Electronic assay apparatus, method and kit thereof

Abstract

The present invention related to an electronic assay apparatus and a testing method thereof. The electronic assay apparatus for determining a result of an assay performed using a test strip comprises three light sources, only one detector and a microprocessor. The three light sources respectively illuminate light incident upon three different zones of the test strip. The detector detects light from the three zones alternately and the distances between the only one detector and the three light sources respectively are almost the same. Further, multiple openings corresponding to the three light sources respectively have the same size and/or shape. The microprocessor compares a calculating result value to only one threshold for showing a result.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic assay apparatus for determining a result of an assay adapted by using a test strip, the apparatus comprising:
 at least three light sources respectively illuminating light incident upon at least three spatially separated zones of the test strip by turns;   only one detector to detect the at least three light sources and obtain corresponding signals, wherein distances between the only one detector and the at least three light sources respectively are almost the same.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least three zones are a test zone, a control zone and a reference zone;
 the corresponding signals are a test zone signal, a control zone signal and a reference zone signal; and   the detector and the at least three light sources are arranged within a fan-shaped region, the detector positioned at a center of circle, and the three light sources positioned anywhere upon an arc of a sector whose circle center is the detector.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a microprocessor for receiving the signals from the detector and calculating the signals to a result value, and the result value relates to the test zone signal and the reference zone signal;   wherein the microprocessor compares the result value to a threshold and generates an output signal, if the result value exceeds the threshold and indicative a first result, or, alternatively, the output signal indicative of a second result if the result value is less than the threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the test strip further comprises a second test zone, and the electronic assay apparatus further comprises a fourth light source for illuminating light incident upon the second test zone. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the second test zone and the test zone are used to detect different analytes. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the second test zone and the test zone are used to detect different concentrations of a single analyte. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the detector and the four light sources are arranged within a fan-shaped region, the detector positioned at a center of circle, and the four light source positioned anywhere upon the arc of a sector whose circle center is the detector. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a baffle comprising a plurality of shelters and defining a plurality of openings corresponding to the light sources and the detector, the shelters used for blocking interferences from outside light source and between the light sources, the baffle further comprising a blocker at a suitable site of the detector for blocking direct light from the light source, and a plurality of slits defined between the blocker and the shelters for permitting the detector to detect the reflected light from the zones of the test strip respectively, wherein the multiple openings corresponding to the light sources respectively have the same size and/or shape. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising an ejective element and a switch, the ejective element for positioning and ejecting the test strip, when the ejective element posits the test strip, the switch is opened, then the microprocessor is activated and turns on the electronic assay apparatus automatically. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the baffle further comprises a trigger, when the ejective element posits the test strip and then contacts the trigger, the switch is opened by the trigger. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic assay apparatus for determining a result of an assay adapted by using a test strip, the apparatus comprising:
 at least three light sources respectively illuminating light incident upon at least three spatially separated zones of the test strip;   only one detector to detect the light from the at least three zones of the test strip respectively and obtain corresponding signals, wherein the detector and the at least three light sources are arranged within a fan-shaped region, the detector positioned at a center of circle and the at least three light sources positioned anywhere upon an arc of a sector whose circle center is the said detector; and   a microprocessor for receiving the signals from the detector and calculating the signals to a result value.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the at least three light sources comprising:
 a first light source illuminating light incident upon a test zone of the test strip;   a second light source illuminating upon a control zone spatially separated from the test zone of the test strip;   a third light source illuminating upon a reference zone spatially separated with the test zone of the test strip; and   further comprising a fourth light source illuminating a second test zone spatially separated from the test zone of the test strip, wherein the test zone and the second test zone are used to detect different analytes or different concentrations of a single analyte.   
     
     
         13 . An assay apparatus for determining a performance of an analyte within a sample, the apparatus comprising:
 a test strip with a single flow way, comprising a test zone, a control zone and a reference zone, the test zone for immobiling a substance which can react with the analyte and displaying the performance of the analyte;   at least three light sources respectively illuminating light incident upon the test zone, the control zone and the reference zone of the test strip;   only one detector to detect the light from the test zone, the control zone and the reference zone of the test strip, and obtain corresponding signals proportional to the analyte, wherein the detector and the three light sources are arranged within a fan-shaped region, the detector positioned at a center of circle and the three light sources positioned anywhere upon the arc of a sector whose circle center is the detector; and   a microprocessor for receiving the signals from the detector and calculating the signals to a result value.