Abstract: The invention discloses novel methods of detecting glycated proteins in test samples of blood and methods of detecting chronic hyperglycemia. The test sample is contacted with a binder composition under conditions which allow binding of glycated protein in the test sample to at least a portion of the binder composition. The test sample is then exposed to a glycated compound affixed to a solid support under conditions which allow raction of unbound binder composition from the previous step to at least a portion of the glycated compound on the solid support. The glycated compound affixed to a solid support from the previous step which did not react with the unbound binder composition is then reacted with a detecting agent and the detecting agent is detected.

Abstract: In testing for cleanliness a cuvette having translucent wall portions, the cuvette is preferably partially filled with pure water and then a beam of optical radiation is directed at a said wall portion, the intensity of radiation which has passed through the cuvette by direct transmission or by scattering is detected, and the state of cleanliness of the cuvette is determined from a comparison between the detected optical intensity and a criterion indicative of cuvette cleanliness.The invention finds particular application to testing cuvettes for cleanliness which have been washed in a laundry of an automatic blood analysing machine.