MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS

**Definition:** This place covers:

Processes in which there is a direct or indirect qualitative or quantitative measurement or test of a material which contains enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms.

Processes in which a material containing enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms is used to perform a qualitative or quantitative measurement or test, e.g. testing for antimicrobial activity or cholesterol, geomicrobiological testing.

In vivo or in vitro or in silico measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid e.g. nucleic acid hybridisation including PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).

Compositions or test papers containing enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms which can be used to detect or identify a chemical compound or composition, e.g. paper strips for the testing of blood sugar.

Compositions or test papers distinguished by the use of indicators which can be used to detect or identify the presence of enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms.

Processes of making such test compositions.

Processes involving enzymes or microorganisms in which a process parameter is measured and that or another process parameter is varied in response to such measurement, i.e. condition responsive control.

**Limiting references (this place does not cover):** - Immunoassay -> G01N33/53 - Immunoassay with enzyme label -> G01N33/535 - Immunoassay with the carrier being a biological cell or cell fragment -> G01N33/554 - Immunoassay for microorganisms -> G01N33/569 - Immunoassay for venereal diseases -> G01N33/571 - Immunoassay for enzymes and isoenzymes -> G01N33/573 - Immunoassay for cancer -> G01N33/575 - Immunoassay for hepatitis -> G01N33/576

**Glossary:** - Enzyme: Proteinaceous material which causes a chemical change in a starting material without being consumed in the reaction. - Involving: When used in relation to a substance, includes the testing for the substance as well as employing the substance as a determinant or reactant in a test for a different substance. - Microorganism: For the purposes of classification, this term includes bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa and algae. - Nucleic acid: Comprises nucleic acids as in vitro compounds as well as sub-cellular parts in vivo like chromosome territories within the nucleus, plasmids, gene sequences, genetic information, mutations, polymorphisms such as SNPs, in silico base sequences, aptamers (ligand binding nucleic acids) and ribozymes (catalytic active RNA molecules).