Abstract: Activating groups for cyanine dyes used to label chain terminators in nucleotide sequencing, based on N-hydroxyphthalimide, are disclosed. From these activating groups, activated dyes of the present Invention are prepared which react with the derivitized nucleotide chain terminators to give a labeled chain terminator of the present Invention. The activating groups of the present Invention allow the dye-chain terminator reaction to occur at a much higher yield and with much greater selectivity for the mono-substituted product, compared with the prior art.

Abstract: A method for making a preconjugate which includes immunogenic species of a polymorphic analyte. The method is carried out by reacting an activated binding moiety, and a polymorphic analyte at room temperature for between about 10 hours and about 60 hours. The attaching reaction results in an excess of the preconjugate which includes the immunogenic species of the polymorphic analyte. The preconjugate can be used to make an immunoreactive conjugate useful as a developer antigen in a competitive inhibition immunoassay for the polymorphic analyte.

Abstract: A method for making a valproic acid derivative comprising a functionalized spacer arm attached to a .delta. carbon atom of a valproic acid molecule is disclosed. The method proceeds by attaching a spacer arm joined to an inorganic moiety to a valproic acid precursor to make an alkylated compound, derivatizing the alkylated compound in a liquid medium to make the valproic acid derivative, and then separating the valproic acid derivative from the liquid medium. The valproic acid derivative can be used to make an immunoreactive valproic acid conjugate.