Method of automatically detecting a test result of a probe zone of a test strip

• US 20040232239A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hiyes International Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tseng, Wen-Chao
• Granted Patent: US 7,097,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04

Abstract

A method of automatically detecting a test result of a probe zone of a test strip is provided. The present method scans a scanning object including a bar code and a plurality of test strips to read the bar code pattern and the images of the test strips. Decoding the bar code pattern to obtain the information of types of the test strips, and thereby a plurality of mapping tables of setting values versus positions of target lines of one of the test strips. Each of the test strips corresponds to one of the mapping tables based on the type of the test strip. Each of the setting values of the mapping table corresponds to one target line of the test strip. Calculating a color response of one target line of the test strip based on the image of the test strip, and comparing the color response with the setting value from the mapping table corresponding thereto. Thereby, determining whether the target line has a positive test result or a negative test result in response to a specific component in a test liquid detected by the test strip.

Claims

1. A method of automatically detecting a test result of a probe zone of a test strip, comprising:

providing a scanning object including a bar code and a plurality of test strips, said bar code placed in a predetermined position on said scanning object and said test strips arranged in sequence on said scanning object not overlapped with said bar code, each said test strip having a color pattern including a control line and a plurality of target lines arranged in sequence on said test strip from one end to the other end thereof, and said control line and each said target line respectively corresponding to a probe zone of said test strip;

scanning said scanning object to read a bar code pattern of said bar code and capture images of said test strips;

decoding said bar code pattern of said bar code to obtain information of types of said test strips and thereby a plurality of mapping tables of setting values versus positions of said target lines on one said test strip, each said mapping table corresponding to one said test strip based on the type of said test strip;

calculating a color response of one said target line of one said test strip based on the image of said test strip; and

comparing the color response of said target line of said test strip with said setting value corresponding thereto derived from said mapping table corresponding to said test strip so as to determine whether said target line has a positive test result or a negative test result.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the color response of said target line of said test strip is calculated in accordance with a formula (I):

R={(T−

C)/(A−

C)}×

100% 

 

(I),

wherein T represents an average pixel value of a section of pixels corresponding to the image of said target line, C represents an average pixel value of a section of pixels corresponding to the image of said control line, and A represents an average pixel value of a first section of pixels and a second section of pixels corresponding to the images of the base of said test strip respectively adjacent to the image of said target line.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said bar code has a one-dimensional bar code pattern, including:

a first group of bar patterns corresponding to types of said test strips, each said bar pattern sequentially corresponding to the type of one said test strip;

a plurality of second groups of bar patterns, each said second group of bar patterns sequentially corresponding to one said test strip, and each said bar pattern therein sequentially corresponding to the position of one said target lines of said test strip; and

a third group of bar patterns corresponding to an identification number of said scanning object.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each said bar pattern of said bar code has a constant code length and consists of bars and spaces.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said color response R of said target line of said test strip is calculated based on the image of said test strip in red pixels.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said color response R of said target line of said test strip is calculated based on the image of said test strip in green pixels.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said color response R of said target line of said test strip is calculated based on the image of said test strip in blue pixels.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said color response R of said target line of said test strip is calculated based on the image of said test strip in average pixels values of red, green and blue pixels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said control line has a color change in response to a test liquid tested by said test strip and each said target line has a color change in response to a specific component in said test liquid.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each said setting value of said mapping table corresponds to one said specific component to be detected by one said target line of said test strip.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein when the color response of said target line of said test strip is not smaller than said setting value, determining said target line having a positive test result in response to said specific component in said test liquid and representing said specific component present in said test liquid;

when the color response of said target line of said test strip is less than said setting value, determining said target line having a negative test result in response to said specific component and representing said specific component absent in said test liquid.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said test strip includes a drug abuse test paper.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said test liquid includes a biological fluid collected from a subject.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said biological fluid is selected from a group consisting of blood, urine, sweat, and saliva.

15. One-dimensional bar code pattern, comprising:

a first group of bar patterns corresponding to types of a group of objects, each said bar pattern respectively corresponding to the type of one said object;

a plurality of second groups of bar patterns, each said second group of bar patterns respectively corresponding to a set of setting values of one said object, each said bar pattern corresponding to one said setting value, and the set of said setting values based on the type of said object; and

a third group of bar patterns corresponding to an identification number representing the group of said objects.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each said bar pattern of said one-dimensional bar code pattern has a constant code length and consists of bars and spaces.