Patent ID: 7431882

Claim:
Assaying apparatus for collecting and analyzing a liquid sample for an analyte in the liquid sample, the apparatus comprising: a container having an interior sample chamber with a liquid sample space, said container having a surface defining an opening in communication with said interior sample chamber; a cap adapted to be placed on said container opening for closing said container opening and sealing said container; an assay strip disposed in said cap, said assay strip having an assay region disposed in said cap for indicating the presence or absence of an analyte in a liquid sample placed in said liquid sample space of said interior chamber, and said cap including a separator member disposed between said assay strip and said interior sample chamber for separating said liquid sample space from said assay region of said assay strip; a wick mounted to said cap and extending into said liquid sample space of said interior sample chamber when said cap is placed on said container, said wick being in fluid communication with said assay strip for conducting a portion of the liquid sample from said interior chamber to said assay region of said assay strip; and an annular bridging wick piece connected between said wick and said assay strip in fluid communication with said wick and said assay strip and in immediate contact with said assay strip for conducting the liquid sample from said wick to said assay strip.