Patent ID: 8614101

Claim:
A method for detecting at least one target in a sample, comprising the steps of: a) transferring a sample that is not lysed onto a sample application zone of a sample analysis device; b) applying an elution medium comprising at least one first lysis agent to the sample analysis device to transfer the sample from the sample application zone to a detection zone, wherein the sample encounters the at least one first lysis agent in the elution medium such that the sample is lysed prior to reaching the detection zone; and c) analyzing the sample for a presence of the target in the sample, comprising the substep of detecting a presence of the target in the sample by detecting a signal from the labeled binding partner in the detection zone; wherein the sample application zone, and the detection zone are on a chromatographic test strip, and the chromatographic test strip further comprises a conjugate zone, wherein the conjugate zone comprises at least one labeled binding partner that is able to migrate with the elution medium and wherein the labeled binding partner encounters the sample while the sample is being transferred from the sample application zone to the detection zone and binds to the target when the target is present in the sample; wherein the chromatographic test strip further comprises a lysis zone that comprises at least one second lysis agent, wherein the lysis zone is located on the chromatographic test strip in a location selected from the group consisting of: i) between the sample application zone and the conjugate zone; ii) a location where at least a portion of the lysis zone overlaps the sample application zone; iii) a location where at least a portion of the lysis zone overlaps the conjugate zone; and iv) a location where at least a portion of the lysis zone overlaps the sample application zone and at least a portion of the lysis zone overlaps the conjugate zone.