Diagnostic device and method

A method for performing an assay, comprising:

• substantially simultaneously evaluating the presence of a plurality of analytes in a sample by exposing the sample to reactive elements that correspond to each analyte of the plurality of analytes, each of the reactive elements capable of being stimulated to emit a signal indicative of binding of that reactive element with a corresponding analyte of the plurality of analytes, at least one analyte of the plurality of analytes having known parameters indicative of an acute metabolic or disease state;
• substantially simultaneously determining concentrations of each of the plurality of analytes in the sample by stimulating the reactive elements that are bound to their corresponding analytes, measuring an emitted signal corresponding to each type of reactive element, and correlating the measured signal to a concentration of the corresponding analyte;
• continuing the substantially simultaneous determination until the at least one analyte has been reliably determined to be present in an amount indicative of the metabolic or disease state;
• and
• reporting said reliable determination of the presence of the plurality of analytes in an amount indicative of the metabolic or disease state.