Patent ID: 7662643

Claim:
A method for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample, said method comprising: i) providing a flow-through assay device comprising a porous membrane, said porous membrane being in communication with conjugated detection probes capable of generating a detection signal, said porous membrane defining a chromatographic zone within which a plurality of particles having micropores are immobilized and a detection zone located downstream from said chromatographic zone, wherein a capture reagent is immobilized within said detection zone; ii) contacting a test sample containing the analyte with said conjugated detection probes so that analyte/probe complexes and uncomplexed analyte are formed; iii) allowing said analyte/probe complexes and said uncomplexed analyte to reach said chromatographic zone and then said detection zone, wherein said analyte/probe complexes move through said chromatographic zone at a faster rate than said uncomplexed analyte such that said analyte/probe complexes reach said detection zone before said uncomplexed analyte; and iv) detecting said detection signal generated by said detection probes within said detection zone.