Patent ID: 8647890

Claim:
A method for the detection of a target which is selected from pathogens and/or allergy-associated components in a body fluid comprising the steps of: (a) non-invasively collecting a body fluid sample with a swab member; (b) directly contacting said swab member with a sample application zone on a lateral flow chromatographic test strip; wherein the sample is not diluted before contact between the swab member and the sample application zone on the lateral flow chromatographic test strip; and wherein at least a part of said body fluid sample is released directly into said sample application zone due to said swab member contacting said sample application zone; wherein the lateral flow chromatographic test strip further comprises a conjugate zone that is located at least partially within the sample application zone and comprises at least one binding partner for the target; (c) applying an elution medium to an absorbent pad on the lateral flow chromatographic test strip to transfer said sample to a detection zone on the lateral flow chromatographic test strip; and (d) analyzing the sample.