Abstract: A pancreatic cancer detection method is provided, including: (a) bringing extracellular vesicles, which are in a body fluid sample derived from a subject into contact with one or more kinds of lectins; (b) measuring an amount of the extracellular vesicles bound to the one or more kinds of lectins after (a); and (c) evaluating the presence of pancreatic cancer in the subject based on the amount of the extracellular vesicles measured in (b). In addition, a pancreatic cancer detection kit is provided, including: a solid-phase carrier on which one or more kinds of lectins are immobilized; and an antibody specifically binding to a pan-extracellular vesicle membrane protein or an antigen-binding fragment thereof.

Abstract: A controller divides a reaction region into a plurality of unit sections. The controller generates first array data of a measured aggregate value of unit sections in which no nanoparticles exist, a measured aggregation value of unit sections in which a single nanoparticle exists, and measured aggregation values of unit sections in which 2 to n close nanoparticles exist. The controller generates second array data, based on a probability distribution according to a probability theory, in which the second array data most closely approximates the first array data. The controller generates a count value of the nanoparticles in the reaction region, based on the theoretical aggregation value of unit sections in which the single nanoparticle exists and the theoretical aggregation values of unit sections in which the 2 to n close nanoparticles exist.

Abstract: A method for forming a conjugate of a substance of interest and a magnetic particle to which a specific binding substance that has an ability to specifically bind to the substance of interest has been bound, the method including (A1) reacting the substance of interest and the magnetic particles in a reaction solution, in which (A1) includes increasing momentum of the magnetic particles in the reaction solution by changing the magnetic field that is exerted on the magnetic particles.

Abstract: An exosome to be analyzed having a first bead and a second bead bound thereto is collected from a buffer fluid containing the exosome to be analyzed having the first bead and the second bead bound thereto. A first antibody that specifically binds to a first antigen associated with a first disease is fixed to a surface of the first bead. A second antibody that specifically binds to a second antigen associated with a second disease is fixed to a surface of the second bead. The first bead is separated from the exosome, and the exosome having the second bead bound thereto is collected. The exosome having the second bead bound thereto is dissolved, and the second bead and an inclusion of the exosome are collected. The inclusion of the exosome is analyzed, and the number of second beads is counted.

Abstract: A first buffer fluid containing a first bead having fixed to a surface thereof a first antibody that specifically binds to a first antigen is injected into a reaction container, and then a plurality of a second bead having fixed to a surface thereof a second antibody that specifically binds to an optional second antigen, and a biological sample containing an exosome to be analyzed having the first antigen and the second antigen on a surface of the exosome are injected into the reaction container, thereby generating a second buffer fluid. An exosome having the first bead and the second bead bound thereto is collected from the second buffer fluid. The exosome having the first bead and the second bead bound thereto is separated into the first bead, the second bead, and the exosome, and the second bead and the exosome are individually collected.

Abstract: The dispensing unit includes a disc, a cartridge, and a dispensing holder. The disc has a disc shape and includes a track region provided with recesses and projections alternately arranged in a radial direction. The cartridge includes a penetration hole, and a well is formed by the penetration hole and the track region in a state in which the cartridge is attached to the disc. The dispensing holder includes a holding part to be inserted into the penetration hole, and a guide hole penetrating the holding part. The guide hole has a truncated cone shape in which a first opening diameter on the holding part side is smaller than a second opening diameter on a side opposite to the holding part, and a center line of the guide hole is located on a line passing through the center of the disc and the center of the well.

Abstract: An analysis device includes a turntable holding a substrate, an optical pickup driven in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the turntable and configured to emit laser light to reaction regions and to receive reflected light from the respective reaction regions, an optical pickup drive circuit, and a controller. The reaction regions are formed at positions different from the center of the substrate. The center of the substrate is located on the rotation axis of the turntable. The optical pickup detects a reception level of the reflected light to generate a light reception level signal. The controller controls a turntable drive circuit to rotate the substrate, controls the optical pickup drive circuit to drive the optical pickup, and specifies the respective reaction regions in accordance with a positional information signal and the light reception level signal.

Abstract: A pancreatic cancer detection method is provided, including: (a) bringing extracellular vesicles, which are in a body fluid sample derived from a subject into contact with one or more kinds of lectins; (b) measuring an amount of the extracellular vesicles bound to the one or more kinds of lectins after (a); and (c) evaluating the presence of pancreatic cancer in the subject based on the amount of the extracellular vesicles measured in (b). In addition, a pancreatic cancer detection kit is provided, including: a solid-phase carrier on which one or more kinds of lectins are immobilized; and an antibody specifically binding to a pan-extracellular vesicle membrane protein or an antigen-binding fragment thereof.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit uses gate signals corresponding to a plurality of divided measurement ranges to extract a fine particle pulse signal from a light reception level signal generated by an optical pickup, count the pulse number for each of the gate signals, and output a count value for each of the divided measurement ranges. A count value in-plane distribution generating unit generates count value in-plane distribution data in a measurement range based on the count value. A reaction region position coordinate computation unit estimates positions of all reaction regions from the count value in-plane distribution data. A reaction region count value computation unit calculates the count values for each of all the estimated reaction regions.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a substrate for analysis fixes antibodies that specifically react with specific antigens included in detection target substances to the substrate for analysis. The method subjects the substrate for analysis to immersion treatment with a predetermined treatment solution so as to form antibody aggregations in which the antibodies are aggregated at boundary regions between recesses and convex portions on the substrate for analysis. The method causes the antigens and the antibodies to react with each other so as to capture the detection target substances on the substrate for analysis by the antibody aggregations.

Abstract: A first sample solution including exosomes including first to third detection target substances is mixed with a first buffer solution including first nanoparticles including first binding substances which bind to the first detection target substances. The first detection target substances and the first binding substances are bound together, so as to form first complexes of the exosomes and the first nanoparticles. The first complexes are isolated from a mixed solution of the first sample solution and the first buffer solution. The second detection target substances and the second binding substances are bound together, so as to capture the first complexes on a substrate. The second binding substances are fixed onto the substrate. A second buffer solution including second nanoparticles including third binding substances which bind to the third detection target substances is reacted with the first complexes.

Abstract: An analysis threshold generation device includes a threshold calculation unit for generating a pair of thresholds for a pulse width of a pulse included in a light reception level signal or a pair of thresholds for a pulse amplitude of the pulse. The analysis threshold generation device includes a threshold correction unit for generating a pair of thresholds used for analysis in accordance with the pair of thresholds generated by the threshold calculation unit and a count value output from a pulse count unit. The threshold calculation unit repeatedly generates a new pair of thresholds in which at least one of the pair of thresholds is changed every time the pulse count unit counts the pulse until reaching a predetermined value.

Abstract: An analysis device includes a turntable, an optical pickup, and a controller. The turntable holds a specimen analysis disc having reaction regions on which nanoparticles binding to substances to be detected are captured. The optical pickup emits laser light to each reaction region, receives a reflected light from each reaction region, and generates a light reception level signal. The controller sequentially generates a plurality of measurement gate signals for counting the number of the nanoparticles captured on each reaction region, counts the number of the nanoparticles of each of the measurement gate signals based on the light reception level signal, specifies a measurement gate section in each reaction region according to a measurement result per measurement gate signal, and adds up the number of the nanoparticles of the respective measurement gate signals in the measurement gate section.

Abstract: The dispensing unit includes a disc, a cartridge, and a dispensing holder. The disc has a disc shape and includes a track region provided with recesses and projections alternately arranged in a radial direction. The cartridge includes a penetration hole, and a well is formed by the penetration hole and the track region in a state in which the cartridge is attached to the disc. The dispensing holder includes a holding part to be inserted into the penetration hole, and a guide hole penetrating the holding part. The guide hole has a truncated cone shape in which a first opening diameter on the holding part side is smaller than a second opening diameter on a side opposite to the holding part, and a center line of the guide hole is located on a line passing through the center of the disc and the center of the well.

Abstract: An analysis substrate is irradiated with laser light, and reflected light from reaction region is received to generate a light reception level signal. Particle detection signal having a signal level higher than a predetermined signal level is extracted from the light reception level signal in the reaction region, so as to detect detection target substance in accordance with the extracted particle detection signal. The analysis substrate has the reaction region on which the detection target substance, primary particle provided with antibody for labeling the detection target substance, and secondary particle formed of metal and provided with antigen to be bound to the antibody are captured.

Abstract: A magnet structure includes first and second magnet units. The first magnet unit is provided with a first magnet fixing section that includes a first surface and a first magnet having a first polarity on the first surface's side. The second magnet unit is provided with a second magnet fixing section that includes a second surface and a second magnet having a second polarity on the second surface's side, the second polarity being an opposite polarity to the first polarity. The first and second surfaces are located next to one another on the same plane to form a magnetic attachment surface which is magnetically attached to a magnetically-attached object. The second magnet unit is supported by the first magnet unit so as to move in a predetermined range.

Abstract: An analysis device optically scans a surface of a substrate to which particles are fixed, detects a pulse wave included in a detection signal obtained from an optical scanning unit when the optical scanning unit scans the substrate, and counts the particles based on pulse interval between two pulse waves each having pulse width less than first reference value determined depending on first pulse width when the optical scanning unit scans a plurality of particles adjacent to each other when the two pulse waves are detected consecutively.

Abstract: An analysis device optically scans a surface of a substrate to which analytes and particles for labeling the analytes are fixed, detects a pulse wave included in a detection signal obtained from an optical scanning unit when the optical scanning unit scans the substrate, and counts the analytes and determines that the analyte count is one when two pulse waves are detected consecutively each having pulse width less than first reference value determined depending on first pulse width in the detection signal when the optical scanning unit scans a plurality of particles adjacent to each other.

Abstract: An analysis method irradiates, with laser light, an analysis substrate made of a resin material and having a reaction region on which detection target substances and nanoparticles of a metal compound for labeling the detection target substances are captured. The analysis method extracts, as a substrate signal level, a signal level generated when receiving reflected light from the analysis substrate. The analysis method receives reflected light from the reaction region to generate a light reception level signal. The analysis method extracts a nanoparticle detection signal from the light reception level signal of the reflected light from the reaction region, the nanoparticle detection signal having a higher level than the signal level of the reflected light from the analysis substrate. The analysis method detects the nanoparticles in accordance with the extracted nanoparticle detection signal.

Abstract: An analysis device optically scans a surface of a substrate to which particles are fixed, detects a pulse wave included in a detection signal obtained from an optical scanning unit when the optical scanning unit scans the substrate, and counts the particles based on pulse interval between two pulse waves each having pulse width less than first reference value determined depending on first pulse width when the optical scanning unit scans a plurality of particles adjacent to each other when the two pulse waves are detected consecutively.