Test strip qualification system

Abstract

In connection with a fluidic medical diagnostic device that permits measurement of the coagulation time of blood, software, methods and associated devices for quality control are disclosed. The fluidic device preferably comprises a test strip with one end having a sample port for introducing a sample and a bladder at the other end for drawing the sample to a measurement area. A channel carries sample from the sample port to an assay measurement area and first and second control measurement areas. Preferably a stop junction, between the measurement areas and bladder, halts the sample flow for measurement. If results from measurements taken for each control fall within a predetermined zone or defined limits, the assay measurement is qualified. If not, an error is registered and the test strip is counted as unfit.

1 .- 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . A kit comprising: 
 a test strip comprising an assay reaction area and a control reaction area; and    a meter configured for receiving said test strip and for qualifying said test strip by obtaining results for said control reaction area and comparing results from said control reaction area to control qualification criteria comprising an upper limit and a lower limit, said upper limit being about a 1.9 International Normalized Ratio and said lower limit being about a 0.60 International Normalized Ratio, wherein said meter is configured to qualify said test strip if said results fall within said upper limit and said lower limit.    
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein said meter is configured to output a message to a user indicating test strip qualification.  
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein said test strip is configured to measure prothrombin time.  
     
     
         18 . A kit comprising: 
 a test strip for use to measure prothrombin time (PT) comprising an assay reaction area and a control reaction area; and    a meter configured for receiving said test strip and qualifying said test strip by obtaining PT results for said reaction areas and comparing results from said control reaction area to control qualification criteria comprising an upper limit and a lower limit, each being dependent on assay reaction area PT results, wherein said meter is configured to qualify said test strip if said results fall within said upper limit and said lower limit.    
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein said upper and lower limits comprise line functions.  
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein said line functions are expressed as y=mx+b, wherein y represents an International Normalized Ratio results obtained for said control reaction area, x represents an International Normalized Ratio results obtained for said assay reaction area and m≈0.56 to 0.58 and b≈0.90 for said upper limit and wherein m≈0.36 and b≈0.37 to 0.38 for said lower limit.  
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein said meter is configured to output a message to a user indicating test strip qualification.  
     
     
         22 . A kit comprising: 
 a test strip for use to measure prothrombin time (PT) comprising an assay reaction area, a first control reaction area and a second control reaction area; and    a meter configured for receiving said test strip and qualifying said test strip by obtaining PT results for each said reaction areas, for comparing results from said first control reaction area to first control qualification criteria comprising a first upper limit and a first lower limit, said first upper limit being about a 1.9 International Normalized Ratio and said first lower limit being about a 0.60 International Normalized Ratio, and for comparing results from said second control reaction area to second control qualification criteria comprising a second upper limit and a second lower limit, each being dependent on assay reaction area PT results, wherein said meter is configured to qualify said test strip if said results from said first control reaction area fall within said first upper limit and said first lower limit and if said results from said second control reaction area fall within said second upper limit and said second lower limit.    
     
     
         24 . The kit of claim  23 , wherein said meter is configured to output a message to a user indicating test strip qualification.