Patent ID: 7883899
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: B01L,G01N

Abstract:
1. A platform comprising one or more dry porous membranes for detecting at least one component in a low volume liquid sample, the membranes providing a membrane channel through which the liquid sample flows by capillary action while reactions take place determinative of at least one component in the sample; the platform formed with sample application means and having top and bottom layers with hydrophilic surfaces to enclose and position the membranes, each layer having a top and bottom surface formed so that the bottom surface of the top layer and the top surface of the bottom layer may be brought into fixed face to face contact so that the layers enclose and hold the membranes in place and form a platform flow channel upstream of the membranes and downstream of the sample application means, and including at least one indent in at least one of the hydrophilic surfaces, the formed platform flow channel is configured to promote increased capillary force and uniform flow of the sample and is in fluid communication with the membranes to permit the liquid sample to flow by capillary action in a continuous pathway from the upstream sample application means through the platform flow channel and then to an edge of an upstream end of the membranes towards the distal end of said membranes.