Fluid specimen testing
Provided herein is technology relating to testing fluid specimens and particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatuses, devices, methods, systems, and kits for testing a fluid specimen, e.g. urine, saliva, or other body fluids, to detect specified chemical components in the specimen.
1 . An assay system for detecting an analyte, said assay system comprising:
a) an assay device comprising an assay device cup and an assay device lid, wherein said assay device cup is configured to hold a sample and said assay device lid comprises an inlet hole, a test strip, and a vent hole that is actuatable to release an airlock and provide a metered amount of said sample to said test strip; and
b) a reader apparatus comprising a piercing means configured to actuate said vent hole,
wherein the test strip is between the inlet hole and the vent hole.
2 . The assay system of claim 1 wherein said piercing means is a laser.
3 . The assay system of claim 1 wherein said assay device lid comprises a shape that is complementary to an assay device receiver of said reader apparatus, such that insertion of the assay device into the reader apparatus is in a particular orientation.
4 . The assay system of claim 1 wherein said sample is a biological sample.
5 . The assay system of claim 1 wherein said assay device lid comprises a channel configured to wet a bottom portion of said test strip with said sample.
6 . The assay system of claim 1 wherein said assay device lid comprises a label comprising an adhesive tab configured to provide a tamper-evident seal for the assay device.
7 . The assay system of claim 1 wherein said reader apparatus comprises an imaging component configured to record an image of said test strip.
8 . The assay system of claim 3 wherein insertion of the assay device into the reader apparatus is in a particular orientation for recording an image of said test strip.
9 . The assay system of claim 1 wherein said reader apparatus comprises a microprocessor.
10 . The assay system of claim 1 wherein said reader apparatus comprises a software component configured to:
identify a test result line on said test strip;
quantify a test result line on said test strip;
report a test result to a user; and/or
communicate a test result over a network.
11 . The assay system of claim 1 wherein said reader apparatus comprises an input component configured to accept input from a user.
12 . The assay system of claim 1 wherein said reader apparatus comprises a removable reservoir to contain leaks.
13 . A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample, the method comprising:
a) providing a sample in an assay device comprising an assay device lid and an assay device cup, wherein said assay device lid comprises an inlet hole, a test strip, and an actuatable vent hole sealed by a label wherein the test strip is between the inlet hole and the vent hole;
b) actuating said vent hole to release an airlock to provide a metered amount of said sample through the inlet hole to said test strip; and
c) obtaining a test result by viewing or imaging said test strip.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein actuating said vent hole comprises contacting said label of said assay device lid with a laser.
15 . The method of claim 13 wherein obtaining a test result comprises imaging said test strip with a camera.
16 . The method of claim 13 further comprising inserting said assay device into a reader apparatus.
17 . The method of claim 13 wherein providing a sample comprises urinating into said assay device cup and engaging said assay device lid with said assay device cup to seal said sample in said assay device.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein said assay device further comprises a gasket configured to seal said sample in said assay device.
19 . The method of claim 13 wherein said sample is a urine sample.
20 . The method of claim 13 further comprising communicating a test result to a user or over a network.