Patent ID: 7319037

Claim:
An integrated, multi-test, immersable test strip-type fluid testing device for simultaneously determining the value of each of a plurality of properties of a fluid to be tested, the fluid testing device comprising: a test substrate; and a plurality of test sections, located on said test substrate, each of said test sections including: a test sub-section which exhibits a reaction color according to said value, as a result of reaction of a reagent with said fluid, said reagent being impregnated within said test sub-section prior to testing; and a reference section located adjacent to said test sub-section, said reference section including a plurality of different reference colors and being arranged such that each of said plurality of reference colors is situated adjacent to and in contact with said test sub-section, wherein said test sub-section substantially encompasses said entire reference section having said plurality of different reference colors, such that, when said test sub-section exhibits said reaction color in accordance with a fluid property value, said value is indicated by a matching one of said reference colors which lies against said test sub-section reaction color, so as to become substantially visually merged therewith, said device enabling fluid analysis of the test fluid by a self-contained, one-step procedure of immersion of the entire strip including both said test sub-section and said reference section, reaction during immersion and color reading of said reaction results upon retrieval from the test fluid, wherein reading of said indicated value in each test sub-section is performed by visually matching said test sub-section reaction color with said substantially visually merged one of said different reference colors due to self-alignment therebetween, such that said indicated value of each of the plurality of fluid properties can be simply read in a straight forward matching process with improved accuracy in simultaneous and immediate fashion, without requiring the physical alignment of said test sub-section reaction color with said reference colors, said indicated value of each of the plurality of multi-test fluid properties being provided in a recordable form, thereby enabling review of an entire set of said reaction results by summary inspection, wherein said plurality of multi-test fluid properties forms a group consisting essentially of pH, total hardness, nitrate, nitrite, free chlorine and copper.