Cartridge test system for the collection and testing of blood in a single step
First Claim
1. A cartridge antigen test system for collection and testing of a blood sample from a subject in a single step, comprising:
- a) a collection/processing cartridge having a well with a bottom, said well comprising a depression in said cartridge, for collection of said blood sample, wherein said bottom of said well is transparent to allow passage of light;
b) at least one lance disposed on said bottom of said well for piercing said subject to collect said blood sample;
c) a baggy containing a reagent or reagents disposed above said at least one lance to allow release of said reagent or reagents when said subject is pierced by said at least one lance; and
d) a clear covering material attached to an end of said cartridge for coveting said well.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a device and a method for collecting samples mixing the samples with test reagents, and acting as a container in which the mixture can be incubated and the test reaction viewed by microscope or imaging device. This device enables an entire test to be performed in one simple step without complicated handling procedures. The device consists of a cartridge with a well with micro-lances imbedded in the bottom of the well and an overlying micro-baggy containing a mixture of reagents. There are two reagents present in the micro-baggy: the first consisting of antibodies coupled to paramagnetic microspheres and the second consisting of antibodies coupled with a fluorochrome. A test subject presses down onto the micro-baggy and at the same time punctures his/her finger or thumb on the micro-lances. Once the finger has been lanced, breaking the micro-baggy, the reagents mix with the test subject'"'"'s blood. The well is then covered by a clear mylar strip. After incubation the cartridge is moved to a viewing platform. A magnetic gradient is applied to the side of the well causing the magnetic separation of antibodies bound to infected peripheral blood lymphocytes from uninfected peripheral blood lymphocytes. A focused light source is applied to the well, causing antibodies bound to infected peripheral blood lymphocytes if any are present, to glow at the specific emmision frequency determined by the specific fluorochome. The test subject can be identified by a bar code strip attached to the cartridge.
327 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A cartridge antigen test system for collection and testing of a blood sample from a subject in a single step, comprising:
-
a) a collection/processing cartridge having a well with a bottom, said well comprising a depression in said cartridge, for collection of said blood sample, wherein said bottom of said well is transparent to allow passage of light; b) at least one lance disposed on said bottom of said well for piercing said subject to collect said blood sample; c) a baggy containing a reagent or reagents disposed above said at least one lance to allow release of said reagent or reagents when said subject is pierced by said at least one lance; and d) a clear covering material attached to an end of said cartridge for coveting said well. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification