Assay reader, device and method of measuring HCG
First Claim
1. An electronic pregnancy test device for calculating a quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception in a female mammalian subject, the device comprising:
- a) a first assay flow-path, comprising a mobilizable labeled binding reagent for hCG, and a detection zone;
b) a second assay flow-path, comprising a mobilizable labeled binding reagent for hCG and a second binding reagent for hCG, wherein the second binding reagent for hCG alters the sensitivity of an assay for hCG, and a detection zone, such that the first assay flow-path detection zone is for measuring hCG in a lower concentration range and the second assay flow-path detection zone is for measuring hCG in a higher concentration range;
c) a processor;
d) a first stored analyte threshold corresponding to a first time since conception, a second stored analyte threshold corresponding to a second time since conception, which is a longer period of time than that corresponding to the first stored analyte threshold, and a third stored analyte threshold which is a minimum pregnancy threshold, said analyte thresholds being stored in said electronic pregnancy test device and accessible to the processor;
e) a shared reference zone, the shared reference zone being located within the first or second assay flow-path, the other of the first or second assay flow path having no reference zone located therein, wherein the value of a signal obtained at the shared reference zone compensates the value of a signal obtained at the detection zone of the other of the first or second assay flow-path;
f) a measurement means for measuring a first analyte signal value from said first assay flow-path, and for measuring a second analyte signal value from said second assay flow-path, said first and second analyte signal values corresponding to the level of hCG in a liquid sample obtained from said subject, and comparing said first and/or second analyte signal values to the first, second, or third stored analyte thresholds, wherein a second analyte signal value greater than the second stored threshold indicates the subject is 3+ weeks pregnant;
a second analyte signal value less than said second stored threshold but a first analyte signal value greater than the first stored threshold indicates the subject is 2-3 weeks pregnant;
a first analyte signal value less than the first stored threshold but greater than the third stored threshold indicates the subject is 1-2 weeks pregnant; and
a first analyte signal value less than the third stored threshold indicates that the subject is not pregnant; and
g) a display means to display a result of the assay which is the quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method for determining a quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception in a female mammalian subject, the method comprising: a) providing a liquid sample suspected of containing hCG; b) measuring, by means of an assay or assay device, an analyte measurement signal, whose value is dependent upon the level of hCG; c) comparing the measured signal value to an analyte threshold, wherein said analyte threshold corresponds to a time since conception; d) providing an quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception based upon the comparison in step (c).
49 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electronic pregnancy test device for calculating a quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception in a female mammalian subject, the device comprising:
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a) a first assay flow-path, comprising a mobilizable labeled binding reagent for hCG, and a detection zone; b) a second assay flow-path, comprising a mobilizable labeled binding reagent for hCG and a second binding reagent for hCG, wherein the second binding reagent for hCG alters the sensitivity of an assay for hCG, and a detection zone, such that the first assay flow-path detection zone is for measuring hCG in a lower concentration range and the second assay flow-path detection zone is for measuring hCG in a higher concentration range; c) a processor; d) a first stored analyte threshold corresponding to a first time since conception, a second stored analyte threshold corresponding to a second time since conception, which is a longer period of time than that corresponding to the first stored analyte threshold, and a third stored analyte threshold which is a minimum pregnancy threshold, said analyte thresholds being stored in said electronic pregnancy test device and accessible to the processor; e) a shared reference zone, the shared reference zone being located within the first or second assay flow-path, the other of the first or second assay flow path having no reference zone located therein, wherein the value of a signal obtained at the shared reference zone compensates the value of a signal obtained at the detection zone of the other of the first or second assay flow-path; f) a measurement means for measuring a first analyte signal value from said first assay flow-path, and for measuring a second analyte signal value from said second assay flow-path, said first and second analyte signal values corresponding to the level of hCG in a liquid sample obtained from said subject, and comparing said first and/or second analyte signal values to the first, second, or third stored analyte thresholds, wherein a second analyte signal value greater than the second stored threshold indicates the subject is 3+ weeks pregnant;
a second analyte signal value less than said second stored threshold but a first analyte signal value greater than the first stored threshold indicates the subject is 2-3 weeks pregnant;
a first analyte signal value less than the first stored threshold but greater than the third stored threshold indicates the subject is 1-2 weeks pregnant; and
a first analyte signal value less than the third stored threshold indicates that the subject is not pregnant; andg) a display means to display a result of the assay which is the quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electronic pregnancy test device for calculating a quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception in a female mammalian subject, the device comprising:
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a) a first assay flow-path, comprising a mobilizable labeled binding reagent for hCG, and a detection zone; b) a second assay flow-path, comprising a mobilizable labeled binding reagent for hCG and a second binding reagent for hCG, wherein the second binding reagent for hCG alters the sensitivity of an assay for hCG, and a detection zone, such that the first assay flow-path detection zone is for measuring hCG in a lower concentration range and the second assay flow-path detection zone is for measuring hCG in a higher concentration range; c) a processor; d) a first stored analyte threshold corresponding to a first time since conception, a second stored analyte threshold corresponding to a second time since conception, which is a longer period of time than the first stored analyte threshold, and a third stored analyte threshold which is a minimum pregnancy threshold, said analyte thresholds being stored in said electronic pregnancy test device and accessible to the processor; e) a shared reference zone, the shared reference zone being located within a subsidiary flow-path to the first and second assay flow-paths, the first and second assay flow-paths having no reference zone located therein, wherein the value of a signal obtained at the shared reference zone compensates the value of signals obtained at the detection zones of the first and second assay flow-paths; f) a measurement means for measuring a first analyte signal value from said first assay flow-path, and for measuring a second analyte signal value from said second assay flow-path, said first and second analyte signal values corresponding to the level of hCG in a liquid sample obtained from said subject, and comparing said first and/or second analyte signal values to the first, second, or third stored analyte thresholds, wherein a second analyte signal value greater than the second stored threshold indicates the subject is 3+ weeks pregnant;
a second analyte signal value less than said second stored threshold but a first analyte signal value greater than the first stored threshold indicates the subject is 2-3 weeks pregnant;
a first analyte signal value less than the first stored threshold but greater than the third stored threshold indicates the subject is 1-2 weeks pregnant; and
a first analyte signal value less than the third stored threshold indicates that the subject is not pregnant; andg) a display means to display a result of the assay which is the quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification