Patent ID: 8389209

Claim:
Analyte detection method for the detection of at least one analyte in a sample, comprising the steps of (i) vertically positioning a test device, wherein said test device comprises on one or more sides of the solid support arranged from one end to the other end of the device: (a) a first capillary zone comprising a sample application zone, (b) a second capillary zone comprising an intermediate zone and a detection zone, disposed next to said intermediate zone, and optionally an absorbent zone or region disposed next to said detection zone, said detection zone optionally comprising a control subzone, (c) a non-capillary zone; separating the sample application zone of the first capillary zone from the intermediate zone of said second capillary zone, wherein said non-capillary zone is configured such as to prevent any direct and capillary contact between the sample application zone and the intermediate zone, and said non-capillary zone provides for a mixing zone; wherein said sample application zone, said non-capillary zone and said intermediate zone are disposed in a manner such that when the device is in use, sample can flow only by gravity through the non-capillary zone, from the first capillary zone comprising the sample application zone to the second capillary zone comprising the intermediate zone and detection zone, (ii) contacting the sample application zone on the top end of the device with a sample and (iii) allowing the sample to move from said first capillary zone comprising the sample application zone to said second capillary zone comprising the intermediate zone, by gravity through said non-capillary zone, and (iv) detecting the analyte, and wherein steps (i) to (iv) are performed with the device held in a substantially upright position.