Read-write assay system

1. A method for using a read-write assay system comprising:

providing an assay device having a read-write pad adjoining and abutting an end surface of an absorbent pad and over a backing, the read-write pad arranged opposite a sample pad of the assay device and bonded over an end of the absorbent pad and an end of the backing; and

writing assay device information to the read-write pad of the assay device for subsequent:

reading of the assay device information from the read-write pad of the assay device;

performing an assay with the assay device and subsequent:

writing of assay related information to the read-write pad of the assay device; or

reading of assay related information from the read-write pad of the assay device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

writing the assay device information occurs at a manufacturing location; and

writing the assay related information occurs at a point of care location.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein writing the assay device information, reading the assay device information, or writing the assay related information is performed electro-magnetically.

4. A method for using a read-write assay system comprising:

providing a lateral flow assay device having recording media thereon, the recording media comprising a read-write pad adjoining and abutting an end surface of an absorbent pad and over a backing opposite a sample pad of the lateral flow assay device such that the read-write pad is arranged in end-to-end contact with the absorbent pad, the read-write pad bonded over an end of the absorbent pad and an end of the backing; and

writing lateral flow assay device information to the recording media on the lateral flow assay device for subsequent:

reading of the lateral flow assay device information from the recording media on the lateral flow assay device;

performing a lateral flow assay with the lateral flow assay device to obtain lateral flow assay related information and subsequent:

writing of the lateral flow assay related information to the recording media on the lateral flow assay device, the lateral flow assay related information including one of an operator identifier and an assay device reader identifier; or

reading of the lateral flow assay related information from the recording media on the lateral flow assay device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

writing the lateral flow assay device information occurs at a manufacturing location; and

writing the lateral flow assay related information occurs at a point of use location.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein writing the lateral flow assay device information, reading the lateral flow assay device information, or writing the lateral flow assay related information is performed electro-magnetically on the recording media.

7. A read-write assay system comprising:

an assay device for performing an assay; and

a pad adjoining and abutting an end surface of an absorbent pad and over a backing, the pad arranged opposite a sample pad and in end-to-end contact with the absorbent pad of the assay device for writing assay device information to the assay device for subsequent:

reading of the assay device information from the pad on the assay device;

performing an assay with the assay device; and

writing of assay related information to the pad on the assay device.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 further comprising:

a read-write device for writing the assay device information at a manufacturing location; and

a read-write device for writing the assay related information at a point of care location.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the pad for writing the assay device information, reading the assay device information, or writing the assay related information uses electro-magnetic reading and writing.

10. A read-write assay system comprising:

a lateral flow assay device; and

a recording media pad arranged in end-to-end contact with an absorbent pad of the lateral flow assay device for writing lateral flow assay device information to the recording media on the lateral flow assay device for subsequent:

reading lateral flow assay device information from the recording media pad on the lateral flow assay device;

performing a lateral flow assay with the lateral flow assay device to obtain lateral flow assay related information;

writing of the lateral flow assay related information including one of a test operator identifier and an assay device reader identifier to the recording media pad which is bonded to the absorbent pad of the lateral flow assay device; or

reading of the lateral flow assay related information from the recording media pad bonded to the lateral flow assay device.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:

a read-write device for writing the lateral flow assay device information at a manufacturing location; or

a read-write device for writing the lateral flow assay related information at a point of use location.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the recording media pad for writing the lateral flow assay device information, reading the lateral flow assay device information, or writing the lateral flow assay related information is read from and written to electro-magnetically.