System for chemiluminescence-based detection of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

A cassette device for determining the presence or absence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (“MRSA”) in a sample, comprising:

• (a) a lateral flow strip, comprising (1) an absorbent pad for receiving a liquid sample mixed with an enzyme conjugate, (2) a region for accepting a luminous reagent, (3) a region comprising a reaction zone, wherein the reaction zone includes a substance binding region, a negative control region and a positive control region, and (4) a microfluidic pump, and wherein (i) the sample acceptor pad, the luminous reagent accepting region, the reaction zone, and microfluidic pump are in fluid communication, and facilitate fluid flow in a downstream direction from the sample acceptor pad to the microfluidic pump;
• (ii) the substance binding region includes an antibody for capturing a target substance;
• (iii) the positive control region includes an antibody for capturing the enzyme conjugate, and (iv) the enzyme conjugate is capable of binding with the substance and reacting with the luminous reagent, thereby generating electromagnetic radiation;
• and
• (b) a housing, comprising (1) an upper component comprising a first basin for sample preparation, a second basin for sample preparation, a first well for adding a sample, a second well for adding a luminous reagent, a plurality of apertures to allow electromagnetic radiation generated on the lateral flow strip to escape the cassette device, a plurality of latch receiving regions, a plurality of pressure tabs to contact the lateral flow strip, and a plurality of alignment guides to secure the lateral flow strip in place;
• (2) a lower component comprising a region upon which the lateral flow strip rests, a sample reservoir, a plurality of alignment guides to secure the lateral flow strip in place, a plurality of latches located complimentary to the latch receiving regions on the upper housing and capable of exerting positive pressure to mechanically latch the upper component and the lower component together, and a plurality of detents for mechanically securing the cassette device in a cassette handler device;
• (3) a means for electronically identifying the cassette device;
• and wherein (i) the first well and second well are in fluid communication with the lateral flow strip;
• (ii) the first well includes a shielding structure configured to contact the lateral flow strip;
• (iii) the second well includes a nipple structure;
• and (iv) the apertures are configured to precisely direct electromagnetic radiation to a reader device.