Transmission-based luminescent detection systems
First Claim
1. A luminescent detection system for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample, said system comprising:
- an assay device that includes a chromatographic medium, said chromatographic medium being in communication with luminescent detection probes, said luminescent detection probes being capable of emitting a detection signal;
an illumination source capable of providing electromagnetic radiation that excites said luminescent detection probes to emit said detection signal; and
a detector capable of registering said detection signal emitted by said luminescent detection probes, wherein said illumination source and said detector are positioned on opposing sides of said assay device so that said chromatographic medium is positioned in the electromagnetic radiation path defined between said illumination source and said detector, said chromatographic medium being transmissive to said electromagnetic radiation and said detection signal.
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Abstract
A luminescent detection system that employs transmission-based detection is provided for use with a chromatographic-based assay device. Unlike conventional systems, the detection system of the present invention is portable, simple to use, and inexpensive. For example, the system may be selectively controlled to reduce reliance on expensive optical components, such as monochromators or narrow emission bandwidth optical filters. In addition, the detection system is also capable of eliminating background interference from many sources, such as scattered light and autofluorescence, which have often plagued conventional fluorescent detection systems.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A luminescent detection system for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample, said system comprising:
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an assay device that includes a chromatographic medium, said chromatographic medium being in communication with luminescent detection probes, said luminescent detection probes being capable of emitting a detection signal;
an illumination source capable of providing electromagnetic radiation that excites said luminescent detection probes to emit said detection signal; and
a detector capable of registering said detection signal emitted by said luminescent detection probes, wherein said illumination source and said detector are positioned on opposing sides of said assay device so that said chromatographic medium is positioned in the electromagnetic radiation path defined between said illumination source and said detector, said chromatographic medium being transmissive to said electromagnetic radiation and said detection signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24)
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17. A luminescent detection system for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample, said system comprising:
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an assay device that includes a porous membrane carried by a support, said porous membrane being in communication with luminescent detection probes, said luminescent detection probes being capable of emitting a detection signal;
an illumination source capable of providing pulsed electromagnetic radiation that excites said luminescent detection probes to emit said detection signal; and
a time-gated detector capable of registering said detection signal emitted by said luminescent detection probes, wherein said illumination source and said detector are positioned on opposing sides of said assay device so that said porous membrane is positioned in the electromagnetic radiation path defined between said illumination source and said detector, said porous membrane and said support being transmissive to said electromagnetic radiation and said detection signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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25. A method for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte residing in a test sample with an assay device, the assay device comprising a porous membrane that defines a detection zone, the porous membrane being in communication with luminescent detection probes, said method comprising:
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i) contacting the assay device with the test sample, wherein at least a portion of the luminescent detection probes become immobilized within the detection zone;
ii) pulsing electromagnetic radiation onto the detection zone, thereby exciting the luminescent detection probes to emit a detection signal that is transmitted through the porous membrane; and
iii) measuring the intensity of said transmitted detection signal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification