sensor includes an insulating substrate, an electrode system including at least a working electrode and a counter electrode provided on the substrate, and a reagent layer provided on the electrode system. The reagent layer contains lactate oxidase, it mediator, and N-(2-acetamide)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid.

Abstract: Provided is a glucose sensor that is capable of measuring a glucose concentration even in the case where Aspergillus oryzae type FAD-GDH (flavin adenine dinucleotide-glucose dehyrogenase) and a ruthenium compound are used in combination. The glucose sensor includes an insulative substrate, an electrode system having a working electrode and a counter electrode provided on the substrate, and a reagent layer provided on the electrode system, wherein the reagent layer contains Aspergillus oryzae type FAD-GDH, a ruthenium compound, and PMS (phenazine methosulfate).

Abstract: A method for taking a sample includes drawing blood into a vacuum blood collection tube and transferring at least part of the blood from the vacuum blood collection tube to a sample storage space of a dropper. The vacuum blood collection tube includes a sample storage portion and a stopper sealing the sample storage portion, and the drawing is performed by stabbing a hollow needle into the stopper. The dropper includes and internal space at least part of which is the sample storage space for storing a sample and which includes a volume changeable space defined, by an elastically deformable portion having flexibility. The dropper further includes an insertion portion including a through-hole connected to the internal space, and the transfer of the sample is performed by inserting the insertion portion into a through- formed in the stopper by the stabbing of the hollow needle into the stopper.

Abstract: An LDL cholesterol measurement method that can be used with a test piece is provided. The LDL cholesterol measurement method for measuring LDL cholesterol in a sample has (A) a step of providing a total-cholesterol measurement portion and a non-LDL cholesterol measurement portion for measuring non-LDL cholesterol, which is cholesterol other than LDL cholesterol; (B) a step of measuring the total cholesterol in the sample in the total-cholesterol measurement portion; (C) a step of measuring the non-LDL cholesterol in the sample in the non-LDL cholesterol measurement portion; and (D) a step of obtaining the LDL cholesterol level in the sample by subtracting the non-LDL cholesterol value measured in the step (C) from the total-cholesterol value measured in the step (B).

Abstract: A measured result reflecting a body condition of a user when measuring a blood sugar level can be displayed, and convenience of management of the blood sugar level of the user is improved. A blood sugar level measuring apparatus includes: a measuring unit to measure a blood sugar level of a user; a recording unit to record measurement data thereof; and a display unit capable of displaying a measured result on a display, wherein the improvement comprises: a condition flag setting unit to record, on the recording unit, a condition flag related to a body condition of the user when measuring the blood sugar level; and a display control unit to display the measured result recorded on the recording unit on the display on the basis of the condition flag set by the condition flag setting unit.

Abstract: A sample analyzer which transports and analyzes samples, includes: a first measurement apparatus which measures samples; a second measurement apparatus which is arranged downstream, in a transport direction, from the first measurement apparatus, and which measures samples; a transporting apparatus which transports samples to a first supply position for supplying a sample to the first measurement apparatus, and to a second supply position for supplying a sample to the second measurement apparatus; and a controller which controls transportation of a sample present at the first supply position, in accordance with a processing status of a sample present at the second supply position.