Abstract: There are provided an automated analysis device and a reagent storage unit capable of opening a reagent container lid without requiring a large opening force. A reagent storage unit of the invention includes a reagent container unit formed of a plurality of reagent containers formed integrally; a container holder to store and hold the reagent container unit in a fitted state; and a container lid partial opening mechanism to open container lids partially and simultaneously when the reagent container unit is fitted and inserted into the container holder, the container lids opening and closing openings of the reagent containers.

Abstract: A reagent container lid opening and closing mechanism capable of opening and closing a reagent container lid, and an automated analysis device. A reagent container lid opening and closing mechanism includes an opening and closing operation body being movable, and including an opening and closing engagement portion to engage engagement portions provided in upper surfaces of container lids of reagent containers. The opening and closing operation body is movable along a longitudinal axis direction of the opening and closing operation body between a retreated position where the opening and closing operation body is separated from the reagent containers, and an engaged position where an opening and closing engagement portion of the opening and closing operation body engages the engagement portions of the container lids. The opening and closing operation body is movable along a predetermined circular arc trajectory between the engaged position and a lid opening position.

Abstract: Provided is a method of accurately and easily determining a cause of the prolongation of blood coagulation time.

Abstract: Provided is a method of accurately and easily determining a cause of the prolongation of blood coagulation time.

Abstract: To provide a method for stabilizing unstable ?-thrombin in a thrombin-containing solution, a solution containing stabilized ?-thrombin, and a liquid fibrinogen assay reagent containing the solution. The method for stabilizing ?-thrombin in a thrombin-containing solution, which includes adjusting the percentage of ?-thrombin to 70% or more with respect to the amount of total thrombin in the thrombin-containing solution.

Abstract: Kits and methods for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample. Such methods accurately evaluate the relationship between a disease and adiponectin through selective assay of adiponectin multimers and provide information that cannot be obtained through measurement of the total amount of adiponectin alone. A method for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample comprising distinguishing target adiponectin multimer from the other adiponectin multimers by using a protease and/or an antibody.

Abstract: Provided is a method of accurately and easily determining a cause of the prolongation of blood coagulation time.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of pretreating a sample for conveniently, quickly and accurately measuring the total amount of adiponectin present in a biological sample contaminated with various adiponectin multimers. The method of measuring an sample for immunologically assaying the total amount of adiponectin present in the sample comprises reacting, with an adiponectin-containing sample, at least one of a reducing agent, an acid or a salt thereof, a surfactant, and a protease.

Abstract: To provide a method for stabilizing unstable ?-thrombin in a thrombin-containing solution, a solution containing stabilized ?-thrombin, and a liquid fibrinogen assay reagent containing the solution. The method for stabilizing ?-thrombin in a thrombin-containing solution, which includes adjusting the percentage of ?-thrombin to 70% or more with respect to the amount of total thrombin in the thrombin-containing solution.

Abstract: Kits and methods for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample. Such methods accurately evaluate the relationship between a disease and adiponectin through selective assay of adiponectin multimers and provide information that cannot be obtained through measurement of the total amount of adiponectin alone. A method for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample comprising distinguishing target adiponectin multimer from the other adiponectin multimers by using a protease and/or an antibody.

Abstract: Methods for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample. Such methods accurately evaluate the relationship between a disease and adiponectin through selective assay of adiponectin multimers and provide information that cannot be obtained through measurement of the total amount of adiponectin alone. A method for selectively assaying of a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample comprising distinguishing target adiponectin multimer from the other adiponectin multimers by using a protease and/or an antibody.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a reagent and an assay method whereby an antigen can be conveniently and accurately assayed without resorting to any special antibody. Using two or more carriers having different particle sizes, a carrier having a smaller particle size is sensitized with at least one monoclonal antibody, which is selected from among three monoclonal antibodies being reactive with both of a free antigen and a complex antigen and having different recognition sites from each other, while a carrier having a larger particle size is sensitized with the remainder monoclonal antibodies, thereby providing an assay reagent and an assay method whereby the reactivities of a free antigen and a complex antigen can be controlled.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of pretreating a sample for conveniently, quickly and accurately measuring the total amount of adiponectin present in a biological sample contaminated with various adiponectin multimers. The method of measuring an sample for immunologically assaying the total amount of adiponectin present in the sample comprises reacting, with an adiponectin-containing sample, at least one of a reducing agent, an acid or a salt thereof, a surfactant, and a protease.

Abstract: We have discovered a “human adiponectin ELISA kit”, which can specifically measure adiponectin in human blood serum (or blood plasma) or in extracted fluid from lipocytes or culture supernatant fluid. After fractioning human serum by use of gel filtration column, each fraction was measured by the present kit, and as a result, adiponectin immunity activity was detected as a plurality of peaks at above 670 kD of molecular weight. From the results, it is presumed that adiponectin is present in the blood as a polymer or forms a complex with polymer proteins.

Abstract: A plasmin solution, comprising:(A) plasmin, and (B) the following component (B-1), (B-2) or (B-3):(B-1) an oligopeptide comprising at least two amino acids bonded to each other, where the two amino acids are selected from the group consisting of lysine, arginine, glycine, alanine, aspartic acid and methionine;(B-2) at least two amino acids selected from the group consisting of lysine, arginine, glycine, alanine, aspartic acid and methionine; or(B-3) an amino acid selected from the group consisting of lysine, arginine, glycine, alanine, aspartic acid and methionine, and a polyhydric alcohol. This solution is stable, maintains plasmin activity even after long-term storage, and can be used as a reagent for quantitatively measuring .alpha.2PI.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of immunoassay of asialoglycoprotein receptors (AGPR) by bringing a specimen into contact with a monoclonal antibody that recognizes AGPR, wherein the pH of a diluted specimen solution is adjusted from 5 to 7 or phenol is added to a solution of an enzyme-labeled antibody. This method is excellent in the sensitivity and accuracy of AGPR assay and can be applied also to the screening of hepatopathy remedies.