Patent ID: 7279136

Claim:
A diagnostic test kit for detecting the presence of an analyte within a test sample, the test kit comprising a lateral flow assay device that further includes: a membrane comprising a sample receiving region, a collection region and a detection region, said collection region physically defined so as to have a known saturation volume with respect to said test sample of less than about 100 microliters, such that upon saturation of said collection region, a known volume of the test sample is contained in said collection region; and a barrier disposed between said collection region and said detection region, wherein said barrier is removed to facilitate flow of said test sample from said collection region to said detection region of said membrane; said receiving region disposed for initial receipt of the test sample, and further comprising means for physically seperating said collection region into its known saturation volume after receipt of the test sample from said receiving region and prior to supplying a diluent to said collection region.