METHOD FOR MEASURING PHYSIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCE OF BIOLOGICAL ORIGIN, PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE SAME, AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING PHYSIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCE OF BIOLOGICAL ORIGIN

摘要

Disclosed is a technique which enableshigher measurement accuracy to be achieved when usingthe reaction between biogenous biologically activesubstances such as endotoxins and limulus amoebocyte lysate(LAL) to detect or to measure the concentration of saidbiologically active substances. When assessing the start timeof the limulus reaction between biogenous biologically activesubstances and LAL and using the reaction start time todetermine the concentration of the biogenous biologicallyactive substances, in order to exclude the influence ofprogressive changes which occur regardless of the conditionsof the limulus reaction, the strength of transmitted light orscattered light in the liquid mixture of the measurementsample and LAL is detected, the variation (delta) in thetransmittance or number of gel particles is acquired at setintervals, and the time when the variation (delta) crosses athreshold value is taken as the reaction start time. Furthermore,the time intervals when acquiring the abovementioneddelta are not uniform, and either change over timefrom the start of measurement as defined by a timefunction, or multiple sequences with differing time intervals areprepared in advance.