Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assessing susceptibility of a virus to treatment with a drug inhibiting an enzyme of the wild-type virus comprising the steps: a) extracting the viral enzyme from a sample containing the virus; b) measuring the viral enzyme activity both in the absence of the drug and in the presence of the drug at a single predetermined concentration; and c) determining the virus' susceptibility to treatment with the drug from the relation between the enzyme activities in the presence of the drug and the absence of the drug. The invention further relates to a system for performing the method.

Abstract: A method of concentrating and recovering an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses present in a biological sample, is described. The method comprises contacting the biological sample in a first buffer solution with a virus-binding matrix, such as an anion exchanger matrix, to attach virus particles present in the sample to the matrix, washing the matrix carrying the virus particles with a second buffer solution to remove components interfering with viral enzyme activity, lysing the immobilized virus particles in a third buffer solution and recovering the concentrated viral enzyme activity from the third buffer solution. Additionally, a commercial package containing written and/or data carrier instructions for performing laboratory steps for concentration and recovery of an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses present in a biological sample and at least one component necessary for the assay, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for measuring DNA-dependent DNA polymerisation in a biological sample, is described. The method comprises the steps of providing a primer with a single stranded short specific sequence, which is unable to base pair internally, bound to a solid phase; contacting the primer construct with a reaction mixture containing a single stranded deoxynucleotide template with a part of the sequence complementary to the primer and the four deoxynucleoside triphosphates, one of which is modified so that it is specifically recognized by a labeled antibody; adding a biological sample comprising the DNA polymerase, such as retrovirus reverse transcriptase (RT), to the mixture; allowing the polymerase reaction to proceed; incubating the immobilized reaction product with the labeled antibody; detecting the amount of bound labeled antibody; and measuring the amount of incorporated modified deoxynucleoside triphosphate, as a measure of the DNA polymerisation, which may be used drug susceptibility testing.

Abstract: A reverse transcriptase (RT) assay kit for analysis of RT activity in biological samples is described. The kit comprises solid phase bound prA and/or pdA template(s) obtainable by contacting a polystyrene-based solid phase with a 1-methylimidazole-containing coupling solution, and RT-type adapted assay components selected from a buffer, divalent metal ion, chelator, polyamine, RNase inhibitor, reducing agent, salt, stabilizing agent, and detergent, and deoxynucleotide triphosphate, primer, protective agent and concentrated washing buffer, and optionally lyophilized reference enzyme(s), and further optionally lyophilized alkaline phosphatase conjugated anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody, alkaline phosphatase substrate buffer and alkaline phosphatase substrate, and written instructions for use of the assay kit.

Abstract: A method of concentrating and recovering an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses present in a biological sample, is described. The method comprises contacting the biological sample in a first buffer solution with a virus-binding matrix, such as an anion exchanger matrix, to attach virus particles present in the sample to the matrix, washing the matrix carrying the virus particles with a second buffer solution to remove components interfering with viral enzyme activity, lysing the immobilized virus particles in a third buffer solution and recovering the concentrated viral enzyme activity from the third buffer solution. Additionally, a commercial package containing written and/or data carrier instructions for performing laboratory steps for concentration and recovery of an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses present in a biological sample and at least one component necessary for the assay, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for indicating and sensing pipetting positions in a pipetting sequence which is manually performed at a transparent conventional microtest plate is distinguished substantially thereby that a program control means (600) is brought to activate, in accordance with a previously programmed pipetting sequence, an illumination means (200;14) which distinguishingly illuminates the rim (115) of a test plate well (114) at which a manual pipetting operation in the sequence shall be carried out, in that the position of a pipette is sensed by means of sensing means (300) at the insertion of the pipette into a well (114) and in that the sensed pipette position is compared to the position for the well (114) indicated by the illumination means (200), and in that the comparison is carried out by means of a comparison means which, if the compared positions coincide, is brought to emit a signal to the control device (600) for initiation of the next sequence step, or, if the compared positions do not co

Abstract: In a tongue and groove joints the base of the groove is provided with one or more protuberances to space the tongue from the base of the groove. If the members forming the joint are such that they swell when moist the protuberances are made to be deformable to permit the members to swell without deforming the structure made from the members.