Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing luminescent nanoparticles wherein particle size of the nanoparticles is controlled. The method of the present invention includes admixing two or more rare earth metal salts in a first solvent and an organic oil to form a reaction mixture, and subjecting the reaction mixture to an inert gas so that flow rate of the inert gas is at least 2-5 L/h and pressure in the reaction vessel is at least 50 Pa over atmospheric pressure, preferably 50-80 Pa over atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing luminescent nanoparticles wherein particle size of the nanoparticles is controlled. The method of the present invention includes admixing two or more rare earth metal salts in a first solvent and an organic oil to form a reaction mixture, and subjecting the reaction mixture to an inert gas so that flow rate of the inert gas is at least 2-5 L/h and pressure in the reaction vessel is at least 50 Pa over atmospheric pressure, preferably 50-80 Pa over atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting undesired measurement conditions in a sample container. The method comprises measuring a fluorescent property of the sample container comprising a sample substrate with impregnated blood sample and incubation buffer to which the blood sample is to be eluted, and determining, based on temporal and/or spectral characteristics of the fluorescent property, whether the fluorescent property is characteristic to a sample container comprising a sample substrate and incubation buffer under said undesired measurement conditions or to a sample container suitable for optical measurement of analyte contained in the sample. Thus undesired measurement condition can be a floating sample substrate or a foreign body in the sample container. By means of the invention, reliability of neonatal screening, for example, can be increased.

Abstract: The present technology discloses biotinidase assay, biotinidase substrates (I) and a kit wherein the biotinidase substrate includes a label molecule separated from the biotin carbamoyl group by a linker X longer than about 4 ? but shorter than about 27 ?.

Abstract: The present technology discloses biotinidase assay, biotinidase substrates (I) and a kit wherein the biotinidase substrate includes a label molecule separated from the biotin carbamoyl group by a linker X longer than about 4 ? but shorter than about 27 ?.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting undesired measurement conditions in a sample container. The method comprises measuring a fluorescent property of the sample container comprising a sample substrate with impregnated blood sample and incubation buffer to which the blood sample is to be eluted, and determining, based on temporal and/or spectral characteristics of the fluorescent property, whether the fluorescent property is characteristic to a sample container comprising a sample substrate and incubation buffer under said undesired measurement conditions or to a sample container suitable for optical measurement of analyte contained in the sample. Thus undesired measurement condition can be a floating sample substrate or a foreign body in the sample container. By means of the invention, reliability of neonatal screening, for example, can be increased.