The present invention relates to a prebiotic composition comprising a microbially produced oligosaccharide, wherein the oligosaccharide is characterised by being selective for a pre-determined probiotic bacterial strain and also capable of being produced by the pre-determined probiotic bacteria by reverse enzyme action. The present invention also relates to methods of screening a composition suitable for use as a prebiotic and methods for screening of prebiotics for incorporation into synbiotic formulations.

Provided is an enzyme-specific fluorescent compound capable of being retained in cells, which can emit fluorescence specifically in a target cell, particularly a cell capable of expressing a reporter enzyme such as -galactosidase, and can covalently bind to a protein in the cell to exhibit an excellent property of being retained in the cell. The fluorescent compound comprises a compound represented by formula (I) or a salt thereof. In formula (I), A, X, Y and R1 to R9 are as described in claim 1.

Provided is a rapid screening method for detecting mucopolysaccharidosis IVA and mucopolysaccharidosis VII. Biological samples containing glycosaminoglycans are enzymatically digested to converts chondroitin 6-sulfate into Di-6S. Di-6S is assayed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy analysis. Elevated Di-6S, and thus elevated chondroitin 6-sulfate present in the sample, indicates a likelihood that the test subject is afflicted with mucopolysaccharidosis IVA or mucopolysaccharidosis VII.

Reagents and methods for using automated laboratory equipment to determine whether the specific gravity of a urine sample is out of normal range as an indication of adulteration. The sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) normally found in a urine sample can be used as markers. A sodium-potassium dependent -galactosidase can be utilized with o-nitrophenylgalactoside (o-NPG) which is cleaved into o-nitrophenol, which turns the sample yellow. The sample can be analyzed by spectrophotometry methods utilized in most clinical analyzers at a pre-determined primary wavelength to obtain a Specific gravity Index (SGI). Measurements of the SGI that are outside a known normal range can indicate that the sample integrity has been compromised.

Conjugates of 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene and its derivatives with enzyme cleavable groups are chromogenic substrates that form colored compounds when complexed with metal ions, e.g. iron ions, on cleavage by enzymes, and are useful in microbial detection and identification. The cleavage products form purple or red-brown colored complexes, that can easily be observed by the naked eye. Microbes can be grown in the presence of the substrates and the metal salts that provide the metal ion for complexing with the 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene product. Substituents in the naphthalene ring may affect the solubility of the substrates and also the diffusibility and color of the metal complexes. Some of the substrates yield soluble complexes on cleavage and are of particular value in liquid growth media. Other substrates produce less soluble complexes that are more suitable for use in solid agar media. Methods of synthesizing the substrates are described.

Provided is a digital assay method for determining the concentration of a substance in a solution, as a method available for making the operation of digital assay simpler and easier, the method comprising the step of: covering a chamber array region of a substrate with an adhesive tape comprising a base layer and an adhesive layer, followed by pressure-bonding the adhesive layer of the adhesive tape against the surface of the substrate, thereby discharging excess of a solution in the chamber array region outside the chamber array region and sealing each of the chambers containing the solution liquid-tight to function as reactors.

The present invention relates to a prebiotic composition comprising a microbially produced oligosaccharide, wherein the oligosaccharide is characterized by being selective for a pre-determined probiotic bacterial strain and also capable of being produced by the pre-determined probiotic bacteria by reverse enzyme action. The present invention also relates to methods of screening a composition suitable for use as a prebiotic and methods for screening of prebiotics for incorporation into synbiotic formulations.

Methods that may be used for the electrochemical detection of multiple parameters, including chemical compounds. Further provided are cells that may be used in the electrochemical detection of multiple parameters, including chemical compounds, as well as a kit for the electrochemical detection of multiple parameters, including chemical compounds.

Disclosed is a method for measuring the concentration of an analyte or analytes in a solution. Although the methods can be conducted using a number of different assay formats, in one embodiment, the assays are conducted in reaction vessels defined, at least in part, by the distal ends of fiber optic strands.

There is provided a method of analyzing a biological sample component that allows easy and accurate quantification and counting of any of a plasma component and a blood cell component in a trace and unknown amount of a whole blood sample collected from a finger, for example. The method of the present invention is a method of analyzing a biological sample component in a trace amount of blood, comprising analyzing a diluent buffer into which the blood has been mixed and an internal standard substance and/or an external standard substance contained in the diluent buffer, calculating a dilution ratio, and analyzing a biological component in a plasma or serum component in the blood.