A diagnostic composition and method for detecting the reduction of nitrate to nitrite by micro-organisms which comprises a carrier material impregnated in specific zones with a nitrate-containing medium, a barrier composition, and two stable reagent solutions. In use, a suspension of the culture to be tested is incubated in the presence of the nitrate medium and the reduction of nitrate to nitrite is indicated by the formation of color in the reagent zones.

Test composition and method for assaying dehydrogenase enzymes in test fluids which comprises contacting the fluid with a test reagent comprising a coenzyme, a substrate for the dehydrogenase enzyme, a terminal acceptor dye and Meldola's Blue as an intermediary hydrogen carrier. A preferable embodiment of the present invention comprises incorporating the test composition with a solid carrier therefor and using the same as a dip and read test device.

An improved transport vehicle for N. gonorroheae and N. meningitidis utilizing under a 10% CO.sub.2 blanket, a growth medium which utilizes as essential components an improved hard agar concentration of about 2.0-2.5 percent twinned with about 0.25 percent dextrose. A diamino benzyl pyrimidine to selectively screen out Proteus may be added.

Amino-oxazolines useful as central nervous system depressants having the formula: ##SPC1## Wherein X is oxygen, sulfur or methylamino; R is hydrogen or alkyl; R' is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, dimethylamino, fluorine, chlorine or bromine; R" is hydrogen or alkyl; R'" is hydrogen or alkyl. Typical is 2-(4-thiochromanylamino)-2-oxazoline useful as a central nervous system depressant.

Sulfated polysaccharide, polyethylene sulfonic acid, polyvinyl sulfuric acid, polystyreme sulfonic acid, a sulfate ester of a polyethylene ether of an aliphatic alcohol having from 12 to 18 carbon atoms, monothioglycerol or sulfated naphthalene are combined with a bacterial culture medium. These compositions inhibit the antibacterial components of contaminated body fluids, thereby allowing the contaminant bacteria to grow freely.

Assay of urea is provided by spectrophotometric measurement of a test solution containing the urea to be assayed together with ATP: urea amido-lyase and adenosine triphosphate as co-substrate for the enzyme, together with nicotine adenine dinucleotide, reduced; phosphoenol pyruvate; lactate dehydrogenase; pyruvate kinase; and magnesium and potassium ions. The transformation of the urea is followed quantitatively by optical absorption measurements at 340 millimicrons. The assay is unaffected by t...

A culture medium which provides an environment for positive and nontransient identification of proteus and providence strains of enteric bacteria utilizes a combination of L-tryptophane with ferric ammonium citrate and brom cresol purple with the optional addition of L-phenylalanine in a slightly acid medium. The culture is also provided with a gelling agent such as agar in order to produce a slant and with nutrients for the bacteria. The combination of components may be incorporated into otherw...

A test method is provided for determining whether a person is a schizophrenic, which comprises suitably treating a plurality of test animals, obtaining a sample of the person's blood, pre-mixing the blood, or preferably the plasma therefrom with 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine, internally administering the mixture to the test animals, and maintaining the animals under aggregated or crowded conditions while observing their behavior for amphetamine-like reaction and lethality as an indication of the...

Method and apparatus for quantitating enzyme activity in blood and other fluids, using a spot test technique. The test utilizes enzyme standards freeze-dried in absorbent discs held under a membrane filter. Other discs above the filter contain substrate, cofactors, and indicators. The spot test plates are entirely self-contained, requiring neither instrumentation nor measurement of fluid volumes, and the test can be carried out under any ambient conditions. The test is particularly applicable to...

A unitary sterility indicator and a method for its use, the indicator comprising a deformable, translucent outer compartment having a closed, gas-transmissive, bacteria-impermeable opening therein and containing a predetermined number of viable microorganisms; a normally sealed, pressure-openable inner compartment snugly disposed in the outer compartment and containing an aqueous nutrient medium; and a detector material sensitive to microorganism growth and contained in one or both compartments.