Abstract: Nucleic acids can be made available for amplification or other treatment after admixture of a sample with specific weakly basic polymers to form a precipitate with the nucleic acids at acidic pH. After removing non-precipitated materials, the pH is then made basic, thereby releasing the nucleic acids from the polymer. This method for preparing specimen samples is simple and quite rapid, and the released nucleic acids can be further treated in hybridization assays or amplification procedures. No surfactant or other cell lysing reagents are employed. The weakly basic polymers are water-soluble and cationic at acidic pH, but neutral in charge at basic pH.

Abstract: Nucleic acids can be made available for amplification or other treatment after admixture of a sample with specific weakly basic polymers to form a precipitate with the nucleic acids at acidic pH. After removing non-precipitated materials, the pH is then made basic, thereby releasing the nucleic acids from the polymer. This method for preparing specimen samples is simple and quite rapid, and the released nucleic acids can be further treated in hybridization assays or amplification procedures. No surfactant or other cell lysing reagents are employed. The weakly basic polymers are water-soluble and cationic at acidic pH, but neutral in charge at basic pH.

Abstract: Nucleic acids can be made available for amplification or other treatment after admixture of a sample with specific weakly basic polymers to form a precipitate with the nucleic acids at acidic pH. After removing non-precipitated materials, the pH is then made basic, thereby releasing the nucleic acids from the polymer. This method for preparing specimen samples is simple and quite rapid, and the released nucleic acids can be further treated in hybridization assays or amplification procedures. No surfactant or other cell lysing reagents are employed. The weakly basic polymers are water-soluble and cationic at acidic pH, but neutral in charge at basic pH.

Abstract: Mutations in K-ras, N-ras, and H-ras were determined using target specific primers and probes in REMS-PCR methods, nested PCR methods employing a restriction endonuclease, and REMS-PCR methods using molecular beacons.

Abstract: The present invention provides rapid and highly effective methods for extracting nucleic acids suitable for PCR amplification from tissue samples and paraffin-embedded tissue samples. Extraction is accomplished within a few minutes using a composition comprising a buffer, at least one nonionic surfactant, and a protease enzyme. The sample is then heated at alkaline pH and after a centrifugation step, the DNA is the supernatant can be used directly in known amplification methods, such as PCR.

Abstract: Certain water-compatible reducible compounds are useful in analytical compositions and elements for assay of various analytes, e.g. microorganisms. These compounds comprise a moiety which provides a detectable species (e.g. a dye) when released from the compound at physiological pH. Further, these compounds are aromatic derivatives or quinones having water-compatibilizing substituents which allow them to be used in compositions without the use of surfactants.

Abstract: Compounds and reagents containing the compounds are disclosed for detecting oxidase positive organisms. The compounds have the structureCOUP--LINK).sub.n RwhereinCOUP-- represents a radical that couples with an oxidized primary aromatic amine and releases --LINK--R;--LINK-- represents a divalent radical that undergoes intramolecular cyclization and release of --R upon release by COUP--;n represents zero or one;--R represents a monovalent radical that forms a detectable species in the form of a colorimetric dye or fluorescent compound upon release from --LINK--; wherein --R is selected from the group consisting of: ##STR1## wherein W represents hydrogen; halogen; hydroxy; substituted or unsubstituted carbonamido; sulfonamido; sulfonyl; ureido or amino;R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, carboxy, sulfo, cyano, nitro, carboxylic acid ester, carbonyl, sulfonyl, carbonamido, sulfonamido, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl; andR.sup.3 and R.sup.

Abstract: Certain reducible compounds are useful in analytical compositions, elements and methods, e.g. for assays of bacterial cells. These compounds comprise a moiety which provides a detectable species (e.g. a dye) when released from the compound in an environment of pH 9 or less (i.e. physiological pH). Structurally, the reducible compounds are aromatic derivatives or quinones having suitable substituents which promote varying amounts of moiety release at physiological pH. When reduced at about pH 7, the preferred compounds release at least 50% of the available detectable species within 30 minutes.

Abstract: Certain water-compatible reducible compounds are useful in analytical compositions and elements for assay of various analytes, e.g. microorganisms. These compounds comprise a moiety which provides a detectable species (e.g. a dye) when released from the compound at physiological pH. Further, these compounds are aromatic derivatives or quinones having water-compatibilizing substituent which allow them to be used in compositions without the use of surfactants.

Abstract: Hydrolyzable substrates comprise blocked moieties which, when cleaved from the substrate during hydrolysis, provide electron transfer agents. The released electron transfer agents can be recycled between a reductant and a reducible compound that upon reduction provides a detectable species. Alternatively, they can be recycled between an oxidant and an oxidizable compound that upon oxidation provides a detectable species. These substrates are useful in analytical compositions, elements and methods for the determination of hydrolytic analytes, such as hydrolytic enzymes or biological cells containing such enzymes.

Abstract: Rapid differentiation between viable gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria is accomplished with certain polypeptide antibiotics which are used in combination with a compound which is normally reducible by the bacteria. The antibiotics selectively inhibit the reduction of the reducible compound by gram-positive bacteria but do not substantially affect the reducing capacity of the gram-negative bacteria. The particular antibiotics useful are cyclic polypeptides which affect the function of the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. A particular polypeptide antibiotic, polymixin B, will distinguish Proteus bacteria from other gram-negative genera.

Abstract: A method for the determination of cells in a sample is disclosed. The sample is typically urine and the method is useful in removing interfering reductants from the sample. The method comprises the steps of:(1) separating the cells from the sample,(2) washing the separated cells with:(a) an iron(III) chelate solution and(b) a non-ionic surfactant solution and(3) contacting the washed cells with a redox reagent so as to produce a detectable change due to the presence of the cells.

Abstract: Rapid differentiation between viable fungi (for example, yeast) and viable bacteria is accomplished with certain polyene antibiotics which are used in combination with a compound which is normally reducible by both the fungi and the bacteria. The antibiotics selectively and substantially inhibit the reduction of the reducible compound by the fungi but do not affect the reducing capacity of the bacteria. The particular antibiotics useful are polyenes which selectively affect the function of the cytoplasmic membrane of fungi.

Abstract: Rapid differentiation between viable gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria is accomplished with polyether antibiotics which are used in combination with a compound which is normally reducible by the bacteria. The antibiotics selectively and substantially inhibit the reduction of the reducible compound by gram-positive bacteria but do not substantially affect the reducing capacity of the gram-negative bacteria.

Abstract: Certain reducible compounds are useful in analytical compositions, elements and methods, e.g. for assays of bacterial cells. These compounds comprise a moiety which provides a detectable species (e.g. a dye) when released from the compound in an environment of pH 9 or less (i.e. physiological pH). Structurally, the reducible compounds are aromatic derivatives or quinones having suitable substituents which promote varying amounts of moiety release at physiological pH. When reduced at about pH 7, the preferred compounds release at least 50% of the available detectable species within 30 minutes.

Abstract: Certain water-compatible reducible compounds are useful in analytical compositions and elements for assay of various analytes, e.g. microorganisms. These compounds comprise a moiety which provides a detectable species (e.g. a dye) when released from the compound at physiological pH. Further, these compounds are aromatic derivatives or quinones having water-compatibilizing substituents which allow them to be used in compositions without the use of surfactants.

Abstract: A test kit is used in an agglutination immunoassay to determine a multivalent immune species, such as Streptococcus A antigen, in a biological sample. The method includes contacting an aqueous solution of the species with an agglutination indicator reagent having receptor molecules reactive with the species to form an agglutinate of the reaction product of species and receptor. These receptor molecules are bound to polymeric particles which contain tracer molecules. The resulting agglutinate is captured on a microporous membrane which has an average pore size which is at least five times greater than the average diameter of the polymeric particles. Unagglutinated residual materials are washed through the membrane using a wash solution. This solution has a pH of from about 5 to about 10 and an ionic strength of at least about 0.25. Tracer is then determined either in the agglutinate or in the residual materials.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improvement in a method for distinguishing cells in a biological sample by staining with a dye, wherein the improvement comprises employing as the dye a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein G is O or S;R.sup.1, R.sup.3, and R.sup.5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, amino, styryl, bis(diaryl)vinylene, and ##STR2## wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl;Z represents the elements necessary to complete a basic heterocyclic ring system of the type used in cyanine dyes;n is 0 or 1;R.sup.2 is hydrogen or, taken together with either R.sup.1 or R.sup.3, represents the elements needed to complete an aromatic or a carbocyclic ring system;R.sup.4 is hydrogen or, taken together with either R.sup.3 or R.sup.5, represents the elements needed to complete an aromatic or a carbocyclic ring system; andX.sup.- is an anion.

Abstract: Hydrolyzable substrates comprise blocked dye moieties which, when cleaved from the substrate during hydrolysis, provide fluorescent dyes having maximum absorptions above about 530 nm and maximum emissions at least about 580 nm at physiological pH. These substrates can be used in analytical determinations of hydrolytic substances including hydrolytic enzymes or biological cells containing such enzymes.

Abstract: Certain phenalenone and benzphenalenone fluorescent compounds are useful in biomedical studies and analytical determinations. These compounds are particularly useful in assays for living organisms, e.g. microorganisms, carried out at a pH of 9 or less. For these determinations, the compounds can be attached to reducible compounds which will subsequently release the fluorescent moiety upon reduction. In the presence of an electron transfer agent, the reducible compounds are easily reduced by a microorganism.