Electronic lateral flow test arrangement and method
First Claim
1. A lateral flow test arrangement for at least one test molecule comprising:
- a test strip for transporting an analyte having the at least one test molecule away from a sampling region and towards an absorbing reservoir region, the test strip having therein and remote from the sampling region, a test region for functionalization with a molecule which binds to the at least one test molecule or to a conjugate of the at least one test molecule;
a sensing test capacitor in the test region, the sensing test capacitor having a dielectric material having a dielectric permittivity influenced by the presence of marker molecules, having a first pair of electrodes configured to measure a first capacitance, and extending across the test strip at least partially aligned with the test region;
a reference test capacitor near the test region, having a second pair of electrodes configured to measure a second capacitance, and extending across the test strip; and
an electronic circuit configured to measure a time-dependant capacitance difference between the capacitances of the sensing test capacitor and the reference test capacitor,wherein the test strip further includes a control region for functionalization with a second molecule different from the molecule in the test region, the lateral flow test arrangement further including a sensing control capacitor having a third pair of electrodes extending across the test strip at least partially aligned with the control region and extending across the test strip; and
a reference control capacitor having a fourth pair of electrodes extending across the test strip,wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to measure a time-dependant capacitance difference between the sensing control capacitor and the reference control capacitor.
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Abstract
A lateral test flow arrangement for a test molecule is disclosed, comprising: a test strip for transporting an analyte away from a sampling region and towards an absorbing region, the test strip having therein and remote from the sampling region, a test region for functionalization with a molecule which binds to the test molecule or to a conjugate of the test molecule; a sensing test capacitor having electrodes extending across the test strip at least partially aligned with the test region and being physically isolated therefrom; a reference test capacitor having electrodes extending across the test strip and being physically isolated therefrom; and an electronic circuit configured to measure a time-dependant capacitance difference between the sensing test capacitor and the reference test capacitor. A method for carrying out that lateral flow tests is also disclosed, as are test systems and in particular pregnancy test systems.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A lateral flow test arrangement for at least one test molecule comprising:
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a test strip for transporting an analyte having the at least one test molecule away from a sampling region and towards an absorbing reservoir region, the test strip having therein and remote from the sampling region, a test region for functionalization with a molecule which binds to the at least one test molecule or to a conjugate of the at least one test molecule; a sensing test capacitor in the test region, the sensing test capacitor having a dielectric material having a dielectric permittivity influenced by the presence of marker molecules, having a first pair of electrodes configured to measure a first capacitance, and extending across the test strip at least partially aligned with the test region; a reference test capacitor near the test region, having a second pair of electrodes configured to measure a second capacitance, and extending across the test strip; and an electronic circuit configured to measure a time-dependant capacitance difference between the capacitances of the sensing test capacitor and the reference test capacitor, wherein the test strip further includes a control region for functionalization with a second molecule different from the molecule in the test region, the lateral flow test arrangement further including a sensing control capacitor having a third pair of electrodes extending across the test strip at least partially aligned with the control region and extending across the test strip; and a reference control capacitor having a fourth pair of electrodes extending across the test strip, wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to measure a time-dependant capacitance difference between the sensing control capacitor and the reference control capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A pregnancy test system including a lateral flow test arrangement for at least one test molecule comprising:
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a test strip for transporting an analyte having the at least one test molecule away from a sampling region and towards an absorbing reservoir region, the test strip having therein and remote from the sampling region, a test region for functionalization with a molecule which binds to the at least one test molecule or to a conjugate of the at least one test molecule; a sensing test capacitor in the test region, the sensing test capacitor having a dielectric material having a dielectric permittivity influenced by the presence of marker molecules, having a first pair of electrodes configured to measure a first capacitance, and extending across the test strip at least partially aligned with the test region; a reference test capacitor near the test region, having a second pair of electrodes configured to measure a second capacitance, and extending across the test strip; and an electronic circuit configured to measure a time-dependant capacitance difference between the capacitances of the sensing test capacitor and the reference test capacitor, wherein the test strip further includes a control region for functionalization with a second molecule different from the molecule in the test region, the lateral flow test arrangement further including a sensing control capacitor having a third pair of electrodes extending across the test strip at least partially aligned with the control region and extending across the test strip; and a reference control capacitor having a fourth pair of electrodes extending across the test strip, wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to measure a time-dependant capacitance difference between the sensing control capacitor and the reference control capacitor.
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Specification