Patent ID: 7713475

Claim:
A method of conducting a lateral flow immunoassay comprising: providing a housing including means for holding a test sample collector with a test sample contained within said collector; an elongated holder member securing at least one immunoassay test strip therein; a first chamber containing a first, pre-treatment reagent; and a second chamber containing a second reagent; contacting the test sample with said pre-treatment reagent and allowing said test sample to mix with said first reagent and to form a mixture; combining said second reagent with said mixture in the second chamber and allowing said mixture to react with said second reagent for a period of time prior to contacting the mixture and second reagent combination with at least one immunoassay test strip; activating the elongate holder member; and allowing the mixture and second reagent combination to contact said at least one immunoassay test strip; wherein said elongated holder member is held at a position spaced apart from the second chamber until said elongated holder member is activated.