Granted Patent B2

US 12,631,633 · App. 17/536,038 · Granted May 19, 2026

Inventor: Clas Sivertsen (Lilburn, GA)

Assignee: ASSAYA LLC

G01N33/54389B01L3/523G01N33/56983B01L2200/16B01L2300/042B01L2300/069B01L2300/0825B01L2300/0832G01N2800/26

Abstract

Claims (29)

1 . A test kit, comprising:

an assay tube including:

a sample opening in the assay tube for receiving a sample; and

a lateral flow assay (“LFA”) test strip in the assay tube and in communication with the sample opening; and

a reagent cap for placing over the sample opening of the assay tube to close the sample opening of the assay tube, the reagent cap including a liquid buffer covered by a layer,

wherein when the reagent cap is placed over the sample opening of the assay tube the layer is pierced, and the liquid buffer is released over the sample to carry an analyte over the LFA test strip.

2 . The test kit of claim 1 , wherein the sample opening is roughened to pierce the layer.

3 . The test kit of claim 1 , further comprising a viewing opening in the assay tube above at least a portion of the LFA test strip.

4 . The test kit of claim 1 , wherein the buffer within the reagent cap is contained within a capsule.

5 . The test kit of claim 1 , wherein the layer in the reagent cap comprises a film sealing the buffer within the reagent cap.

6 . The test kit of claim 1 , wherein the assay tube further comprises a desiccant within the assay tube.

7 . The test kit of claim 6 , wherein the desiccant within the assay tube changes color in presence of moisture.

8 . The test kit of claim 1 , further comprising an absorbent material in proximity to the sample opening in the assay tube.

9 . The test kit of claim 8 , wherein the absorbent material filters virus particles out of exhaled air received into the sample opening.

10 . The test kit of claim 1 , further comprising a container holding a plurality of assay tubes and reagent caps.

11 . The test kit of claim 1 wherein the sample is blood.

12 . The test kit of claim 1 , wherein the sample is from epithelial cells of a patient.

13 . The test kit of claim 12 , wherein the epithelial cells are from one of a patient's nasal cavity and oral cavity.

14 . The test kit of claim 12 , wherein the epithelial cells are from one of: a patient's skin, a patient's vagina, a patient's anus, a patient's excreta.

15 . The test kit of claim 1 , wherein the test kit is configured to collect the sample from a fluid.

16 . A method of using a test kit comprising:

receiving a sample at a sample opening in an assay tube, the assay tube including a lateral flow assay (“LFA”) test strip;

closing the assay tube by placing a reagent cap over the sample opening, the reagent cap including a liquid buffer protected by a layer;

piercing the layer protecting the liquid buffer when the reagent cap is placed over the sample opening of the assay tube, such that the liquid buffer is released over the sample to carry an analyte over the LFA test strip.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the layer protecting the liquid buffer within the reagent cap is a capsule.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

filtering virus particles out of exhaled air received into the sample opening using an absorbent material in proximity to the sample opening in the assay tube.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the sample is blood.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the sample is from epithelial cells of a patient, and the epithelial cells are from one of: a nasal cavity, an oral cavity, skin, vagina, anus, or excreta.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (190)