Abstract: This invention relates to a dry analytical element using a water-soluble indicator which improves measuring accuracy, which comprises a water-impermeable support, a water-permeable layer and a spreading layer having a function to spread a liquid uniformly, wherein a water-soluble indicator for colorimetry is incorporated into the s preading layer.

Abstract: Nucleic acid contained in a sample is highly efficiently recovered at a high recovery ratio by a method for separating and purifying nucleic acid using whole blood as the sample, which is a method for separating and purifying nucleic acid, comprising: preparing a sample solution containing nucleic acid; putting the sample solution containing nucleic acid in contact with a solid phase to allow nucleic acid to be adsorbed to the solid phase; putting a washing solution in contact with the solid phase to wash the solid phase at the state of nucleic acid adsorbed thereon; and putting a elution solution in contact with the solid phase to allow nucleic acid to be desorbed from the solid phase, wherein the step of preparing a sample solution containing nucleic acid comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of vortexing, mixing with inversion, and pipetting.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for analyzing a target nucleic acid fragment which can be simply and swiftly carried out by using a small apparatus, a kit for analyzing a target nucleic acid fragment using the method for analysis, and a dry analytical element for quantifying pyrophosphoric acid. The present invention provides a method for analyzing pyrophosphoric acid generated upon polymerase elongation reaction based on certain nucleotide sequence of a target nucleic acid, a kit for analysis for carrying out the above mentioned method for analysis, and a dry analytical element for quantifying pyrophosphoric acid.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for isolating and purifying nucleic acids, which comprises: (1) passing a sample solution containing a nucleic acid through a nucleic acid adsorbing porous membrane to adsorb the nucleic acid to the nucleic acid adsorbing porous membrane; (2) passing a washing solution through the nucleic acid adsorbing porous membrane to wash the nucleic acid adsorbing porous membrane while adsorbing the nucleic acid; and (3) passing an elution solution through the nucleic acid adsorbing porous membrane to desorb the nucleic acid from the nucleic acid adsorbing porous membrane, wherein the nucleic acid adsorbing porous membrane is a porous membrane capable of adsorbing the nucleic acid by interaction involving substantially no ionic bond, and a step of drying the nucleic acid adsorbing porous membrane adsorbing the nucleic acid is not included between the washing step (2) and the recovering step (3).

Abstract: The invention provides a rapid, convenient, and automatable method for extracting a highly pure nucleic acid in order to carry out nucleic acid analysis smoothly with high accuracy in an array method. An analyzing method includes analyzing a nucleic acid by an array method, the nucleic acid being separated and purified by a separation and purification method which includes the steps of (a) to (f) identified in the specification.

Abstract: A process for blocking a device for detection of biochemically active molecules is performed by the steps of: bringing in the presence of an aqueous medium a detection device having probe molecules, ionic reactive groups, and non-ionic reactive groups on its surface, into contact with compounds which react with the non-ionic reactive groups to produce covalent bondings and compounds which form electrostatic bondings with the ionic reactive groups, simultaneously or separately; and washing the surface of the detection device with an aqueous solvent or a water-miscible solvent.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for quantifying a target nucleic acid by PCR. The present invention provides a method for quantifying a target nucleic acid by the polymerase chain reaction utilizing a template nucleic acid comprising a sequence of the target nucleic acid, a pair of primers for amplifying the target nucleic acid, and polymerase, wherein the polymerase chain reaction is conducted in the presence of a pair of competitive primers having a sequence complementary to the sequence of the amplification primer.

Abstract: A micro-array for analysis of DNA is prepared by the steps of spotting onto a solid carrier in its predetermined area in which plural reactive groups are fixed an aqueous solution which contains a thickening agent and probe molecules (e.g., DNA fragments) having a group reactive with the reactive group of the solid carrier to produce covalent bonding; spotting onto the solid carrier in a different area having the same reactive groups an aqueous solution (same or different); incubating the aqueous solution-spotted solid carrier to produce the covalent bondings; and washing the solid carrier with an aqueous medium to remove the thickening agent from the solid carrier. An electrostatic bonding can be utilized in place of the covalent bonding.

Abstract: An object of the present invention to provide a method for analyzing gene expression levels which can be simply and rapidly carried out by using a small apparatus without requiring any special techniques, complicated operations and special apparatuses. The present invention provides a method for analyzing expression levels of a target nucleic acid in a biological sample which comprises steps of: (1) conducting polymerase elongation by reacting RNA from a biological sample or cDNA synthesized therefrom, at least one primer complementary with a part of the target nucleic acid sequence contained in the RNA, at least one deoxynucleoside triphosphate, and at least one polymerase to synthesize said target nucleic acid sequence; and (2) detecting or quantifying pyrophosphoric acid which is generated upon the polymerase elongation.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a method for accurately, simply, and swiftly detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms. The present invention provides a method for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms, which utilizes two types of allele-specific primers designed in such a way that the amounts of be amplified products of each of heterozygous alleles are substantially the same, as well as a method for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms, which utilizes two types of allele-specific primers undo such polymerase reaction conditions that the amounts of the amplified products of each of heterozygous alleles are substantially the same.

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: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for analyzing a target nucleic acid fragment which can be simply and swiftly carried out by using a small apparatus, a kit for analyzing a target nucleic acid fragment using the method for analysis, and a dry analytical element for quantifying pyrophosphoric acid. The present invention provides a method for analyzing pyrophosphoric acid generated upon polymerase elongation reaction based on certain nucleotide sequence of a target nucleic acid, a kit for analysis for carrying out the above mentioned method for analysis, and a dry analytical element for quantifying pyrophosphoric acid.

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: 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.

Abstract: A blood constituent separating membrane constituted substantially of polysulfone membrane separates blood plasma and/or blood serum from a blood sample. Reagents which are supported on the reagent layer have a portion for spreading the blood plasma and/or the blood serum separated from the blood sample, and when the reagent layer comes into contact with the blood constituent separating membrane, the blood plasma and/or the blood serum spreads over the reagent layer. The reagent forms a color as a result of a reaction with the blood plasma and/or the blood serum.

Abstract: With a humoral testing apparatus for use with a humoral testing unit in which a plurality of different kinds of reagents are supported at different positions of a reagent layer, a measuring light is irradiated to the reagent areas which has formed a color, and the intensities of the light reflected from the reagent areas are detected with a photodetector through distributed index lenses. The detecting of the intensity of the light having been reflected from each of the reagent areas is performed from the side of one surface of the reagent layer opposite to the other surface of the reagent layer, on which other surface a bodily fluid has been supplied to the reagent areas.

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 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: This invention relates to a dry analytical element using a water-soluble indicator which improves measuring accuracy, which comprises a water-impermeable support, a water-permeable layer and a spreading layer having a function to spread a liquid uniformly, wherein a water-soluble indicator for colorimetry is incorporated into the s preading layer.

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.