Patent ID: 8008034

Claim:
A method of detecting an analyte in a sample, comprising: (a) allowing a sample suspected to contain the analyte to react with at least one reactant contained in a fluidic device, said device comprising: (i) an assay assembly configured to yield an optical signal that is indicative of the presence of the analyte, said assay assembly comprising: (1) a reagent chamber comprising at least one reagent used in said assay; and (2) at least one reaction site comprising a reactant that binds said analyte, wherein said assay assembly is adapted to yield an optical signal indicative of the presence of the analyte in the sample, and wherein the at least one reagent reacts with a second reagent in said assay assembly to produce the optical signal; and (ii) a quencher assembly in fluidic communication with but in a separate location from said assay assembly, wherein said quencher assembly comprises a quenching agent that inhibits an enzymatic reaction between the at least one reagent and the second reagent in said quencher assembly to reduce signals that interfere with the optical signals detected from said assay assembly; and (b) channeling unreacted reactants to said quencher assembly where interfering signals from said unreacted reactants are quenched with said quenching agent; and (c) detecting said optical signal thereby detecting the analyte in the sample.