U.S. patent application number 10/062600 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-26 for field kit for detecting analytes.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sira Technologies. Invention is credited to Richardson, John G..
Application Number | 20020197730 10/062600 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25100132 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020197730 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richardson, John G. |
December 26, 2002 |
Field kit for detecting analytes
Abstract
The present invention relates to a field kit for the detection
of analytes and to a method for using such a field kit. The field
kit comprises a tray and lid adhered to the surface of the tray.
Reaction-reagent compartments are formed by recesses in the tray
when the tray is adhered to the lid. Probe compartments may also be
included if desired. In operation, the tray and lid are bent at a
score line to open the wells containing the reaction reagents. The
lid is bent to form an A-shaped structure so that the kit may be
placed in an upright position for use. A portion of the lid is
peeled back from the tray to release probes and other, non-liquid
components, if present.
Inventors: |
Richardson, John G.;
(Princeton, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PERKINS COIE LLP
POST OFFICE BOX 1208
SEATTLE
WA
98111-1208
US
|
Assignee: |
Sira Technologies
|
Family ID: |
25100132 |
Appl. No.: |
10/062600 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10062600 |
Jan 30, 2002 |
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09492014 |
Jan 26, 2000 |
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09492014 |
Jan 26, 2000 |
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09252832 |
Feb 19, 1999 |
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6045754 |
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09252832 |
Feb 19, 1999 |
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09121063 |
Jul 21, 1998 |
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5888832 |
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09121063 |
Jul 21, 1998 |
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08883213 |
Jun 26, 1997 |
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5846488 |
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08883213 |
Jun 26, 1997 |
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07774061 |
Oct 9, 1991 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
436/169 ;
422/400 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 33/5304 20130101;
B01L 9/52 20130101; B01L 3/508 20130101; Y10S 435/81 20130101; G01N
33/5308 20130101; B01L 2300/0825 20130101; B01L 1/52 20190801 |
Class at
Publication: |
436/169 ;
422/61 |
International
Class: |
G01N 021/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A field kit for the detection of an analyte comprising: a lid; a
tray adhered to the surface of the lid, wherein the tray comprises:
means for grasping the tray in order to peel a portion of the tray
from the lid; means for containing probes; and means for containing
reaction reagents; and means for bending the lid so that the kit
will stand upright in use.
2. A field kit as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for
containing blotters.
3. A field kit as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for
containing probes comprises a recess in the tray which, when
adhered to the lid, forms compartments in which the probes are
held.
4. A field kit as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for
containing reaction reagents comprises a recess in the tray which,
when adhered to the lid, forms compartments in which the reaction
reagents are held.
5. A field kit as recited in claim 4 wherein the compartments in
which the reaction reagents are held comprise material that is
impervious to the reaction reagents contained in the
compartments.
6. A field kit as recited in claim 1 wherein the tray comprises a
transparent, moldable material.
7. A field kit as recited in claim 1 wherein the compartments in
which the reaction reagents are held are sealed to prevent
evaporation of the solution contained in the compartments.
8. A field kit for the detection of an analyte comprising: a lid; a
tray adhered to the surface of the lid; probe compartments;
reaction reagent compartments; and means for bending the lid and
tray so that the kit will stand upright in use.
9. A field kit as recited in claim 8 further comprising blotter
compartments.
10. A field kit as recited in claim 8 further comprising a recess
in the tray which, when adhered to the lid, forms compartments in
which probes are held.
11. A field kit as recited in claim 8 wherein the reaction reagent
compartments comprise a recess in the tray which, when adhered to
the lid, forms compartments in which the reaction reagents are
held.
12. A field kit as recited in claim 11 wherein the compartments in
which the reaction reagents are held comprises material that is
impervious to the reaction reagents contained in the
compartments.
13. A field kit as recited in claim 8 wherein the tray comprises a
transparent, moldable material.
4. A field kit as recited in claim 8 wherein the reagent
compartments are sealed to prevent the evaporation of the reagents
contained in the compartments.
15. A method for using a field kit for the detection of an analyte
comprising: folding the tray and lid at a score line, thereby
opening a plurality of wells, formed between the lid and the tray,
containing reaction reagents; and bending the portion of the lid to
form a stand to hold the kit in an upright position while it is in
use.
16. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising peeling a
portion of a tray from a lid whereby probes contained in recesses
formed between the lid and the tray are released.
17. A method as recited in claim 16 further comprising: binding an
analyte to the probe; and reacting the analyte bound to the probe
with the reagents in the reagent wells.
18. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising adding
analyte to the reagents contained in the reagent wells.
19. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising
reconstituting dry reagents with a solvent.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a field kit for the detection of
analytes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Increasing concerns of the pollution of the environment has
led to the need for the general public to be able to test the food
and the water they drink for the presence of toxins and
contaminants. This need is especially important when the food or
the water has not been tested by governmental authorities; for
example, fish caught by sports fisherman, or water which might be
drunk on camping trips. Also, there is often a desire to test food
and water when traveling in countries where quality control of
contamination may not be as rigorous as required by the consumer.
Another circumstance where such testing is desired is after a
disaster, such as a flood or an earthquake, when contamination of
water and food is common.
[0003] Testing methods are available for the detection of analytes,
such as toxins and other contaminants. However, these testing
methods are often complicated and are not easily conducted by a lay
person.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an easy-to-use field kit to
test for analytes, such as toxins and other contaminants of food.
It is also desirable that such a field kit be inexpensive and have
the ability to be stored for extended periods of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates to a field kit for detecting
analytes and to a method for using such a field kit.
[0006] The field kit comprises a tray and a lid adhered to the
surface of the tray. Reagent compartments are formed by recesses in
the tray when it is adhered to the lid. Other compartments may be
added if desired to contain other assay components as required.
[0007] In operation, the lid and tray are bent to open reagent
wells and to form an A-shaped stand, structured so that the kit may
be placed in a free-standing, upright position for use. Other assay
components, if present, are released by peeling back a portion of
the lid.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] These features and advantages of the invention, as well as
other features and advantages of the invention, will be more
apparent from a reading of the claims and of the detailed
description of the invention in conjunction with the drawings
described below.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a field kit for the
detection of analytes; and
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an in-use field kit
for the detection of analytes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The present invention relates to a field kit for the
detection of analytes and to a method for using the field kit.
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a field kit 10. The field kit comprises a lid
12 which is made from a rigid-but-bendable, non-porous material,
such as a laminated material comprising one or more layers selected
from the group consisting of plastic, paper, foil and adhesive. It
is preferable that it be coated with a water-resistant material,
such as foil or plastic, to prevent liquids contained in the
reagent compartments from penetrating the lid material and
evaporating or being contaminated by the lid material or the
environment. The coating material also allows a tray 14 to be
readily removed without tearing the lid material.
[0013] The tray is adhered to the surface of the lid by an adhesive
such as that supplied by Rolling Packaging Products, Inc. (Catalog
No. 26-1045). The tray is preferably made from transparent plastic
or other suitable material so that the contents of the kit can be
observed while the kit is in use. The tray is molded to contain a
plurality of recesses so that, when the tray is adhered to the lid,
a plurality of individual compartments are formed between the lid
and the tray. The surface of the tray, between the recesses, is
adhered to the surface of the lid to form individual, sealed
compartments.
[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, recesses 16,
located on an upper half of the lid 18, form compartments for
holding probes 20, i.e., the probe compartments. The probes are
used for dipping into the material to be tested, to bind the
analyte being assayed. In some cases, e.g., where water is being
tested, such probes may not be required, and the material being
tested can be transferred directly to the assay reagents. In such
cases where a liquid is being transferred, it is desirable to
include a dropper in a compartment in the kit.
[0015] Probes typically comprise positive and negative control
probes and test probes. The positive control probes are probes that
have been exposed to the analyte to be tested, or to an analog of
the analyte, so that, when the probe is reacted with the reaction
reagents, a positive result will be obtained. Negative control
probes are probes that have not been exposed to the analyte to be
tested, or to an analog of the analyte, so that, when they are
reacted with the reaction reagents, a negative result will be
obtained. Test probes are probes that are to be exposed to a
potential source of an analyte such as water or food. The test
probes, after reacting with the reaction reagents, are compared
with the negative and positive controls to determine if a positive
or a negative result has been obtained and, therefore, if the food
or water is contaminated with the analyte being tested.
[0016] In the case of water, other liquids, or other tests where a
probe is not used, positive and negative controls may be provided
in the kit as a liquid or in another suitable form in separate
compartments. These compartments are opened and added to
reaction-reagent compartments at the time of assaying a test
sample. Alternatively, where the reaction products are sufficiently
stable, it may be desirable to provide in the kit prereacted
positive and negative controls in separate compartments.
[0017] An additional recess 22, a blotter compartment, may be
located on the upper half of the tray for holding blotting
material, such as paper toweling or other suitable material.
[0018] Recesses located on the lower half of the tray 24 form
sealed compartments for holding and isolating reaction reagents. In
one embodiment, where fixation of the analyte to the probe is
required, one compartment 26 (the fixative compartment or well)
contains a fixative reagent. Where washing of the probes is
required, after they have been reacted with the reaction reagents,
there is provided another compartment 28 (the wash compartment or
well), which contains a wash solution. Other compartments 30
(reagent compartments or wells) each contain reaction reagents. The
reaction reagents may be in the form of a solution or may be dried
or lyophilized and reconstituted, prior to use. In the case where
the reaction reagents are to be reconstituted, the reconstitution
solution is also provided in a well in the field kit. Where such
transfer of a liquid is desirable, a means for transferring the
liquid, such as a dropper, may be provided in a separate
compartment.
[0019] The reagent wells are parallel to each other, and each runs
from the lower edge 32 of the tray to positions 36, located about
midway between the lower edge 32 and the upper edge 38 of the lid,
and extending from the lower edge to beyond score line 42.
[0020] Also molded into the tray, at an edge of the upper half of
the lid, is a recess. This recess is open at the edge and provides
a tab 40, or means of grasping the tray, so that the upper half of
the tray can be peeled back from the lid to release the probes and
the blotter from their compartments. The score line 42 is located
on the lid and tray and is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
of the reaction-reagent compartments on the lower half of the tray.
The score is located so that, when the tray and lid are bent at the
score line, the reaction-reagent wells, or wells containing other
liquid components, are open at their upper end 36.
[0021] The lid also has a score line at the same location as the
score line of the tray. The score line on the lid allows the lid to
be bent, approximately in half, to form an A-shaped structure, so
that the kit will stand upright in use, with edges 32 and 38
resting on a flat surface and score line 42 forming the apex of the
"A", as shown in FIG. 2.
[0022] In order for one to use the field kit, the kit is held in an
upright position so that the liquids, or dried powders, in wells
24, 26, and 30 fall to the bottom of the wells, located near edge
32. The kit may be tapped against a solid surface to ensure all the
contents of the wells are at the bottom of the wells. The kit is
then opened by grasping tab 40 and peeling the top half of the lid
18 from the tray. Peeling away the upper half of the lid allows for
the removal of the probes and the blotter from their compartments.
The lid and tray are then bent at the score line 42, to open the
reaction-reagent compartments and to form an A-shaped structure,
which can be placed on a surface, to stand on edges 32 and 38, with
the score line forming the apex of the "A", and which results in
the reagent-containing wells being placed in an upright
position.
[0023] The above descriptions of exemplary embodiments of a kit for
detecting analytes and of a method for using such a kit, are for
illustrative purposes. Because of variations which will be apparent
to those skilled in the art, the present invention is not intended
to be limited to the particular embodiments described above. The
present invention may also be practiced in the absence of any
element not specifically disclosed. The scope of the invention is
defined by the following claims.
* * * * *