Patent ID: 6962819

Claim:
A method for quantitatively measuring an analyte using a dry analytical element which comprises: A) supplying a whole blood sample to be analyzed to an analytical element comprising layers comprising at least a hydrophilic polymer layer and a microporous layer having a surface rendered hydrophilic and being laminated onto a water-impermeable support in the order of the microporous layer, the hydrophilic polymer layer, and then the support, said microporous layer being capable of separating blood cells; said whole blood sample being supplied onto said microporous layer; B) drying the analytical element from step A for a fixed time period within a range of ±5° C. of a fixed drying temperature, wherein said fixed drying temperature is within the range of 10–60° C., to obtain a moisture content of the hydrophilic polymer of less than 20%; C) pipetting a measuring reagent solution above the microporous layer to the dried analytical element from step B to cause a reaction to occur corresponding to an analyte in the blood sample, said measuring reagent reacting directly with the analyte to produce a chemical change; D) removing the microporous layer, and E) subjecting the analytical element from step D to optical measurement to analyze the analyte in the whole blood sample.