Method and device for measuring reflected optical radiation

A reflectometer for providing quantitative measurement of optical radiation reflected from a sampling area on an assay matrix, the reflectometer comprising:

• an optical radiation source;
• a detector, the optical radiation source and the detector mounted in a single plane;
• and
• an optics assembly configured to direct the illumination from the optical radiation source to the sampling area on the assay matrix and to direct the radiation diffusely reflected from the sampling area to the detector, the optics assembly positioned over the face of the circuit board having the optical radiation source and detector mounted directly thereto.

A reflectometer for providing quantitative measurement of optical radiation reflected from a plurality of sampling areas on one or more assay matrices, the reflectometer comprising:

• an optical radiation source;
• a detector configured to quantitatively detect optical radiation;
• and
• an optics assembly configured to direct the illumination from the optical radiation source to the plurality of sampling areas and to direct the radiation diffusely reflected from the plurality of sampling areas to the detector.

A diagnostic device for providing quantitative measurement of a sample using reflected optical radiation, the device comprising:

• a housing having an exterior surface and sealing an interior area;
• a receptor configured to receive the sample containing an analyte selected for determining its presence, the receptor located on the exterior surface of the housing;
• at least one assay strip for reacting the sample with a self-contained reagent to yield a physically detectable change in a sampling area which correlates with the amount of selected analyte in the sample;
• an optical radiation source and a detector mounted in a single plane;
• and
• an optics assembly configured to direct the illumination from the optical radiation source to the sampling area on the assay matrix and to direct the radiation reflected from the sampling area to the detector, the optics assembly positioned over the face of the circuit board having the optical radiation source and detector mounted directly thereto.

A method of determining the presence of one or more selected analytes in a sample, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing the sample to a sample receptor site on an assay matrix;
• chemically reacting the sample with at least one reagent on the assay matrix to produce a reaction product mixture corresponding to the reagent;
• transporting at least a portion of the reaction product mixture to a detection zone on the assay matrix;
• producing a physically detectable change in the detection zone which correlates with the amount of the corresponding selected analyte in the sample;
• directing the illumination from an optical radiation source to the detection zone;
• directing the radiation reflected from the detection zone to a detector which correlates with the amount of the corresponding selected analyte in the sample.