Abstract: This invention relates to a new and novel method for significantly enhancing the sensitivity of assays aimed at detecting the presence of target deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequences in a sample. Specifically, this method applies to techniques that employ polymerase chain reactions (PCR.RTM.) or other nucleic amplification techniques to amplify copies of the target DNA or RNA (via reverse-transcriptase followed by PCR, Murakawa et al. 1988 DNA 7-287) to allow for detection. The method of the present invention combines the following four steps for the first time: DNA amplicon synthesis and amplification in a modified nucleic acid amplification technique (eg. PCR) using a target nucleic acid sequence as a template; amplicon transcription into RNA sequences with amplification thereof to generate a significantly increased number complementary RNA sequences (i.e.

Abstract: An improved device is provided which may be used, e.g. for immunoassay of lipopolysaccharides or for removing LPS pyrogens from aqueous solutions, or for removing LPS endotoxins from wounds. Such device comprises, in combination, a substrate, e.g. plastic, i.e. polystyrene, polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate or polyvinyl chloride, or a woven cloth, i.e. a rayon/polyester cloth or a polyester cloth, or a non-woven cloth, i.e. a rayon/polyester cloth, or a polyester cloth, or paper, which is adapted to receive a sample to be tested, and an oligopeptide, or a hydrophobic polypeptide or a polymyxin, e.g. polymyxin B, polymyxin B.sub.1, polymyxin B.sub.2, polymyxin D.sub.1, polymyxin D.sub.2, or polymyxin E, adhered to the substrate.

Abstract: A device for immunological techniques is prepared containing a macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth having antibodies or antigens directly adsorbed therein and directly absorbed and immobilized thereon. The cloth has a thickness of more than about 200 .mu.m and has spaces between fibres exceeding about 20 .mu.m in diameter, and preferably has a Frazier Air permeability, in CFM/ft.sup.2 at 0.5" H.sub.2 O of from about 215 to about 750 for thickness of from about 11 to about 40 mils such that it can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area, that it has a large surface area, and that it has minimum flow resistance. In immunoassays antibodies may be directly adsorbed therein and directly absorbed and immobilized thereon, and specific antigens from a selected test sample, may then be captured by the antibodies, to be detected conventionally.

Abstract: An immunoassay device containing an immobilized antibody or antigen is provided by directly absorbing and absorbing an unmodified antibody or antigen on and within a woven or non-woven macroporous hydrophobic synthetic polymer cloth formed of a synthetic polymer selected from the group consisting of plypropylene, polyester, nylon and polyethylene. The cloth has a thickness of more than about 200 .mu.m and contains pores in the form of spaces between fibers exceeding about 20 .mu.m in diameter, and has a Frazier Air Permeability in CFM/ft.sup.2 at 0.5" H.sub.2 O of about 215 for a cloth of thickness of about 40 mils. The cloth has a large surface area for binding to an antibody or antigen and can accommodate a large volume of liquid per surface area and has minimum flow resistance.