Versatile drug testing device

Abstract

A versatile drug testing device (a lateral flow diagnostic testing device) includes a flat transparent carrier with a top and a bottom with the carrier having a series of independent parallel grooves formed therein running from adjacent to the top to adjacent to the bottom of the carrier, each groove having a first opening and a second opening above the first opening therein adjacent to the bottom of the carrier, at least one drug test strip installed in one of said grooves with its absorbent pad contiguous to the openings and a cover layer attached to the carrier operable to sealing close each of said grooves whereby the bottom of the device can be immersed in a specimen of urine, body fluid, or other biological specimen to wet the pad of the at least one test strip though the ingress of the specimen though the associated openings and the test results on the test strip can be easily viewed through the transparent carrier. Because of the unique construction the device will give accurate reading if temporarily immersed in the specimen or left in the specimen for an extended period of time, making it very user friendly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a carrier having a plurality of groove formations in a face of the carrier, wherein the plurality of groove formations are formed such that, in operation, the plurality of groove formations receive test strips therein;   a base opening at a first position in the face of the carrier within a first groove of the plurality of groove formations, in operation, a sample pad of a first test strip disposed in the first groove is exposed to a fluid in contact with the face of the carrier through the base opening;   a bleed port at a second position above the first position in the face of the carrier within the first groove, in operation, the sample pad of the first test strip in the first groove is exposed through the bleed port to the fluid;   a backing layer secured to the carrier, in operation, the backing layer sealing the first groove so that the only ingress and egress of fluid into the groove is through the base opening and the bleed port.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the backing layer contacts the first test strip disposed in the first groove and secures the first test strip within the first groove. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the backing layer is secured to the carrier such that removal of the first test strip from the first groove destroys the carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the backing layer is glued to the carrier. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the backing layer is welded to the carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the backing layer seals a volume of air within the first groove above the bleed port, in operation, the volume of air preventing flooding of the first test strip disposed within the first groove. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap configured to receive a bottom end of the carrier, the cap being of a size such that the bleed port and the base opening are contained within the cap when the cap fully receives the carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first position is a distance above a bottom of the first groove, in operation, when the carrier is submerged in a specimen a well is formed between the base opening and the bottom of the first groove, the well containing a volume of the specimen sufficient to activate a reagent on the first test strip. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first position is 2 to 4 millimeters above a bottom of the first groove. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 collecting a volume of a sample within a sample holding receptacle;   submerging a carrier in the volume of sample contained within the sample holding receptacle, the carrier comprising:
 a carrier having a plurality of groove formations in a face of the carrier, wherein the plurality of groove formations are formed such that, in operation, the plurality of groove formations receive test strips for testing the volume of the sample therein; 
 a base opening at a first position in the face of the carrier within a first groove of the plurality of groove formations, in operation, a sample pad of a first test strip disposed in the first groove is exposed to a portion of the volume of the sample in contact with the face of the carrier through the base opening; 
 a bleed port at a second position above the first position in the face of the carrier within the first groove, in operation, the sample pad of the first test strip in the first groove is exposed through the bleed port to the portion of the volume of the sample; 
 a backing layer secured to the carrier, in operation, the backing layer sealing the first groove so that the only ingress and egress of the portion of the volume of the sample into the groove is through the base opening and the bleed port. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the backing layer contacts the first test strip disposed in the first groove and secures the first test strip within the first groove. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the backing layer is secured to the carrier such that removal of the first test strip from the first groove destroys the carrier. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the backing layer is glued to the carrier. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the backing layer is welded to the carrier. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the backing layer seals a volume of air within the first groove above the bleed port, in operation, the volume of air preventing flooding of the first test strip disposed within the first groove by the portion of the volume of the sample. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first position is a distance above a bottom of the first groove, in operation, when the carrier is submerged in the volume of the specimen, a well is formed between the base opening and the bottom of the first groove, the well containing the portion of the volume of the specimen sufficient to activate a reagent on the first test strip. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a means for collecting a volume of a sample within a sample holding receptacle;   a means for submerging a carrier in the volume of sample contained within the sample holding receptacle;   a means for receiving test strips for testing the volume of the sample therein;   a means for exposing a sample pad of a first test strip disposed in the first groove to a portion of the volume of the sample in contact with the face of the carrier through the base opening;   a means for exposing the sample pad of the first test strip in the first groove through the bleed port to the portion of the volume of the sample;   a means for sealing the first groove so that the only ingress and egress of the portion of the volume of the sample into the groove is through the base opening and the bleed port.