Abstract: An object to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a nucleic acid amplification method by which a nucleic acid can be amplified using oligonucleotide primers and DNA polymerase.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for rapid, convenient, and highly sensitive detection of trace RNA wherein a risk of contamination is low. The present invention provides a method for amplification of nucleic acid which comprises the steps of: (i) allowing a reverse transcriptase to act on RNA so as to produce a nucleic acid fragment; and (ii) performing substantially isothermal incubation of a reaction solution containing at least one type of deoxynucleotide triphosphate, at least one type of DNA polymerase having strand displacement activity, a divalent cation, a surfactant accounting for at least 0.01% of the solution, at least two types of oligonucleotide primers, and the nucleic acid fragment as a template obtained in the step (i) so as to perform a polymerase reaction that is initiated from the 3? ends of the primers and thus amplify the nucleic acid fragment.

Abstract: An object to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a nucleic acid amplification method by which a nucleic acid can be amplified using oligonucleotide primers and DNA polymerase. The present invention provides a nucleic acid amplification method which comprises performing incubation of a reaction solution containing at least one type of deoxynucleotide triphosphate, at least one type of DNA polymerase having strand displacement activity, at least two types of oligonucleotide primer, and the nucleic acid fragment as a template so as to perform a polymerase reaction that initiates from the 3? end of the primer and thus amplifying the nucleic acid fragment, wherein a first oligonucleotide primer and a second oligonucleotide primer are designed in such a way that a region which contains two identical sequences X of serial 4 or more nucleotides within, the region of 200 or less nucleotides, or apart thereof can be amplified.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an oligonucleotide for rapidly and conveniently detecting bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium (acid-fast bacteria) or for identifying the bacterial species thereof, and a method and kit for detecting bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium (acid-fast bacteria) using such oligonucleotid. The present invention provides a method for identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which comprises performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction using a primer for nucleic acid amplification that comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to a variable region in a 16S rRNA gene sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and has at least 3 continuous nucleotides contained in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 at the 3? end.

Abstract: A method for detecting a mismatch between a target nucleic acid as a measuring object and a control nucleic acid, the method comprising: (a) effecting formation of a double-stranded nucleic acid through hybridization of the control nucleic acid and the target nucleic acid; (b) allowing a mismatch binding protein to contact with the double-stranded nucleic acid and thereby to bind to a mismatched site; (c) allowing an intercalating agent which specifically recognizes the double-stranded nucleic acid and is intercalated therein, to contact with the double-stranded nucleic acid; (d) detecting the intercalating agent intercalated into the double-stranded nucleic acid; and (e) judging the presence or absence of a mismatch between the control nucleic acid and the target nucleic acid, by comparing amounts of the intercalating agent intercalated into the double-stranded nucleic acid in the absence and presence of the mismatch binding protein.

Abstract: A method for judging the presence or absence of a mutation in a nucleic acid sequence, the method includes utilizing a single-stranded DNA-binding protein; the aforementioned method for judging the presence or absence of a mutation in a nucleic acid sequence, wherein the aforementioned presence or absence of a mutation in a nucleic acid sequence is judged by a product formed by a nucleic acid amplification reaction utilizing the single-stranded DNA-binding protein; and a kit for judging the presence or absence of the aforementioned mutation in a nucleic acid sequence.

Abstract: A nucleic acid amplification method, includes: performing nucleic acid amplification using a microchip that comprises: a specimen introduction section; a reaction section; and a channel that connects the reaction section and the specimen introduction section, wherein the method further comprises preventing a reaction solution from evaporating during the amplification reaction, and a microchip, includes: a specimen introduction section; a reaction section; and a channel that connects the reaction section and the specimen introduction section, wherein the microchip executes a method for preventing a specimen containing a nucleic acid from evaporating.

Abstract: A humoral testing apparatus in which a measuring light is irradiated to a reagent area forming a color as a result of a reaction and an optical density of the reagent area is detected by a detecting operation of light intensity of the reflected light. The humoral testing apparatus enables a humoral test to be performed accurately in cases where nonuniformity occurs with the reaction of a reagent with a humoral sample within the reagent area, or in cases where fine dust is present within each detecting spot in the reagent areas. The light reflected from the reagent areas is detected with a two-dimensional photodetector. The independent light intensity detecting operations are performed with respect to the subareas of the reagent area of a reagent layer. A photo detection signal S, which represents the intensity of the reflected light is statistically processed with a signal processing section 51.

Abstract: A microfluidic chip, includes: a first port for inputting: a sample liquid; and a first liquid; a second port for inputting a second liquid; a third port for supplying air pressure; a first channel (A) for mixing the sample liquid and the first liquid to generate a first mixed liquid; a second channel (B) for beating the first mixed liquid; a third channel (C) for allowing the second liquid to converge into the first mixed liquid to generate a second mixed liquid; a fourth channel (D) installing a first solid; a fifth channel (E) for promoting mixing of the first solid; a plurality of sixth channels (F) each having a second solid; and a seventh channel (G), which connects the fifth channel (E) and the plurality of sixth channels (F), for dispensing a fixed quantity of the second mixed liquid to each of the plurality of sixth channels (F).

Abstract: A temperature regulation method of a microfluidic chip for controlling a temperature of a liquid accumulated in a reaction channel formed in a flat plate of the microfluidic chip, the method includes: heating the reaction channel to a reaction temperature; and at the same time as the reaction channel is heated to the reaction temperature, keeping a first channel communicating with one end of the reaction channel and a second channel communicating with an opposite end of the reaction channel at the same temperature different from the reaction temperature by heating or cooling.

Abstract: A microchannel chip for introducing an inspected liquid, includes: a micro channel; and a reagent that is mixed with a heat soluble binder and is carried at a predetermined position in the micro channel, wherein dissolution of the reagent is promoted at the predetermined position as temperature of the inspected liquid rises from temperature when the inspected liquid is introduced.

Abstract: A microchannel chip, includes: a first channel where a first liquid is transported from one end side to an opposite end side; a port section to which a second liquid is supplied from outside for accumulating the second liquid; and a second channel connecting the first channel and the port section through a first opening provided in a side of the first channel and a second opening provided in the port section, wherein the second channel checks flowing out of the second liquid accumulated in the port section to the first channel by a Laplace pressure valve until the first liquid arrives at the first opening, and the second channel converges the second liquid into the first liquid after the first liquid reaches the first opening, and a converging device using the same.

Abstract: A primer for amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence, comprises: a sequence region (a) complementary to a sequence region (a?) in the target nucleic acid sequence; and a sequence region (b) having a sequence complementary to a partial sequence of the sequence region (a), in this order from a 3? terminal side to a 5? terminal side of the primer.

Abstract: A blood testing unit is provided with a closed vessel having an outer vessel body and an inner vessel body, and a reagent layer is accommodated in the closed vessel. Reagents which react with a blood sample are supported on the reagent layer. The closed vessel is comprised such that at least either one of the outer vessel body and the inner vessel body is provided with an aperture, through which air is capable of being introduced from the exterior to the interior of the one vessel body, and the one vessel body is provided with a sealing member for closing the aperture.

Abstract: A blood testing unit comprises a closed vessel having a blood introducing section formed at a certain area of the closed vessel. A blood constituent separating section is located within the closed vessel to separate plasma and/or serum from the blood sample introduced through the blood introducing section into the closed vessel. A reagent layer is located within the closed vessel, such that the reagent layer can be seen from the exterior. The reagent layer comprises a region for spreading the plasma and/or the serum, which has been separated by the blood constituent separating section from the blood sample, and a reagent supporte donor in the spreading region, the reagent undergoing a reaction with the plasma and/or the serum and forming a color as a result of the reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting fluorescence by using a solid support to which a probe molecule to be detected is fixed, wherein background is reduced by using a quenching agent. By using present invention, detection sensitivity of a DNA chip can be increased and stable data can be obtained.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a means for simply performing a gene analysis without performing complicated operations. The present invention provides a method for the detection of a nucleic acid, comprising the steps of: performing a PCR reaction or a reverse transcription reaction by adding a template nucleic acid to a solid support on which a nucleic acid is fixed; and hybridizing the nucleic acid fixed on said solid support with the nucleic acid synthesized by the PCR reaction or the reverse transcription reaction.

Abstract: A plurality of different kinds of reagents are supported at different positions on a reagent layer. A humoral testing apparatus irradiates measuring light which has a wavelength adapted to one of the plurality of the reagent areas which forms a color, and detects the intensity of the light reflected from the reagent areas with the photodetector with respect to each of the reagents, and thus detects the optical densities of the reagent areas.

Abstract: A blood testing unit comprises a closed vessel having a blood introducing section formed at a certain area of the closed vessel. A blood constituent separating section is located within the closed vessel to separate plasma and/or serum from the blood sample introduced through the blood introducing section into the closed vessel. A reagent layer is located within the closed vessel, such that the reagent layer can be seen from the exterior. The reagent layer comprises a region for spreading the plasma and/or the serum, which has been separated by the blood constituent separating section from the blood sample, and a reagent supported on or in the spreading region, the reagent undergoing a reaction with the plasma and/or the serum and forming a color as a result of the reaction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an oligonucleotide for rapidly and conveniently detecting bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium (acid-fast bacteria) or for identifying the bacterial species thereof, and a method and kit for detecting bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium (acid-fast bacteria) using such oligonucleotid. The present invention provides a method for identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which comprises performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction using a primer for nucleic acid amplification that comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to a variable region in a 16S rRNA gene sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and has at least 3 continuous nucleotides contained in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 at the 3? end.