Patent ID: 8623635

Claim:
A diagnostic device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid sample, the device comprising: a casing having a display; a lateral flow diagnostic strip having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein at least a portion of said lateral flow diagnostic strip is received in said casing and said lateral flow diagnostic strip first end is configured to receive a fluid sample, said lateral flow diagnostic strip having: a capture region intermediate said lateral flow diagnostic strip first and second ends, a labeled conjugate comprising a first binding member, configured to be reactive with a first epitope of the analyte in the fluid sample and a detectable label, located proximate said lateral flow diagnostic strip first end, a capturable component comprising of a second binding member configured to be reactive with a second epitope of the analyte located intermediate said labeled conjugate and said capture region, and a capture component located at said lateral flow diagnostic strip capture region, a processor received in said casing; at least one light source received in said casing and operatively coupled to said processor; and at least one sensor received in said casing and operatively coupled to said processor, said at least one sensor positioned proximate said lateral flow diagnostic strip so as to sense said capture region; wherein when the fluid sample is received at said lateral flow diagnostic strip first end said labeled conjugate is reconstituted in the sample fluid; the fluid sample and said reconstituted labeled conjugate move toward said capture region; said at least one light source, said at least one sensor and said processor are configured to detect a valid fluid front by detecting a persistent presence of said labeled conjugate in the fluid sample as it passes said capture region prior to detecting the presence of the analyte.