Patent ID: 8722423

Claim:
A method for use in the detection of an analyte in a liquid sample, said detection taking place in a process on a substrate, said method comprising the steps of: adding liquid sample to a receiving zone on a surface of said substrate; transporting at least a subset of said liquid sample through capillary action from said receiving zone where said sample is added, to an optional zone where a reaction/detection takes place, said transport by capillary action defining a lateral flow path, said substrate being non-porous, at least part of said lateral flow path comprising areas of projections substantially vertical to said surface, and having a height (H), diameter (D) and reciprocal spacing (t 1 , t 2 ) such that lateral capillary flow of said liquid sample is spontaneously induced without requiring a cover to contribute to the induced capillary flow, said substrate further including a zone opposite said receiving zone exerting capillary force and having the capacity to receive liquid sample along said flow path; and separating unwanted components in said sample without interruption of said capillary flow wherein said separation step is achieved using means for separation comprising a filter that retains said unwanted components and wherein a device retaining said substrate is constructed to induce capillary action without the need for a cover.