Abstract: A method for detecting cancer cells in a blood sample is provided comprising the steps of proliferating an oncolytic virus at least in the cancer cells by incubating the blood sample being suspected to contain the cancer cells with the oncolytic virus; mixing the blood sample obtained from the proliferating step with a fixing agent and a nonionic surfactant; and detecting the cancer cells in the blood sample obtained from the mixing step, in which the oncolytic virus has been proliferated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reagent for detecting an abnormal cell in the cervix of uterus, which can detect an abnormal cell contained in a biological sample that contains cells collected from the cervix of uterus. The reagent comprises a dye represented by general formula (I).

Abstract: Improved method for detecting and/or counting the appearance of hematopoietic progenitor cells which comprises the steps of mixing a blood sample with a reagent capable of detecting immature cells without employing any immunological techniques, obtaining cell information about the thus treated sample using a particle analyzer and constructing a cell distribution profile, delineating a portion of the profile as a zone in which at least one subclass of hematopoietic progenitor cells appear, and counting the cells within the zone. The method is capable of detecting the appearance of hematopoietic progenitor cells in a simple and positive manner.

Abstract: A reagent for measuring immature leukocytes which comprises: (1) a polyoxyethylene-based nonionic surfactant having the general formula (I) in a sufficient amount capable of fixing cytoplasms and cell membranes of immature leukocytes:R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O ).sub.n --H (I)where R.sub.1 is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group having 10 to 25 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is --O--, --(C.sub.6 H.sub.4)--O-- or --COO--; and n is an integer of 10 to 40, (2) a solubilizing agent in a sufficient amount capable of damaging cell membranes of blood cells other than immature leukocytes and shrinking them, (3) an amino acid in a sufficient amount capable of stabilizing cytoplasm and cell membrane of immature leukocytes, and (4) an aqueous medium, which adjusts pH value in the range of 5.0 to 9.0, osmolarity in the range of 150 to 600 mOsm/kg and electric conductivity in the range of 6.0 to 9.0 mS/cm, respectively.

Abstract: Reagents for enabling leukocytes to be classified and counted lyse erythrocytes and act on leukocytes to stabilize them are disclosed. The reagents contain polyoxyethylene-based surfactants, and may contain hyperosmotic or hypoosmotic agents and solubilizing agents. One embodiment of the invention contains surfactants selected from the anionic and nonionic polyoxyethylene-based surfactants having 18-30 repeating oxyethylene units per molecule. A second embodiment of the invention contains nonionic polyoxyethylene surfactants only, having 20-100 repeating oxyethylene units per molecule, does not employ either saponin or quaternary ammonium compounds, and provides for adjustment of the pH of the resulting solutions. The invention allows leukocytes to be classified into as many as five types, each type to be quantified, and enables the detection of abnormal cells, when used in conjunction with particulate analysis flow cytometers employing the RF method and the DC method.

Abstract: A reagent for and method of measuring leukocytes or hemoglobin or both in blood using a reagent which is water-soluble mixture containing:(a) a polyoxyethylene-based nonionic surfactant represented by the formula:R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n --Hwhere R.sub.1 is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is --O--, ##STR1## or --COO--, and n is an integer of 6 to 50, and (b) a buffer to adjust the pH of the solution within the range of 3-11 is disclosed. Measurements of hemoglobin in blood samples are of extreme importance to clinical diagnosis of such diseases as leukemia and anemia. Measurements of eosinophils, which are in the category of leukocytes, are important to the diagnosis of allergic conditions.

Abstract: Improved method for detecting and/or counting the appearance of hematopoietic progenitor cells which comprises the steps of mixing a blood sample with a reagent capable of detecting immature cells without employing any immunological techniques, obtaining cell information about the thus treated sample using a particle analyzer and constructing a cell distribution profile, delineating a portion of the profile as a zone in which at least one subclass of hematopoietic progenitor cells appear, and counting the cells within the zone. The method is capable of detecting the appearance of hematopoietic progenitor cells in a simple and positive manner.