Abstract: The methods for sample preparation disclosed herein utilize an air phase to reduce aqueous phase associated with magnetic particles bound to nucleic acids to decrease carryover of one or more contaminants, such as, cell debris, chaotropic agents, non-specifically attached molecules, and the like. This air-transfer step is improved by using a combination of a first population of magnetic particles and a second population of magnetic particles, where the first population of magnetic particles is capable of associating with nucleic acids, and the magnetic particles in the second population are at least two-times larger in size than the size of the magnetic particles in the first population. As discussed herein, the use of this second population of magnetic particles improves the transfer of the first population of magnetic particles by reducing loss of the first magnetic particles during the transfer. The sample preparation methods may be semi-automated or completely automated.

Abstract: A recording liquid comprises a recording agent, water and a water-soluble organic solvent as essential components, wherein said recording agent comprises at least one of the dyes represented by the formula (A) shown below: ##STR1## (wherein [Ph] represents a phthalocyanine skeleton at the center of which a metal atom may be coordinated, X represents an alkali metal or NH.sub.4, a and b each independently represent an integer of 1 to 3 satisfying the relation of 2.ltoreq.a+b.ltoreq.4, Q represents a group --SO.sub.2 OR.sub.1 or a group --SO.sub.2 NR.sub.2 R.sub.3, where R.sub.1 represents an alkyl or an alicyclic group having not more than 15 carbon atoms which may be branched or an aralkyl group having not more than 15 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each independently represent a group --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n R.sub.4, a group --CH.sub.2 CHOH).sub.n R.sub.

Abstract: A recording liquid containing as a coloring component a copper phthalocyanine dye having at least one alkali metal sulfonate substituent is provided. The recording liquid is characterized in that the ratio of the integrated peak areas (A/B) in a liquid chromatogram of said dye is at least 1/6, wherein, provided that the retention time of the main peak is taken as 1.00, A and B represent the integrated peak area of the relative retention time of from 0 to 0.80 and that of from 0.85 to 4.00, respectively.

Abstract: A recording liquid comprising coloring matter, which is an image-forming component, and a liquid medium for dissolving or dispersing the coloring matter, the recording liquid being characterized by containing at least one of the dyes represented by the following general formula (A), as an image-forming component,Q.sup.1 -N=N--Q.sup.2 --N=N--Q.sup.3 (A)wherein Q.sup.1 and Q.sup.3 each represent a substituted phenyl or naphthyl group having at least one SO.sub.3 M substituent and Q.sup.2 represents a substituted naphthyl group having at least one SO.sub.3 M substituent, M being a base selected from Na, K, Li, NH.sub.4, and amine salt cations.

Abstract: In a process for forming color images using more than one kind of color ink including black ink, the dyes in the color ink used have similar chromatographic characteristics. Preferably any difference of the Rf value of paper chromatography between any of the two dyes is not more than 0.30.