Abstract: The invention relates to a method of identifying N-terminal proBNP in a sample with at least two antibodies that detect different epitopes of the N-terminal proBNP. The method is used to differentiate or classify samples of healthy individuals and samples of patients of NYHA classes I to IV. The invention further relates to recombinant N-terminal proBNP, its use as standard in a method of identifying N-terminal proBNP, to antibodies that detect recombinant N-terminal proBNP and to their production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to determining the prethrombotic state, in particular determining an amount or presence of circulating microparticles and/or stimulated procoagulant cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of detection and measurement of advanced glycosylation endproducts (AGEs), in particular to methods of selection and/or quality control of a reagent or a coated solid phase component appropriate for AGE-assays. It also relates to a process for production of an AGE-free solid phase component, the solid phase component, and to the use of such solid phase component.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an improved method for the determination of fibrin in body fluids in which before the actual determination the sample solution containing fibrin is incubated in the presence of thiocyanate, iodide, magnesium or/and guanidinium ions.

Abstract: In order to determine antithrombin III in body fluids by reacting the sample with thrombin and a chromogenic substrate which forms a colour by the action of thrombin and measurement of the colour formed, the reaction is carried out in the presence of denaturing agents or of the tetrapeptide Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro and an oligopeptide is used as the substrate which has a sensitivity to thrombin which is a factor of 5 to 100-fold lower compared With Tos-Gly-Pro-Arg-pNA

Abstract: The present invention provides a dry reagent for blood coagulation tests in which an at least partial course of the coagulation cascade takes place, comprising a carrier material which contains a chromophoric substrate of a protease of the blood coagulation system, at least one factor and/or co-factor of the blood coagulation system and a buffer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the photometric determination of protein C and/or protein S activity, especially in plasma, wherein the sample containing the protein C and/or protein S to be determined is incubated with a protein C activator from snake venom with the formation of activated protein C and/or protein S and the decrease of the formation of thrombin from prothrombin brought about by the coagulation factors and the activators thereof is determined by means of a chromogenic thrombin substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an analysis element for the determination of coagulation parameters with the help of a detectable or a detection reaction-initiating substrate of a protease of the blood coagulation system and at least one factor and/or co-factor of the blood coagulation system and a buffer substance, wherein the factor and/or co-factor, together with a water-soluble, non-ionic polymer which does not falsely influence the course of the coagulation cascade, is impregnated on an open, planar composite structure which consists of a material which does not have a disturbing influence on the course of the coagulation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the photometric determination of prekallikrein in plasma, wherein plasma is incubated with a surface activator, the extinction obtained is measured, a chromogenic thrombin substrate is then added thereto, the optically determinable group liberated therefrom is measured at short time intervals or continuously and the gradient of the linear part of the curve obtained by plotting the time against the extinction is determined as a measure of the prekallikrein content. The partial thromboplastin time of plasma is simultaneously determined by carrying out the incubation in the presence of calcium ions and a phospholipid and measuring the time it takes the extinction to reach a predetermined level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the determination of fibrin monomer in plasma, wherein a plasma sample containing fibrin monomer and freed from plasmin inhibitors is incubated in buffered solution with tissue plasminogen activator (EPA), plasminogen and a chromogenic plasmin substrate and the color formed is measured as a measure of the amount of fibrin monomer.The present invention also provides a reagent for the determination of fibrin monomer in plasma, wherein it contains plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator (EPA), chromogenic plasmin substrate and buffer (pH 7.0 to 9.0).

Abstract: For the determination of antithrombin-BM an antithrombin-BM-cofactor, thrombin and a determinable thrombin substrate are added to a sample solution and the splitting of the thrombin substrate is determined as a measure for the antithrombin-BM activity, whereby heparin, xylan, .lambda.-carrageenan, dextran sulphate, mucopolysaccharide polysulphuric acid esters, pentosan polysulphates or short-chained heparin derivatives produced by the chemical or enzymatic splitting of heparin are used as cofactors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stabilized thrombin preparation in solid or dissolved form, especially for analytical purposes, containing, as a stabilizer, serum albumin together with at least one protease inhibitor and at least one chelate former.

Abstract: Method and reagent for the determination of the biological activity of heparin in plasma by adding thrombin or Factor X.sub.a as the proteolytic enzyme and a chromogen substrate of the latter and measuring the dye liberated from the chromogen substrate in the absence of exogenous anti-thrombin III, the improvement consisting of adding, additionally, at least one compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is oxygen or the group NR.sub.5 ;and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are independently selected from hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 2 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A control reagent for heparin activity determination comprising20 to 1500 USP heparin,2000 to 30000 IU antithrombin III,0.15 to 1.5 millimoles serum albumin,0.005 to 0.05 mole ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid sodium salt,0 to 0.4 mole saccharose,2000 to 20000 U aprotinin, andbuffer substance, pH 6.5 to 7.5,per liter of control reagent solution.

Abstract: A method for determining biologically active heparin comprising adding, in the absence of exogenous antithrombin III, a proteolytic enzyme selected from the group consisting of thrombin and factor Xa and a chromogen substrate for the enzyme to a heparin sample, measuring the dye released from the chromogen substrate and thus determining the amount of heparin present.

Abstract: Enzymes, particularly labile enzymes, and most particularly microorganism derived labile enzymes, are stabilized by adding thereto a stabilizing agent comprising a protein fraction obtained by extracting yeast with water at 80.degree. to 100.degree. C., mixing the clear extract with 5 - 20% wt./vol. trichloracetic acid and separating the precipitate obtained.