Apparatus and method for discriminating among lateral flow assay test indicators

• US 20060275920A1
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alverix, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Alverix, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Petrilla, John Francis, Grot, Annette C.
• Application Number:
  US11/140,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20060275920A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/514
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6441 with two or more labels
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3271 Amperometric enzyme electrodes for analytes in body fluids, e.g. glucose in blood amperometry per se G01N27/49; aspects concerning the enzyme reagent C12Q1/001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54388 based on lateral flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/558 using diffusion or migration of antigen or antibody immunochromatographic test strips G01N33/54387

Abstract

An apparatus for analyzing a lateral flow test strip having a plurality of types of markers for binding to analytes corresponding, respectively, to the types of markers. The apparatus includes a plurality of emitters corresponding, respectively, to the plurality types of markers on the lateral flow test strip. Each emitter emits light in a predetermined range near an optimum absorption wavelength for the corresponding type of marker to excite the marker.

Claims

1. An apparatus for analyzing a lateral flow test strip having a plurality of types of markers for binding to analytes corresponding, respectively, to the types of markers, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of emitters corresponding, respectively, to the plurality of types of markers on the lateral flow test strip, each emitter emitting light in a predetermined range near an optimum absorption wavelength for the corresponding type of marker to excite the marker.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

a detector to detect a presence, absence or concentration of an analyte in accordance with movement of an excited marker into or out of a detection zone of the lateral flow test strip.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the markers are fluorescent dyes.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the emitters are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

5. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the detector is one or more photodiodes.

6. An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising:

an optical guide between the detector and the lateral flow test strip which guide optical signals emitted by the excited markers to the detector.

7. An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising:

a filter between the detector and the lateral flow test strip which attenuates optical signals outside of a wavelength range for the types of markers to be detected by the detector.

8. An apparatus for analyzing a lateral flow test strip having a plurality of types of markers for binding to analytes corresponding, respectively, to the types of markers, the apparatus comprising:

a tunable optical source tunable to emit light in a predetermined range near an optimum absorption wavelength for each of the types of markers to excite the markers; and

at least one detector to detect a presence, absence or concentration of each analyte in accordance with movement of an excited marker into or out of a detection zone of the lateral flow test strip.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the markers are fluorescent dyes.

10. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the detector is one or more photodiodes.

11. An apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising:

an optical guide between the detector and the lateral flow test strip which guides optical signals emitted by the excited markers to the detector.

12. An apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising:

a filter between the detector and the lateral flow test strip which attenuates optical signals outside of a wavelength range for the types of markers to be detected by the detector.

13. A method for discerning among markers, comprising:

independently pulsing an emitter to create a pulse train to excite a marker; and

detecting the response of the excited marker.

14. A method as in claim 13, further comprising modulating the intensity of the pulse train emitted.

15. A method as in claim 13, wherein the emitter is pulsed in a pseudo random pulse sequence.

16. A method as in claim 13, wherein the response of the excited marker is filtered.

17. A method comprising:

emitting a light to excite a marker on a lateral flow test strip to produce an optical signal from the excited marker;

stopping emission of the light; and

monitoring the optical signal produced by the excited marker after stopping emission of the light.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said monitoring comprises

measuring a time delay between stopping emission of the light and an onset of decay of the optical signal produced by the excited marker.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said stopping emission of the light causes a decay of the produced optical signal and said monitoring comprises

analyzing trailing edges of decay times of the produced optical signals.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein said stopping emission of the light causes a decay of the produced optical signal and said monitoring comprises determining decay information of the produced optical signal, said decay information being used to determine peak intensity levels.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein said monitoring comprises measuring the produced optical signal at its peak.

22. A method according to claim 17, wherein the light emitted is pulsed.