Patent ID: 6475805
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for the detection of an analyte or analyte class in a liquid sample, comprising the steps of:a) providing a lateral flow test strip within a housing, wherein a portion of the housing defines an expansion housing cavity, and wherein the test strip comprises (i) a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a bottom surface, (ii) an absorption zone proximal to the first end, the absorption zone comprising an expandable absorption material within the expansion housing cavity defined by said housing, the expansion housing cavity dimensioned to prevent full expansion of the absorption material, and (iii) a reference zone comprising one or more component(s) for detection of said analyte or analyte class; b) allowing a contact to form between the test strip and the liquid sample so as to allow absorption of the liquid sample into the absorption material, thereby causing the absorption material to expand within the expansion housing cavity so as to aid in forcing the liquid-sample to flow toward the reference zone; and c) observing changes in the reference zone as an indication of the presence or absence of the analyte or analyte class in the liquid sample.