ASSAY

1 .- 24 . (canceled)

25 . A kinetic assay method for use in detecting an analyte within a sample, the method comprising:

a) providing a sample to a detection zone of a microfluidic channel, the detection zone comprising an optically transmissible portion and a porous matrix comprising one or more reagent(s) localised to an inner luminal surface of the optically transmissible portion of the microfluidic channel, wherein the reagent(s) is/are capable of reacting with the analyte or a reaction product thereof to form a reagent reaction product, the reagent reaction product capable of being detected, using an optical detector which is extra luminal to the optically transmissible portion of the microfluidic channel;

b) taking at least one optical measurement of the reagent reaction product through the optically transmissible portion; and

detecting any analyte, based upon the at least one optical measurement of the reagent reaction product.

26 . The assay method according to claim 25 , wherein the optically transmissible portion of the channel is a top portion of the channel.

27 . The assay method according to claim 25 , wherein the microfluidic channel comprises at least one additional matrix and/or one or more assay reagents deposited outside the matrix.

28 . The assay method according to claim 27 , wherein said at least one additional matrix and/or one or more assay reagents is localized to a section of the microfluidic channel which is not the detection zone.

29 . The assay method according to claim 25 , wherein the matrix/matrices comprises at least one carrier molecule.

30 . The assay method according to claim 29 wherein the carrier molecule is generally insoluble in the sample fluid.

31 . The assay method according to claim 29 wherein the at least one carrier molecule comprises at least one polymer.

32 . The assay method according to claim 31 wherein the at least one polymer comprises at least one disaccharide and/or polysaccharide.

33 . The assay method according to claim 32 wherein the at least one disaccharide is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, lactose, maltose, trehalose, cellobiose and chitobiose and the at least one polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of amylose, amylopectin, cellulose, cellulose derivative, chitin, callose, laminarin, chrysolaminarin, xylan, arabinoxylan, mannan, fucoidan and galactomannan.

34 . The assay method according to claim 29 wherein the at least one carrier molecule comprises trehalose and at least one cellulose derivative, selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), cellulose ethyl sulfonate (CES), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), methylcellulose and salts thereof.

35 . The assay method according to claim 25 , wherein the sample is provided to the detection zone by an active fill mechanism.

36 . The assay method according to claim 25 , wherein the sample is a sample of blood or other bodily fluid.

37 . The assay method according to claim 25 wherein the analyte is an enzyme, lipid, lipoprotein, cytokine, hormone or endotoxin.

38 . The assay method according to claim 37 wherein the analyte is an enzyme.

39 . The assay method according to claim 38 wherein the enzyme is thrombin or a protease.

40 . The assay method according to claim 37 wherein the enzyme is thrombin and the method is used to determine a prothrombin time (PT) or international normalised ratio (INR) value.

41 . The assay method according to claim 38 wherein the reagent comprises a thrombin cleavable substrate reagent, which is capable of being cleaved by thrombin to form a reagent reaction product which generates an optical signal.

42 . The assay method according to claim 41 wherein the thrombin cleavable substrate reagent comprises a peptide sequence which is recognisable and cleavable by thrombin and an associated fluorescent molecule, the associated fluorescent molecule forming the reagent reaction product which is capable of detection following cleavage of the peptide sequence.

43 . The assay method according to claim 37 wherein the analyte comprises a lipid or lipoprotein.

44 . The assay method according to claim 43 wherein the analyte comprises cholesterol or a cholesteryl ester.

45 . A microfluidic channel for use in a method according to claim 25 , the microfluidic channel comprising:

a detection zone for receiving at least a portion of a sample provided to the microfluidic channel, the detection zone comprising an optically transmissible portion and a porous matrix comprising one or more reagent(s) localised to an inner luminal surface of the optically transmissible portion of the microfluidic channel, wherein the reagent(s) is/are capable of reacting with the analyte or an analyte reaction product thereof to form a reagent reaction product, the reagent reaction product being capable of being optically detected; and

optionally wherein the optically transmissible portion is a top portion of the channel.

46 . A microfluidic cartridge for use in conducting an assay according to claim 25 , the microfluidic cartridge comprising:

at least one microfluidic channel, wherein each/said microfluidic channel(s) comprises a detection zone, the detection zone comprising an optically transmissible portion and a porous matrix comprising one or more reagent(s) localized to an inner luminal surface of the optically transmissible portion, wherein the reagent(s) is/are capable of reacting with the analyte or an analyte reaction product thereof to form a reagent reaction product, the reagent reaction product being capable of being optically detected; and

optionally wherein the optically transmissible portion is a top portion of the channel.

47 . An assay method for use with a sample, the method comprising;

inserting a cartridge into a reader device, the cartridge comprising a microfluidic channel comprising:

a detection zone for receiving at least a portion of a sample provided to the microfluidic channel, the detection zone comprising a optically transmissible portion and a porous matrix comprising one or more reagent(s) localized to an inner luminal surface of the optically transmissible portion, wherein the reagent(s) is/are is/are capable of reacting with the analyte or an analyte reaction product thereof to form a reagent reaction product; the reagent reaction product capable of being optically detected,

optionally expelling air from the microfluidic channel using force application means within the reader device;

introducing the sample to a first end of the microfluidic channel;

drawing the sample along the microfluidic channel to the detection zone using means within the reader device;

permitting said analyte or analyte reaction product in the sample to react with the reagent(s) to form the reagent reaction product;

taking at least one optical measurement of the reagent reaction product using an optical detection device within the reader, the optical detection device being extra luminal to the optically transmissible portion; and

detecting any analyte or analyte reaction product based upon the at least one optical measurement of the reagent reaction product.

48 . The assay method according to claim 47 , wherein the optically transmissible portion is a top portion of the channel.