Assaying test strips having different capture reagents

• US 20070116595A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alverix, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Alverix, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Roitman, Daniel, Petrilla, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,632,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• 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 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54386 Analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/110833 Utilizing a moving indicator strip or tape

Abstract

In one aspect, a diagnostic test system includes a receptacle, optical detectors, and a logic circuit. Each of the optical detectors has a corresponding view in the receptacle and produces an electrical signal at a respective detector output in response to light from the corresponding view. The logic circuit includes logic inputs that are respectively coupled to the detector outputs and that produce an output logic signal corresponding to a logical combination of signals received at the logic inputs. In another aspect, respective detection signals are produced in response to light received from respective ones of multiple views of the test strip, and at least one output logic signal corresponding to a respective logical combination of the detection signals is generated.

Claims

1. A diagnostic test system, comprising:

a receptacle;

optical detectors each having a corresponding view in the receptacle and producing an electrical signal at a respective detector output in response to light from the corresponding view; and

a logic circuit comprising logic inputs respectively coupled to the detector outputs and producing an output logic signal corresponding to a logical combination of signals received at the logic inputs.

2. The diagnostic test system of claim 1, wherein each of the optical detectors comprises at least one photodetector and at least one optical element intercepting light from the corresponding view.

3. The diagnostic test system of claim 1, wherein the logic circuit comprises at least one logic gate.

4. The diagnostic test system of claim 3, wherein the at least one logic gate comprises at least one of a NAND logic gate and a NOR logic gate.

5. The diagnostic test system of claim 1, further comprising signal conditioning circuits coupled between respective ones of the detector outputs and respective ones of the logic inputs.

6. The diagnostic test system of claim 5, wherein ones of the signal conditioning circuits comprise respective circuit elements that contribute to setting respective thresholds between logic states at respective ones of the logic inputs.

7. The diagnostic test system of claim 6, wherein ones of the circuit elements comprise respective capacitors.

8. The diagnostic test system of claim 6, wherein ones of the circuit elements comprise respective current sources.

9. The diagnostic test system of claim 6, wherein ones of the signal conditioning circuits comprise switches coupled between respective ones of the detector outputs and an electric charge sink.

10. The diagnostic test system of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the logic circuit and operable to establish a reading period during which the logic circuit produces the output logic signal.

11. The diagnostic test system of claim 10, further comprising one or more switches coupled in series with respective ones of the photodetectors and a voltage source, wherein the controller is coupled to inputs of the one or more switches.

12. The diagnostic test system of claim 10, further comprising a logic gate having a first input coupled to receive the output logic signal and a second input coupled to the controller.

13. The diagnostic test system of claim 10, further comprising a light source coupled to the controller and operable to illuminate one or more of the views in the receptacle, wherein the controller synchronizes the illumination of the one or more views with the reading period.

14. The diagnostic test system of claim 1, further comprising an assay test strip having multiple capture regions, wherein the receptacle is constructed and arranged to hold the assay test strip with each of the capture regions positioned in a respective one of the views.

15. A machine-implemented diagnostic test method, comprising:

producing respective detection signals in response to light received from respective ones of multiple views of the test strip; and

generating at least one output logic signal corresponding to a respective logical combination of the detection signals.

16. The diagnostic test method of claim 15, wherein the producing comprises charging respective capacitive elements in response to light received from respective ones of the views.

17. The diagnostic test method of claim 15, wherein the producing comprises generating electrical currents in response to the light received from respective ones of the views and sinking respective portions of the electrical currents in a current sink in amounts selected to establish respective logic level thresholds for the detection signals.

18. The diagnostic test method of claim 15, further comprising coordinating timing of the producing and the generating to increase reliability of the at least one output logic signal.

19. The diagnostic test method of claim 15, wherein the generating comprises performing on ones of the detection signals at least one of a logical NAND operation and a logical NOR operation.

20. The diagnostic test method of claim 15, wherein the generating comprises generating an output logic signal indicating a positive assay test result in response to all of the detection signals indicating positive detection of respective target analytes in all of the views, and generating an output logic signal indicating a negative assay test result in response to any of the detection signals indicating failure to detect a target analyte in any of the views.

21. The diagnostic test method of claim 15, wherein the generating comprises generating an output logic signal indicating a positive assay test result in response to any of the detection signals indicating positive detection of respective target analytes in all of the views, and generating an output logic signal indicating a negative assay test result in response to all of the detection signals indicating failure to detect target analytes in all of the views.