Patent ID: 8592171

Claim:
A method for detecting two or more analytes in a test solution, the method comprising: a) applying at least two binders to a test strip, each of the at least two binders: (i) configured for generating a detectable signal, (ii) having affinity for at least one of the two or more analytes; and (iii) capable of combining with at least one of the two or more analytes to form a binder-analyte complex; b) immobilizing, within each of at least two or more test zones of the test strip, a test zone capture agent, each of the test zone capture agents having affinity for at least one of the binders; c) immobilizing, within a single control zone of the test strip, at least two control zone capture agents, each of the at least two control zone capture agents having affinity to at least one of the binders and each able to capture at least one of the binders whether or not the binder has formed the binder-analyte complex, wherein each control zone capture agent has a different affinity for the at least one binder; d) applying the test solution to the test strip, wherein when the test solution is added to the test strip the two or more analytes, when present in the test solution, combine with the at least two binders to form binder-analyte complexes; e) capturing binders unbound by analytes in at least one of the test zones, and capturing binders in the control zone whether or not the binders have formed binder-analyte complexes; f) detecting detectable signals in the control zone and in the at least two test zones; and g) comparing the signal in the control zone to the signal in the one or more test zones to detect the two or more analytes, wherein a greater signal in the control zone as compared to the signal in any one of the test zones indicates a positive result.