Patent ID: 7374719
Filing Date: 2008-05-20
Classification: C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for measuring concentration of multiple analytes in a whole blood sample, comprising: a test matrix comprising: an elongated porous disbursement layer; at least one blood separation layer adjacent to the bottom surface of said disbursement layer; at least two vertically aligned stacks spaced apart and adjacent to the bottom surface of said at least one blood separation layer; wherein a first one of said vertically aligned stacks includes multiple layers, said multiple layers including a reagent and a chromagen, said multiple layers of said first stack not including a blank layer, and a second one of said vertically aligned stacks includes a blank layer, said blank layer having a thickness suitable for maintaining said stacks at substantially the same total thickness, said blank layer containing neither any reagents nor chromagen, said second stack including a chromagen layer below said blank layer; said apparatus further comprising a test strip holder having top and bottom portions sandwiching said test matrix therebetween, said top portion of said test strip holder having a sample application window exposing a top surface of said disbursement layer, and said bottom portion of said test strip holder having at least one test reading window through which bottom surfaces of said first and second stacks can be read.