(19)

(11)

EP 0 796 347 A2

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 24.09.1997 Bulletin 1997/39 (21) Application number: 96931542.0 (22) Date of filing: 12.09.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C12N 15/ 09( . ) C12Q 1/ 70( . ) C12Q 1/ 68( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1996/014648 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/011196 (27.03.1997 Gazette 1997/14)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE ES FI FR GB IT LI NL SE (30) Priority: 21.09.1995 US 19950531747 21.09.1995 US 19950531749 (71) Applicant: Becton Dickinson and Company Franklin Lakes, New Jersey 07417-1880 (US)	(72) Inventors: LOHMAN, Kenton L. San Jose, CA 95136 (US) OSTREROVA, Natalie V. Mountain View, CA 94040 (US) VAN CLEVE, Mark Durham, NC 27707 (US) REID, Robert Alan Durham, NC 27713 (US) (74) Representative: Rambelli, Paolo, et al  c/o JACOBACCI & PERANI S.p.A. Corso Regio Parco, 27 10152 Torino 10152 Torino (IT)