Abstract: Improved apparatus for collecting particles from air comprises a cyclone having air inlet and outlet means, means maintaining an airflow there through and means delivering a collecting fluid from a reservoir to particles separated from the air flow in the cyclone, in which the air inlet means is associated with means for heating the incoming air. The apparatus, which is optionally provided with enclosure means for trapping heat, prevents freezing of the collecting fluid at temperatures near to and even below 0° C.

Abstract: A method for detecting an analyte containing or labelled with a haem moiety within a sample, said method comprising: a) contacting said sample with a magnetic bead having immobilised thereon a specific binding partner for said analyte and allowing analyte to bind to said specific binding partner; b) separating the magnetic beads from the sample, and if necessary, labelling the immobilised analyte with a haem containing label; c) resuspending the beads and subjecting them to alkaline conditions sufficient to release haem moieties therefrom but not to extract inorganic iron from the beads; d) detecting released haem moieties using a luminol chemiluminescent assay procedure.