Test cartridge for use in rapid analysis of biological samples

1. A test cartridge for use in sample analysis, comprising:

(a) a reservoir card, wherein the reservoir card further includes a fluid reagent, wherein the fluid reagent includes living biological cells, and wherein the reservoir card is configured to interface with a test cartridge base through at least one fluid port; and

(b) a test cartridge base, wherein the test cartridge base is configured to accept the reservoir card, and wherein the test cartridge base further includes:

(i) a reaction chamber having a central axis, wherein the reaction chamber has the shape of a revolved half ellipse; and

(ii) an inlet channel connected to the reaction chamber,

a) wherein the inlet channel is tubular in shape with a diameter that tapers to a more narrow diameter at the inlet to the reaction chamber, and wherein the tapered diameter increases the velocity of fluid entering reaction chamber and promotes vigorous homogenous mixing of a sample to be analyzed and the reagent,

b) wherein the inlet channel is positioned above the reaction chamber at an angle of 15-60 degrees above the horizontal,

c) wherein the inlet channel is offset from the central axis of the reaction chamber to promote a clockwise or counterclockwise rotational motion of fluid entering the reaction chamber, and

(iii) wherein upon introducing a sample to be analyzed and the reagent containing the living biological cells into the reaction chamber in the test cartridge base the reaction chamber facilitates mixing of the sample to be analyzed with the reagent while minimizing damage to the living biological cells.

2. The test cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid displacement mechanism for displacing the reagent from the reservoir card into the reaction chamber through the at least one fluid port whereby when the reagent is mixed with the sample in the reaction chamber, a detectable signal is emitted if an analyte of interest is present in the sample.

3. The test cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the living biological cells are engineered lymphoctyes.

4. The test cartridge of claim 3 , wherein the reagent is a biosensor reagent that includes at least one antibody specific for a predetermined analyte and a bioluminescent agent, wherein the at least one antibody is expressed on the surface of the living, engineered lymphocytes and wherein the bioluminescent agent is expressed by the living, engineered lymphocytes.

5. The test cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additive located in the reaction chamber, wherein the at least one additive is operative to minimize the formation of bubbles in the reaction chamber during mixing of the sample and the at least one reagent.

6. The test cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the at least one additive includes a surfactant.

7. The test cartridge of claim 4 , wherein the biosensor reagent is pre-charged with coelenterazine, and wherein any excess coelenterazine is removed from the biosensor reagent prior to reacting the biosensor reagent with the sample to be tested.

8. The test cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the test cartridge base further includes a port for permitting the reaction chamber to communicate with a sensor in a testing device when the test cartridge assembly is introduced into the testing device.

9. The test cartridge of claim 8 , wherein the reservoir card further comprises an RFID tag for transmitting a signal to the testing device when the test cartridge is introduced into the testing device.

10. The test cartridge of claim 1 , wherein sample analysis occurs in the range of within about five minutes from the time the at least one reagent is mixed with the sample.

11. A test cartridge for use in analysis of biological samples, comprising:

(a) a reservoir card, wherein the reservoir card further includes a biosensor reagent, wherein the biosensor reagent includes living biological cells, and wherein the reservoir card is configured to interface with a test cartridge base through at least one fluid port;

(b) a test cartridge base, wherein the test cartridge base is configured to accept the reservoir card, and wherein the test cartridge base further includes:

(i) a reaction chamber having a central axis, wherein the reaction chamber has the shape of a revolved half ellipse;

(ii) an inlet channel connected to the reaction chamber,

a) wherein the inlet channel is tubular in shape with a diameter that tapers to a more narrow diameter at the inlet to the reaction chamber, and wherein the tapered diameter increases the velocity of fluid entering reaction chamber and promotes vigorous homogenous mixing of a sample to be analyzed and the reagent,

b) wherein the inlet channel is positioned above the reaction chamber at an angle of 15-60 degrees above the horizontal,

c) wherein the inlet channel is offset from the central axis of the reaction chamber to promote a clockwise or counterclockwise rotational motion of fluid entering the reaction chamber, and

(iii) wherein upon introducing a sample to be analyzed and the reagent containing the living biological cells into the reaction chamber in the test cartridge base the reaction chamber facilitates mixing of the sample to be analyzed with the reagent while minimizing damage to the living biological cells; and

(c) a fluid displacement mechanism for displacing the biosensor reagent from the reservoir card into the reaction chamber through the at least one fluid port whereby when the biosensor reagent is mixed with the biological sample in the reaction chamber, a detectable signal is emitted if an analyte of interest is present in the biological sample.

12. The test cartridge of claim 11 , wherein the living biological cells are engineered B-lymphoctyes.

13. The test cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the biosensor reagent that includes at least one antibody specific for a predetermined analyte and a bioluminescent agent, wherein the at least one antibody is expressed on the surface of the living, engineered B-lymphocytes and wherein the bioluminescent agent is expressed by the living, engineered B-lymphocytes.

14. The test cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the analyte of interest is an infectious agent or an antigen thereof.

15. The test cartridge of claim 14 , wherein the infectious agent is E. coli.