Abstract: A method of producing a PCR amplification product is provided that suppresses an effect of precipitate, turbidity, or the like derived from a whole blood sample on a detection in the detection of an amplified nucleic acid by an optical unit. The amplification product complementary to a target nucleic acid in the whole blood sample is produced by PCR in a condition where a ratio of the whole blood sample in a PCR reaction solution is in the range of 0.1 to 0.9% by volume or 0.01 to 1.8 g/L in term of hemoglobin content. When the PCR is carried out with such conditions, even with an untreated whole blood sample, a monitoring of the amplification product by the optical unit can be done while suppressing the effect of the precipitate or the turbidity.

Abstract: A method of effecting lysis of acid-fast bacteria, comprising heating acid-fast bacteria in a liquid containing a non-ionic surfactant at a temperature of below the boiling point of the liquid. This method enables accomplishing secure lysis of acid-fast bacteria in a simple manner within a short period of time without the use of special apparatus and agent and enables extracting genes. The heating is preferably conducted at 96° C. for 10 min. As the nonionic surfactant, use can be made of a d-sorbitol fatty acid ester, a polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl ester, a polyoxyethylene glycol p-t-octylphenyl ether or the like. The pH value of the liquid is preferably 8, and the liquid preferably contains EDTA. It is also preferred that before the heating, the acid-fast bacteria be treated with lipase.

Abstract: A method of producing a PCR amplification product is provided that suppresses an effect of precipitate, turbidity, or the like derived from a whole blood sample on a detection in the detection of an amplified nucleic acid by an optical unit. The amplification product complementary to a target nucleic acid in the whole blood sample is produced by PCR in a condition where a ratio of the whole blood sample in a PCR reaction solution is in the range of 0.1 to 0.9% by volume or 0.01 to 1.8 g/L in term of hemoglobin content. When the PCR is carried out with such conditions, even with an untreated whole blood sample, a monitoring of the amplification product by the optical unit can be done while suppressing the effect of the precipitate or the turbidity.

Abstract: A liquid exchange method of exchanging liquids present around a magnetic substance is provided. The method serves to prevent a remaining liquid from transferring to a next step and a loss of the magnetic substance. Even when the liquid exchange method is applied to an autoanalyzer, the device structure will not be complicated. A vessel 11 in which a liquid 16 containing a magnetic substance 15, a vessel 12 containing a liquid 17, a magnetic substance move-mediating member 13 and also a magnet 18 are prepared.

Abstract: A method of effecting lysis of acid-fast bacteria, comprising heating acid-fast bacteria in a liquid containing a non-ionic surfactant at a temperature of below the boiling point of the liquid. This method enables accomplishing secure lysis of acid-fast bacteria in a simple manner within a short period of time without the use of special apparatus and agent and enables extracting genes. The heating is preferably conducted at 96° C. for 10 min. As the nonionic surfactant, use can be made of a d-sorbitol fatty acid ester, a polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl ester, a polyoxyethylene glycol p-t-octylphenyl ether or the like. The pH value of the liquid is preferably 8, and the liquid preferably contains EDTA. It is also preferred that before the heating, the acid-fast bacteria be treated with lipase.

Abstract: Nucleic acids suitable for PCR amplification are isolated from a sample easily and rapidly by dissolving the sample in a buffer containing surfactant and salt, heating the obtained solution, subjecting the heated solution to gel filtration; and collecting a fraction containing nucleic acids.

Abstract: A method capable of easily collecting microorganisms or cells in a short time without using a special device, comprising the steps of preparing a centrifugal tube (1) in which the inside thereof is divided into upper and lower parts by a filter (14) and water absorbing resin particles (15) are disposed on the filter (14), pouring liquid specimen in the centrifugal tube (1) so that the liquid specimen touches the water absorbing resin particles (15) to absorb the liquid specimen by the resin particles so as to arrest microorganisms or cells on the surfaces of the particles, pouring collecting liquid into the centrifugal tube (1) to collect the microorganisms or cells with the collecting liquid and, by centrifugal separation, accumulating the collecting liquid at the bottom part of the centrifugal tube (1) through the filter (14).

Abstract: A method of effecting lysis of acid-fast bacteria, comprising heating acid-fast bacteria in a liquid containing a non-ionic surfactant at a temperature of below the boiling point of the liquid. This method enables accomplishing secure lysis of acid-fast bacteria in a simple manner within a short period of time without the use of special apparatus and agent and enables extracting genes. The heating is preferably conducted at 96° C. for 10 min. As the nonionic surfactant, use can be made of a d-sorbitol fatty acid ester, a polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl ester, a polyoxyethylene glycol p-t-octylphenyl ether or the like. The pH value of the liquid is preferably 8, and the liquid preferably contains EDTA. It is also preferred that before the heating, the acid-fast bacteria be treated with lipase.