TESTING DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING ANTIGENS AND ANTIBODIES IN BIOFLUIDS
A testing device for identifying an antigen or antibody within a biofluid sample including: a substrate having a hydrophilic surface thereon; the surface including a collection zone, and at least one detection zone extending therefrom; wherein the biofluid sample can be mixed with a specific antigen or antibody, and deposited on the collection zone and transferred by capillary action to the detection zone; the antigen or antibody in the biofluid sample reacting with an appropriate said antibody or antigen thereby resulting in a visual indication within the detection zone.
1 . A testing device for identifying an antigen or antibody within a biofluid sample including:
a substrate having a hydrophilic surface thereon;
the surface including a collection zone, and at least one detection zone extending therefrom;
wherein the biofluid sample can be mixed with a specific antigen or antibody, and deposited on the collection zone and transferred by capillary action to the detection zone;
the antigen or antibody in the biofluid sample reacting with an appropriate said antibody or antigen thereby resulting in a visual indication within the detection zone.
2 . A testing device for identifying an antigen or antibody within a biofluid sample including:
a substrate having a hydrophilic surface thereon;
the surface including a collection zone, and at least one detection zone extending therefrom;
the detection zone having an antibody or antigen immobilised therein;
wherein the biofluid sample can be deposited on the collection zone and transferred by capillary action to the detection zone;
the antigen or antibody in the biofluid sample reacting with an appropriate said antibody or antigen within the detection zone thereby resulting in a visual indication therein.
3 . A testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed from paper or other cellulosic materials.
4 . A testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes a chromographic layer thereon or other wettable porous media.
5 . A testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate surface has a hydrophilic microfluidic channel pattern thereon defining the collection zone and the detection zone.
6 . A testing device according to claim 5 , including a plurality of detection zones extending from the collection zone.
7 . A testing device according to claim 1 , wherein biofluid sample being tested is blood, and the visual indication is due to an agglutination of the blood upon reaction with a specific antibody resulting in reduced wicking and/or separation of the blood in the detection zone.
8 . A testing device according to claim 7 , wherein the testing device includes at least one valve for controlling the wicking of biofluid to the detection zone from the collection zone.
9 . A testing device according to claim 7 , wherein the testing device includes a switch for controlling the contact of the biofluid with the antibody or antigen.
10 . A method for identifying an antigen or antibody within a biofluid sample, including:
mixing the biofluid sample with a specific antigen or antibody;
depositing the mixed biofluid sample on a collection zone of a testing device including a substrate having a hydrophilic surface thereon, the surface including said collection zone and at least one detection zone extending therefrom, the biofluid sample being transferred by capillary action to the detection zone; and
identifying the antigen or antibody by a resultant visual indication within the detection zone arising where the antigen or antibody in the biofluid sample reacts with an appropriate said antibody or antigen.
11 . A method for identifying an antigen or antibody within a biofluid sample, including:
depositing the biofluid sample on a collection zone of a testing device including a substrate having a hydrophilic surface thereon, the surface including said collection zone and at least one detection zone extending therefrom, the detection zone having an antibody or antigen immobilised therein, the biofluid sample being transferred by capillary action to the detection zone; and
identifying the antigen or antibody by a resultant visual indication arising where the antibody or antigen in the biofluid sample reacts with an appropriate said antigen or antibody within the detection zone.
12 . A method according to claim 10 , including mixing nanoparticles within the biofluids sample to facilitate said reaction in the detection zone.
13 . A method according to claim 10 , wherein biofluid sample being tested is blood, and the visual indication is due to an agglutination of the blood upon reaction with a specific antibody resulting in reduced wicking and/or separation of the blood in the detection zone.
14 . A method according to claim 13 , including detecting blood type from the visual indication.
15 . A method according to claim 13 including detecting illness from the visual indication.
16 . A testing device according to claim 2 , wherein the substrate is formed from paper or other cellulosic materials.
17 . A testing device according to claim 2 , wherein the substrate includes a chromographic layer thereon or other wettable porous media.
18 . A testing device according to claim 2 , wherein the substrate surface has a hydrophilic microfluidic channel pattern thereon defining the collection zone and the detection zone.
19 . A testing device according to claim 18 , including a plurality of detection zones extending from the collection zone.
20 . A testing device according to claim 2 , wherein biofluid sample being tested is blood, and the visual indication is due to an agglutination of the blood upon reaction with a specific antibody resulting in reduced wicking and/or separation of the blood in the detection zone.
21 . A testing device according to claim 20 , wherein the testing device includes at least one valve for controlling the wicking of biofluid to the detection zone from the collection zone.
22 . A testing device according to claim 20 , wherein the testing device includes a switch for controlling the contact of the biofluid with the antibody or antigen.
23 . A method according to claim 11 , including mixing nanoparticles within the biofluids sample to facilitate said reaction in the detection zone.
24 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein biofluid sample being tested is blood, and the visual indication is due to an agglutination of the blood upon reaction with a specific antibody resulting in reduced wicking and/or separation of the blood in the detection zone.
25 . A method according to claim 24 , including detecting blood type from the visual indication.
26 . A method according to claim 24 including detecting illness from the visual indication.