Method of processing assay test results

• US 20040152208A1
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Hutchinson
• Original Assignee: Michael Hutchinson
• Inventors: Hutchinson, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,214,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/518
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/523 the element being adapted for a specific analyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/12 Condition responsive control

Abstract

In accordance with certain disclosed embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of analyzing assay test results for determining whether a fluid under test contains a certain substance. The disclosed method includes detecting the certain substance in the fluid under test received on a test strip, and generating an electrical signal indicative of the amount of the substance detected. The disclosed method further includes responding to the signal, and determining whether or not the fluid under test contains a predetermined quantity of the certain substance to generate an electric output signal. The method disclosed also includes responding to the output signal to indicate the presence or absence of a predetermined quantity of the certain substance contained within the fluid under test. The disclosed method includes delaying in the detecting until after a predetermined time delay interval, and storing the detected information at the completion of the time delay interval. The stored information is compared with stored threshold electric signals to determine whether or not the fluid under test contains a predetermined quantity of the certain substance.

Claims

1. A method of testing a fluid sample to determine whether or not it contains a certain substance, comprising:

starting a timer in response to detecting the fluid sample under test being received on a test strip;

causing the generation of an electric time-out signal indicative of the end of a predetermined time delay interval;

causing the determination of whether or not the fluid sample under test contains a predetermined quantity of the certain substance in response to said time-out signal;

generating an electric output signal in response to the determination; and

causing the indication of the presence or absence of a predetermined quantity of the certain substance contained within the fluid sample under test.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said timer is a software timer.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said time delay interval is about three minutes.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said causing the determination includes initiating a photo optic sensing of the results of a reaction on the test strip.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said causing the indication includes initiating the illumination of a light source.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said light source is at least one light emitting diode.

7. A method according to claim 1, further including monitoring to determine if a power up signal is received to start a test operation.

8. A method according to claim 7, causing the illumination of a light source indicating that the test is ready to commence.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said illumination changes to a blinking mode after a predetermined time delay interval indicating that the test sample should be introduced to the test strip expeditiously.

10. A method according to claim 7, further including causing the initial reading of a sample sensor and of a reaction sensor after a light adaptation time interval for threshold determination purposes.

11. A method according to claim 1, further including determining whether the initial sensor readings exceeds a predetermined threshold.

12. A method according to claim 11, further including determining whether the reaction sensor readings exceed a predetermined reaction sensor threshold.

13. A method according to claim 12, further including starting the timer when it is determined that the reaction sensor readings exceed the predetermined reaction sensor threshold.

14. A method according to claim 13, further including causing the determination of whether or not the fluid under test contains a predetermined quantity of the certain substance after the determination is made of the reaction sensor readings exceed the reaction sensor threshold.

15. A method according to claim 14, further including illuminating at least one light source indicating a positive test result in response to the reaction sensor determination.

16. A method according to claim 14, further including illuminating at least one light source indicating a negative test result in response to the reaction sensor determination.

17. A software media for controlling a testing method of a fluid sample to determine whether or not it contains a certain substance, comprising:

a method of testing a fluid sample to determine whether or not it contains a certain substance, comprising;

starting a timer in response to detecting the fluid sample under test being received on a test strip;

causing the generation of an electric time-out signal indicative of the end of a predetermined time delay interval;

causing the determination of whether or not the fluid sample under test contains a predetermined quantity of the certain substance in response to said time-out signal;

generating an electric output signal in response to the determination; and

causing the indication of the presence or absence of a predetermined quantity of the certain substance contained within the fluid sample under test.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said timer is a software timer.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said time delay interval is about three minutes.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein said causing the determination includes initiating a photo optic sensing of the results of a reaction on the test strip.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein said causing the indication includes initiating the illumination of a light source.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said light source is at least one light emitting diode.

23. A method according to claim 17, further including monitoring to determine if a power up signal is received to start a test operation.

24. A method according to claim 23, causing the illumination of a light source indicating that the test is ready to commence.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein said illumination changes to a blinking mode after a predetermined time delay interval indicating that the test sample should be introduced to the test strip expeditiously.

26. A method according to claim 23, further including causing the initial reading of a sample sensor and of a reaction sensor after a light adaptation time interval for threshold determination purposes.

27. A method according to claim 17, further including determining whether the initial sensor readings exceeds a predetermined threshold.

28. A method according to claim 27, further including determining whether the reaction sensor readings exceed a predetermined reaction sensor threshold.

29. A method according to claim 28, further including starting the timer when it is determined that the reaction sensor readings exceed the predetermined reaction sensor threshold.

30. A method according to claim 29, further including causing the determination of whether or not the fluid under test contains a predetermined quantity of the certain substance after the determination is made of the reaction sensor readings exceed the reaction sensor threshold.

31. A method according to claim 30, further including illuminating at least one light source indicating a positive test result in response to the reaction sensor determination.

32. A method according to claim 30, further including illuminating at least one light source indicating a negative test result in response to the reaction sensor determination.