Patent ID: 6268162
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: C12Q,G01N,Y02A,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of measuring an analyte concentration in a reflectance-reading device after said analyte reacts with a reagent in a porous polyamide substantially reflective matrix located in said device, which comprises:taking a first reflectance reading from a dry first surface of said porous matrix prior to application of a sample of body fluid suspected of containing said analyte to a second surface of said porous matrix from which said sample can travel to said first surface by capillary action and react with said reagent in said porous matrix if said analyte is present in said sample;applying said sample to said second surface of said porous matrix;taking an additional reflectance reading from said first surface after said sample is applied to said porous matrix;comparing said additional reflectance reading to said first reflectance reading;initiating a sequence of measurement reflectance readings at specified time intervals upon a predetermined drop in reflectance sufficient to indicate that said sample has reached said first surface; andcalculating said analyte concentration in said sample from said sequence of measurement reflectance readings without having determined the time at which said sample was initially applied to said porous matrix.