Patent ID: 6924153

Claim:
A method of visually quantifying an amount of an analyte in a sample, wherein the analyte is a member of a specific binding pair (sbp member), comprising: providing a lateral flow matrix which defines a flow path and which comprises in series, a sample receiving zone, a labeling zone, and a plurality of serially oriented capture zones, wherein the labeling zone comprises a diffusively bound labeled first sbp member that is complementary to or analogous to the analyte, and each of the capture zones comprises at least a second sbp member immobilized in the capture zones; the second sbp member being complementary to the analyte; contacting the sample with the sample receiving zone, whereby the sample flows along the flow path; observing a pattern of label that accumulates at the plurality of capture zones; and correlating a pattern of label accumulated in the capture zones to the amount of analyte in the sample; wherein the sample receiving zone comprises an amount of a third sbp member immobilized within the sample receiving zone and complementary to the analyte, the amount being sufficient to bind a threshold level of the analyte.