Bevel closure assay device housing

• US 6,033,627 A
• Filed: 11/17/1997
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Smithkline Diagnostics, Inc. (GlaxoSmithKline PLC)
• Inventors: Norell, Joyce Lee, Shields, Ernest David
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US08/971,705
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 422/56, 422/58, 422/61, 422/102
• US Class Current: 422/408
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0009 Testing for drug or alcohol abuse
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5055 Hinged, e.g. opposable surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/20 in sheets or blanks doubled around contents and having their opposed free margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding

Abstract

A closure and a device for use with a closure are described. The closure includes a first member having an interrupted beveled edge, a second member having an undercut edge, and optionally a base member to which the second member is fixed. The first member is adapted to be received with the interrupted beveled edge retained by the undercut edge. A test device can include such a closure and can also include a hinge between the first and second members. Test elements, such as a chromatographic medium, an absorber, an applicator, or a sample application zone, can be disposed on the first member and/or the base member and can be brought into opposition by closing the first member with the closure. The beveled edge is interrupted by one or more uncut portions or bridges. A testing device according to the present invention can perform a number of types of immunoassays, including unidirectional assays, bidirectional assays, and assays employing a split flow path.

Claims

1. A reclosable testing device, comprising:

(a) abase member;

(b) a cover member;

(c) a fixed member fixed to the base member, the fixed member having an undercut edge;

(d) a hinge between the base member and the cover member;

(e) a testing element fixed to at least one of the base member or the cover member; and

(f) closure means comprising an interrupted beveled edge on the cover member, the interrupted beveled edge being supplementary to the undercut edge and being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position with the undercut edge of the fixed member in an edge-to-edge engagement, the base member, the cover member, and the fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and the testing element come into operable contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cover member, thereby further ensuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means; and

wherein the beveled edge is interrupted with at least one uncut bridge region to increase the force required to separate the base member and cover member.

2. The testing device of claim 1 wherein the device includes a testing element fixed to the base member.

3. The testing device of claim 1 wherein the device includes a testing element fixed to the cover member.

4. The testing device of claim 1 wherein the cover member and the fixed member extend respectively between extremities defined between ends, the beveled edge on the cover member extending from about one end of the cover member to about the opposite end of the cover member, and the supplementary undercut edge extending from about one end of the fixed member to about the opposite end of the fixed member.

5. The testing device of claim 1 including a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, whereby when the beveled edge is in a closed position there is closure force for effecting transfer of a fluid between the test elements, and wherein the beveled edge and the supplementary undercut edge are positioned and aligned from the hinge at least about opposite the test elements where the fluid transfers between the test elements.

6. The testing device of claim 1 further including an extension portion of the cover member extending beyond the beveled edge, the extension portion covering a line of closure formed by the beveled edge and the undercut edge when the cover member and the fixed member are closed.

7. The testing device of claim 1 including a first testing element fixed to the base member and a second testing element fixed to the cover member.

8. The testing device of claim 7 wherein the first testing element and the second testing element are opposable and are brought into operable contact when the cover member is closed and retained by the closure means.

9. The testing device of claim 8 wherein either the first testing element or the second testing element includes a chromatographic medium.

10. The testing device of claim 8 wherein either the first testing elements or the second testing element includes a sample application zone.

11. The testing device of claim 9 wherein either the first testing element or the second testing element includes a sample application zone, and wherein the chromatographic medium and the sample application zone are not both located on either the first testing element or the second testing element such that the sample application zone and the chromatographic medium are brought into operable contact when the cover member is closed and retained by the closure means.

12. The testing device of claim 1 wherein the device includes at least two bridges.

13. The testing device of claim 12 wherein the bridges are located in a region that is substantially less than the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed member.

14. The testing device of claim 12 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed member.

15. The testing device of claim 1 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees from the vertical.

16. The testing device of claim 15 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 6 degrees to about 15 degrees from the vertical.

17. The testing device of claim 16 wherein the angle of the bevel is from about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees from the vertical.

18. A reclosable testing device comprising:

(a) a base member;

(b) a cover member;

(c) fixed members fixed to the base member, each fixed member of the fixed members having an undercut edge;

(d) a hinge between the base member and the cover member;

(e) a testing element fixed to at least one of the base member or the cover member; and

(f) closure means comprising interrupted beveled edges on the cover member, the beveled edges being supplementary to the undercut edges and being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position with the undercut edges of the fixed members in an edge-to-edge engagement, the base member, the cover member, and the fixed members being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and the testing element come into operable contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cover member, thereby further ensuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means; and

wherein the beveled edges are interrupted with at least one uncut bridge region to increase the force required to separate the base member and the cover member.

19. The testing device of claim 18 including a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, whereby when the beveled edge is in a closed position there is a closure for effecting transfer of a fluid between the testing elements, wherein at least one portion of the interrupted beveled edge and one portion of the undercut edge are positioned and aligned from the hinge at least about opposite the test elements where the fluid transfers between the test elements, and another portion of the interrupted beveled edge and another portion of the undercut edge are located at a position removed from the element where the fluid transfers between the test elements.

20. The testing device of claim 18 wherein the hinge between the base member and the cover member and wherein the fixed members and the cover member respectively include corners remote from the hinge wherein the undercut edges and the beveled edges respectively are located at the corners, and not between the respective corners.

21. The testing device of claim 18 wherein the base member includes opposite ends directed transversely from the hinge, and includes a fixed member located at each respective end and the beveled edges are located respectively at the opposite ends, thereby to constitute closures on at least two sides of the device.

22. The testing device of claim 18 wherein the base member includes an adjacent end directed transversely from the hinge and a side opposite the hinge and the beveled edge and the undercut edge are located respectively at the adjacent end and the opposite end, thereby to constitute closures on at least two sides of the device.

23. The testing device of claim 18 wherein the device includes a first testing element fixed to the base member and a second testing element fixed to the cover member.

24. The testing device of claim 23 wherein the first and second testing elements are opposable when the cover member is closed and retained by the closure means.

25. The testing device of claim 24 wherein either the first testing element or the second testing element includes a chromatographic medium.

26. The testing device of claim 25 wherein either the first testing element or the second testing element includes a sample application zone.

27. The testing device of claim 26 further including a chromatographic medium and wherein the chromatographic medium and the sample application zone are not both located on either the first testing element or the second testing element.

28. The testing device of claim 18 wherein the interrupted bevel closure includes at least two bridges.

29. The testing device of claim 28 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially less than the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed members.

30. The testing device of claim 28 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed members.

31. The testing device of claim 18 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees from the vertical.

32. The testing device of claim 31 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 6 degrees to about 15 degrees from the vertical.

33. The testing device of claim 32 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees from the vertical.

34. A reclosable testing device comprising:

(a) a base member;

(b) a cover member having an interrupted beveled edge;

(c) a fixed member fixed to the base member, the fixed member having an undercut edge being supplementary to the interrupted beveled edge;

(d) a hinge between the base member and the cover member, wherein the closure of the cover member on the base member effects engagement of the interrupted beveled edge with the undercut edge of the fixed member forming a means for closure, the interrupted beveled edge being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position in an edge-to-edge engagement with the undercut edge of the fixed member;

(e) a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, the testing elements being in operable contact when the cover member and the base member arc closed, the base member, the cover member, and the fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and at least one of the testing elements come into operable contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cover member, thereby further ensuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means formed by closure of the cover member on the base member, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means; and

wherein the beveled edge is interrupted with at least one uncut bridge region to increase the force required to separate the base member and the cover member.

35. The testing device of claim 34 wherein the cover member and fixed member are extended respectively between extremities defined between ends, the beveled edge of the cover member extending from about one edge of the cover member to about the opposite end of the cover member, and the supplementary undercut edge extending from about one end of the fixed member to about the opposite end of the fixed member.

36. The testing device of claim 34 wherein the interrupted beveled edge and the supplementary undercut edge are positioned and aligned from the hinge at least about opposite the test elements.

37. The testing device of claim 34 further including an extension portion of the cover member extending beyond the beveled edge, the extension portion covering a line of closure formed by the interrupted beveled edge and the undercut edge when the cover member and the fixed member are closed.

38. The testing device of claim 34 wherein one of the testing element fixed to the base member and the testing element fixed to the cover member is a chromatographic medium and the other of the testing element fixed to the base member and the testing element fixed to the cover member is a sample application zone.

39. The testing device of claim 35 wherein the interrupted beveled closure has at least two bridges.

40. The testing device of claim 39 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially less than the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed member.

41. The testing device of claim 39 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially all of the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed member.

42. The testing device of claim 34 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees from the vertical.

43. The testing device of claim 42 wherein the angle of the bevel is from about 6 degrees to about 15 degrees from the vertical.

44. The testing device of claim 43 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees from the vertical.

45. A reclosable testing device comprising:

(a) a base member;

(b) a cover member having interrupted beveled edges;

(c) fixed members fixed to the base member, the fixed members having undercut edges, the undercut edges being supplementary to the interrupted beveled edges such that in a closed position of cover member and base member the interrupted beveled edges of the undercut edges are in edge-to-edge alignment forming a means for closure;

(d) a hinge between the base member and the cover member; and

(e) a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, the testing elements being in operable contact when the cover member and the base member are closed, the base member, the cover member, and each of the fixed members being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure, thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and at least one of the testing elements come into operable contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cover member, thereby further ensuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the means for effecting closure of the cover member on the base member, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means; and

wherein the beveled edge is interrupted with at least one uncut bridge region to increase the force required to separate the base member and the cover member.

46. The testing device of claim 45 wherein the base member includes opposite ends directed transversely from the hinge, and includes fixed members located at each respective end and the interrupted beveled edges and undercut edges are located respectively at the opposite ends, and further including an elongated chromatographic medium with at least one of the elements for fluid to traverse the chromatographic medium in a defined flow path.

47. The testing device of claim 46 wherein the defined flow path is from a first end of the chromatographic medium to a second end of the chromatographic medium.

48. The testing device of claim 46 wherein the defined flow path is from a point removed from both a first end and a second end of the chromatographic medium toward both the first end and the second end of the chromatographic medium.

49. The testing device of claim 45 wherein the base member includes an adjacent end located transversely from the hinge, and includes a side opposite the hinge, and the interrupted beveled edges and the undercut edges are located respectively at the adjacent end and the opposite side and including an elongated chromatographic medium with at least one of the test elements for fluid to traverse the chromatographic medium in a defined flow path.

50. The testing device of claim 49 wherein the defined flow path is from a first end of the chromatographic medium to a second end of the chromatographic medium.

51. The testing device of claim 49 wherein the defined flow path is from a point removed from both a first end and a second end of the chromatographic medium toward both the first end and the second end of the chromatographic medium.

52. The testing device of claim 45 wherein when the interrupted beveled edge is in a closed position, a closure force is applied between the cover member and the fixed members, and wherein at least one portion of the interrupted beveled edge and one portion of the undercut edge are positioned and aligned from the hinge at least about opposite the test elements and another portion of the interrupted beveled edge and another portion of the undercut edge are located at a position removed from the elements, and wherein one of the test elements includes an elongated chromatographic medium for fluid to traverse the chromatographic medium.

53. The testing device of claim 52 wherein the defined flow path is from a first end of the chromatographic medium to a second end of the chromatographic medium.

54. The testing device of claim 52 wherein the defined flow path is from a point removed from both a first end and a second end of the chromatographic medium toward both the first end and the second end of the chromatographic medium.

55. The testing device of claim 52 including a window located in at least one of the base member and cover member, the window being aligned along the length of the chromatographic medium such that a test indication on the chromatographic medium is visible through the window when the base member and the cover member are in a closed position.

56. The testing device of claim 45 wherein the fixed members and the cover member respectively include corners remote from the hinge and where the undercut edges and the interrupted beveled edges are located at the corners and not between the respective corners, and including an elongated chromatographic medium with at least one of the elements for fluid to traverse the chromatographic medium in a defined flow path.

57. The testing device of claim 56 wherein the defined flow path is from a first end of the chromatographic medium to a second end of the chromatographic medium.

58. The testing device of claim 56 wherein the defined flow path is from a point removed from both a first end and a second end of the chromatographic medium toward both the first end and the second end of the chromatographic medium.

59. The testing device of claim 56 including a window located in at least one of the base member and the cover member, the window being aligned along the length of the chromatographic medium such that a test indication on the chromatographic medium is visible through the window when the base member and cover member are in closed position.

60. The testing device of claim 45 wherein the interrupted bevel closure includes at least two bridges.

61. The testing device of claim 60 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially less than the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed member.

62. The testing device of claim 61 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed member.

63. The testing device of claim 45 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees from the vertical.

64. The testing device of claim 63 wherein the angle of the bevel is from about 6 degrees to about 15 degrees from the vertical.

65. The testing device of claim 64 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees from the vertical.

66. A reclosable testing device comprising:

(a) a base member;

(b) a cover member;

(c) a fixed member fixed to the base member, the fixed member having an undercut edge;

(d) a hinge between the base member and the cover member;

(e) a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, at least one of the testing elements including an elongated chromatographic medium, and wherein one of the testing elements is arranged for receiving fluid and for transferring fluid to the testing element having the chromatographic medium, whereby the fluid is arranged to traverse the chromatographic medium along a defined flow path; and

(f) closure means comprising an interrupted beveled edge on the cover member, the interrupted beveled edge being supplementary to the undercut edge and being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position with the undercut edge of the fixed member in a edge-to-edge engagement, the base member, the cover member, and the fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure, and thereby to ensure that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means whereby when the interrupted beveled edge is in the closed position, the closure force is distributed substantially uniformly between the cover member and the fixed member such that the fluid is effectively transferred between the testing elements and is enabled to effectively traverse the chromatographic medium;

wherein the beveled edge is interrupted with at least one uncut bridge region to increase the force required to separate the base member and the cover member.

67. The testing device of claim 66 wherein the defined flow path is from a first end of the chromatographic medium to a second end of the chromatographic medium.

68. The testing device of claim 66 wherein the defined flow path is from a point removed from both a first end and a second end of the chromatographic medium toward both the first end and the second end of the chromatographic medium.

69. The testing device of claim 66 further including a window located in at least one of the base member and the cover member, the window being aligned along the length of the chromatographic medium such that a test indication on the chromatographic medium is visible through the window when the base member and the cover member are in a closed position.

70. The testing device of claim 66 wherein the base member and the cover member are formed from the same board material element and the hinge includes at least one crease formed in the board material, the board material having a thickness of about 0.024 inches.

71. The testing device of claim 66 wherein the base member and the cover member are planar elements formed from the same material element having a thickness and the hinge is formed along a crease line in the material and the test elements are located in adjacency on the cover member and the base member and the fixed member is mounted on a portion of the base member, such that in a position of closure, the cover member overlies the position of the base member not occupied by the fixed member, and the cover member and fixed member have edges in abutment, and wherein inward force is applied by the cover member and the base member on the test element substantially uniformly when the edge of the fixed member and the edge of the cover member are in edge-to-edge engagement.

72. The testing device of claim 66 wherein the interrupted beveled edge includes at least two bridges.

73. The testing device of claim 72 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially less than the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed member.

74. The testing device of claim 72 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed member.

75. The testing device of claim 66 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees from the vertical.

76. The testing device of claim 75 wherein the angle of the bevel is from about 6 degrees to about 15 degrees from the vertical.

77. The testing device of claim 76 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees from the vertical.

78. A reclosable chromatographic testing device comprising:

(a) a base member;

(b) a cover member;

(c) fixed members fixed to the base member, each of the fixed members having an undercut edge;

(d) a hinge between the base member and the cover member;

(e) a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, at least one of the testing elements including an elongated chromatographic medium, and wherein one of the testing elements is arranged for receiving fluid and for transferring the fluid to the testing element having the chromatographic medium, whereby the fluid is arranged to traverse the chromatographic medium along a defined flow path; and

(f) closure means comprising interrupted beveled edges on the cover member, the interrupted beveled edges being supplementary to the undercut edges and being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position with the undercut edges of the fixed members in an edge-to-edge engagement, the base member, the cover member, and the fixed members being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure, and thereby to ensure that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means whereby when the beveled edges are in the closed position, a closure force is distributed substantially uniformly between the cover member and the fixed members such that fluid is effectively transferred between the testing elements and is enabled to effectively traverse the chromatographic medium;

wherein the beveled edges are interrupted with at least one uncut bridge region to increase the force required to separate the base member and the cover member.

79. The testing device of claim 78 wherein the defined flow path is from a first end of the chromatographic medium to a second end of the chromatographic medium.

80. The testing device of claim 78 wherein the defined flow path is from a point removed from both a first end and a second end of the chromatographic medium toward both the first end and the second end of the chromatographic medium.

81. The testing device of claim 78 further including a window located in at least one of the base member and the cover member, the window being aligned along the length of the chromatographic medium such that a test indication on a chromatographic medium is visible through the window when the base member and the cover member are in a closed position.

82. The testing device of claim 78 wherein the base member and the cover member are formed from the same board material element and the hinge includes at least one crease formed in the board material, the board material having a thickness of about 0.024 inches.

83. The testing device of claim 78 wherein the base member and the cover member are planar elements formed from the same material element having a thickness and the hinge is formed along a crease line in the material and the test elements are located in adjacency on the covered member and the base member and the fixed members are mounted on a position of the base member, such that in a position of closure the covered portion overlies the portion of the base member not occupied by the fixed members, and the cover member and fixed members have edges in abutment, and wherein inward force applied by the cover member and the base member on the test elements toward each other is effected uniformly when the edge of the fixed member and the edge of the cover member are in the edge-to-edge engagement.

84. The testing device of claim 78 wherein the interrupted bevel closure includes at least two bridges.

85. The testing device of claim 84 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially less that the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed members.

86. The testing device of claim 84 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed members.

87. The testing device of claim 78 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees from the vertical.

88. The testing device of claim 87 wherein the angle of the bevel is from about 6 degrees to about 15 degrees from the vertical.

89. The testing device of claim 88 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees from the vertical.

90. A reclosable testing device comprising:

(a) a base member;

(b) a cover member having an interrupted beveled edge, the interrupted beveled edge including an exposed line of engagement;

(c) a fixed member fixed to the base member, the fixed member having an undercut edge being supplementary to the interrupted beveled edge and including an exposed line of engagement;

(d) a hinge between the base member and the cover member; and

(e) a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, at least one of the testing elements being arranged for receiving fluid and for transferring fluid to the other testing element;

closure of the cover member on the base member effecting engagement of the interrupted beveled edge with the undercut edge of the fixed member, the interrupted beveled edge being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position in a edge-to-edge engagement with the undercut edge of the fixed member, forming a means for closure, the base member, the cover member and the fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and one of the testing elements come into operable contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cover member and thereby further ensuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means formed by closure of the cover member on the base member, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means; and

wherein the beveled edge is interrupted with at least one uncut bridge region to increase the force required to separate the base member and the cover member.

91. The testing device of claim 90 wherein the base member and the cover member are formed from the same board material element and the hinge includes at least one crease formed in the board material, the board material having a thickness of about 0.024 inches.

92. The testing device of claim 90 wherein the base member and the cover member are planar elements formed from a same material element having a thickness and the hinge is formed along the crease line in the material, and the test elements are located in adjacency on the cover member and the base member and the fixed member is mounted on a portion of the base member, such that in a position of closure, the covered portion overlies the portion of the base member not occupied by the fixed member, and the cover member and fixed member have edges in abutment, and wherein an inward force applied by the cover member and the base member on the test elements toward each other is effected uniformly when the edges of the fixed member and the edges of the cover member are in the edge-to-edge engagement.

93. The testing device of claim 90 wherein one of the testing element fixed to the base member and the testing element fixed to the cover member includes a chromatographic medium.

94. The testing device of claim 90 wherein the interrupted beveled edge includes at least two bridges.

95. The testing device of claim 94 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially less than the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed member.

96. The testing device of claim 94 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed member.

97. The testing device of claim 90 wherein the angle of the bevel is between about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees from the vertical.

98. The testing device of claim 97 wherein the angle of the bevel is from about 6 degrees to about 15 degrees from the vertical.

99. The testing device of claim 98 wherein the angle of the bevel is from about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees from the vertical.

100. A reclosable testing device comprising:

(a) a base member;

(b) a cover member having interrupted beveled edges, the interrupted beveled edges including exposed lines of engagement;

(c) fixed members fixed to the base member, each of the fixed members having undercut edges, the undercut edges being supplementary to the interrupted beveled edges and including exposed lines of engagement;

(d) a hinge between the base member and the cover member; and

(e) a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, at least one of the testing elements being arranged for receiving fluid and for transferring fluid to the other testing element;

closure of the cover member on the base member effecting engagement of the interrupted beveled edges to be received and retained in edge-to-edge contact in the closed position forming means for closing with the undercut edges of the fixed members and the exposed lines of engagement of the interrupted beveled edges and the undercut edges respectively being substantially flush to the fixed members and to the cover member;

the base member, the cover member, and the fixed members being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and one of the testing elements come into operable contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cover member and thereby further insuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the means for closing formed by closure of the cover member on the base member, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means, wherein the beveled edge is interrupted with at least one uncut bridge region to increase the force required to separate the base member and the cover member.

101. The testing device of claim 100 wherein the base member and the cover member are formed from the same board material element and the hinge includes at least one crease formed in the board material, the board material having a thickness of about 0.024 inches.

102. The testing device of claim 100 wherein the base member and the cover member are planar elements formed from a same material element having a thickness and the hinge is formed along a crease line in the material and the test elements are located in adjacency on the cover member and the base member and the fixed members are mounted on a portion of the base member, such that in a position of closure, the covered portion overlies the portion of the base member not occupied by the fixed members, and the cover member and fixed members have edges in abutment, and wherein an inward force applied by the cover member and the base member on the test elements toward each other is effected uniformly when the edge of the fixed members and the edge of the cover member are in the edge-to-edge engagement.

103. The testing device of claim 100 wherein one of the testing element fixed to the base member and the testing element fixed to the cover member includes a chromatographic medium thereon.

104. The testing device of claim 100 wherein the interrupted beveled edge includes at least two bridges.

105. The testing device of claim 104 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially less than the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed members.

106. The testing device of claim 104 wherein the bridges are located in a region that spans substantially the entire contact area between the cover member and the fixed member.

107. The testing device of claim 100 wherein the angle of the bevel is between from about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees from the vertical.

108. The testing device of claim 107 wherein the angle of the bevel is from about 6 degrees to about 15 degrees from the vertical.

109. The testing device of claim 108 wherein the angle of the bevel is from about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees from the vertical.