(19)

(11)

EP 0 850 418 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 01.07.1998 Bulletin 1998/27 (21) Application number: 96932788.0 (22) Date of filing: 13.09.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G01N 33/ 53( . ) G01N 33/ 68( . ) G01N 33/ 50( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/IE1996/000061 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/010508 (20.03.1997 Gazette 1997/13)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 15.09.1995 IE 19950000725 (71) Applicant: The Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin Dublin 2 (IE)	(72) Inventors: WEIR, Donald George Dublin 16 (IE) WHELAN, Christopher Alexander County Dublin (IE) (74) Representative: Ryan, Anne Mary  c/o Anne Ryan & Co. 60 Northumberland Road Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Ballsbridge Dublin 4 (IE)