Patent ID: 9709562
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: G01N

Claim:
1. A method for processing analytical test elements in a clinical analyzer, said method comprising the steps of: introducing a first plurality of analytical test elements into said clinical analyzer, said first plurality comprising lateral flow assay devices each comprising a support, at least one sample addition area, at least one reagent area, at least one detection area, and at least one wicking area, each of said areas being fluidly interconnected to one another to define at least one linear fluid flow path; dispensing a volume of sample onto the sample addition area of at least one of said plurality of lateral flow assay devices, wherein the sample is caused to move along the at least one fluid path under capillary action and in which a detectable signal is produced when the moving sample is combined with material in the reaction zone for detection of the detectable signal in the at least one detection area; advancing the at least one lateral flow assay device into an incubator of the clinical analyzer; incubating said at least one lateral flow assay device; aligning the at least one lateral flow device with a fluorimeter disposed within the incubator; and scanning a linear portion of the detection area of the at least one lateral flow device within the incubator for the presence of the detectable signal from said at least one lateral flow assay device using the fluorimeter.