Patent ID: 6534324
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A system for screening fluid samples for the presence of a compound of interest, comprising:an elongated backing strip; a sample pad, having a forward end and a rearward end, for receiving an aliquot of the liquid to be tested, said sample pad being composed of an absorbent material; a conjugate pad, having a forward end and a rearward end, for receiving liquid flowing from said sample pad, said conjugate pad being composed of an absorbent material and disposed so that the forward end of said conjugate pad is in fluid communication with the rearward end of said sample pad when said conjugate pad and said sample pad are wet; said conjugate pad having deposited thereon a conjugate solution of concentration C; a bridge for receiving liquid flowing from said conjugate pad, said bridge having a forward end and a rearward end, and being composed of an absorbent material and disposed so that the forward end of said bridge is in fluid communication with the rearward end of said conjugate pad when said bridge and said conjugate pad are wet; said bridge having deposited thereon, a buffer and having a length L and thickness T; a display membrane having deposited thereon an immobilized protein, said display membrane having a forward end and a rearward end, and being composed of an absorbent material and being disposed such that the forward end of said membrane is in fluid communication with the rearward end of said bridge when said membrane and said bridge are wet; and said concentration C, said buffer, said length L, and said thickness T being adapted to be independently adjustable parameters to optimize the system for detecting a particular compound of interest at a particular concentration.