Lateral flow test strip

Abstract

The present invention provides a test strip having a first layer comprising a wicking member and a second layer comprising a capillary transfer plane member. The capillary transfer plane has a plurality of capillary transfer passages. The capillary transfer passages can comprise various shapes to control sample flow rate. Located above the capillary transfer passages are a plurality of testing members. The test strip can include a third layer next to the wicking member, the third layer comprising a backing member for providing support to the wicking member. Another aspect of the present invention provides a sample testing device, which includes a housing having a plurality of openings, and a test strip as described above, wherein a sample application area of the test strip is accessible through one of the openings in the housing, and each of the testing members is viewable through one of the openings of the housing.

1 . A test strip, comprising: 
 a first layer;    a second layer located next to the first layer, the second layer comprising a capillary transfer plane member having a plurality of capillary transfer passages; and    a plurality of testing members, each testing member located over at least one of the plurality of capillary transfer passages.    
     
     
         2 . The test strip of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprising a wicking member.  
     
     
         3 . The test strip of  claim 1 , further comprising a third layer, the third layer located next to the first layer, the third layer comprising a backing member.  
     
     
         4 . The test strip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of capillary transfer passages comprises a hole.  
     
     
         5 . The test strip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of capillary transfer passages comprises a channel.  
     
     
         6 . The test strip of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a wicking member, the wicking member comprising a first end having a sample application area and a second end comprising an absorbent area.  
     
     
         7 . The test strip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of testing members comprise a porous material holding a testing reagent.  
     
     
         8 . The test strip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the capillary transfer passages comprises a hole of approximately 0.5 to 2,5 millimeters in diameter.  
     
     
         9 . The test strip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the capillary transfer passages comprises a hole of approximately 2 millimeters in diameter.  
     
     
         10 . A test strip for testing a sample, comprising: 
 a first layer for holding the sample;    a capillary transfer plane member having a plurality of capillary transfer passages, each capillary transfer passage for drawing a portion of the sample away from the first layer; and    a plurality of testing members, each testing member located over at least one capillary transfer passage, each testing member for receiving the portion of the sample from the capillary passage(s) beneath the testing member.    
     
     
         11 . The test strip of  claim 10 , wherein the first layer comprises a wicking member.  
     
     
         12 . The test strip of  claim 11 , wherein each of the capillary transfer passages comprises a hole of approximately 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters in diameter.  
     
     
         13 . The test strip of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of capillary transfer passages comprises a channel.  
     
     
         14 . The test strip of  claim 11 , further comprising a backing member for providing support to the wicking member.  
     
     
         15 . The test strip of  claim 11 , wherein the wicking member comprises a first end for applying the sample to the test strip and a second end comprising an absorbent area for causing the sample to flow down the wicking member.  
     
     
         16 . A test strip for testing a sample, comprising: 
 a first layer comprising a wicking member for carrying the sample, the wicking member comprising a first end having a sample application area and a second end comprising an absorbent area;    a second layer attached to the first layer and coplanar with the first layer, the second layer comprising a capillary transfer plane member having a plurality of capillary transfer passages, each capillary transfer passage for drawing a portion of the sample away from the wicking member; and    a plurality of testing members, each testing member located over at least one of the plurality of capillary transfer passages, each of the plurality of testing members comprise a porous material holding a testing reagent.    
     
     
         17 . The test strip of  claim 16 , wherein each of the capillary transfer passages comprises a hole of approximately 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters in diameter.  
     
     
         18 . The test strip of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of capillary transfer passages comprises a channel.  
     
     
         19 . The test strip of  claim 16 , further comprising a backing member for providing support to the wicking member.  
     
     
         20 . A sample testing device, comprising: 
 a housing having a plurality of openings; and    a test strip located within the housing, the test strip comprising: 
 a first layer;  
 a second layer located next to the first layer, the second layer comprising a capillary transfer plane member having a plurality of capillary transfer passages; and  
 a plurality of testing members, each testing member located over at least one of the plurality of capillary transfer passages, each of the testing members viewable through at least one of the plurality of openings of the housing.  
   
     
     
         21 . The test strip of  claim 20 , wherein the first layer comprises a wicking member, the wicking member having a first end comprising a sample application area and a second end comprising an absorbent area, the sample application area accessible through one of the plurality of openings in the housing.  
     
     
         22 . The test strip of  claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of testing members comprise a porous material holding a testing reagent.  
     
     
         23 . The test strip of  claim 20 , wherein each of the capillary transfer passages comprises a hole of approximately 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters in diameter.  
     
     
         24 . The test strip of  claim 20 , wherein each of the capillary transfer passages comprises a channel.  
     
     
         25 . A method of performing a test of a sample, the method comprising: 
 providing a test strip having a wicking member and at least one testing member, wherein the wicking member and the at least one testing member are separated by a member having a plurality of capillary transfer passages; and    depositing the sample onto the wicking member of the test strip.