Element, structure and method for the analysis or transport of liquids

A method for the analysis of an analyte contained in a sample of whole blood, said method comprising,

• (a) contacting together said sample and an element having a support bearing a particulate structure comprising
• (i) a plurality of heat-stable, organo-polymeric particles non-swellable in and impermeable to said sample, said particles having a particle size of from about 20 to 100 microns, and
• (ii) an adhesive, in an amount less than 10 percent by weight of said particles, comprising an organic polymer different from that of said particles and insoluble in said sample, substantially all of said adhesive concentrated on surface areas of adjacent particles where said adjacent particles are in closest proximity bonding said particles into a coherent, three-dimensional lattice non-swellable in said sample with interconnected void spaces among particles of said lattice to provide transport of said sample, said lattice having a void volume of from about 25 to 80 percent, the analyte, or a reaction product of said analyte, interacting with the element to produce a detectable change within the element;
• and
• (b) detecting said change to determine the presence and/or concentration of said analyte.

A method for the analysis of an analyte contained in an aqueous liquid, said method comprising:

• (a) contacting together said liquid and a multi-zone element having two or more zones in fluid contact, at least two of said zones having a particulate structure comprising
• (i) a plurality of heat-stable, organo-polymeric particles non-swellable in and impermeable to said liquid, said particles having a particle size of from about 1 to 200 microns, and
• (ii) an adhesive, in an amount less than 10 percent by weight of said particles, comprising an organic polymer different from that of said particles and insoluble in said liquid, substantially all of said adhesive concentrated on surface areas of adjacent particles where said adjacent particles are in closest proximity bonding said particles into a coherent, three-dimensional lattice non-swellable in said liquid with interconnected void spaces among particles of said lattice to provide transport of said liquid, said lattice having a void volume of from about 25 to 80 percent, said particles in the particulate structure of said element which first contacts said liquid having a larger particle size than the particles contained in said other particulate structure(s), at least one of said other particulate structure(s) containing an interactive composition for the analyte or a reaction product of said analyte;
• a component of said liquid being retained in said particulate structure which first contacts said sample, and said analyte, or said reaction product of the analyte, interacting with said interactive composition contained in one of said other particulate structure(s) to produce a detectable change within said element;
• and
• (b) detecting said change to determine the presence and/or concentration of said analyte.

A method for the analysis of an analyte contained in a sample of whole blood, said method comprising:

• (a) contacting together said sample and a multilayer element having a radiation-transmissive support bearing two or more superposed layers in fluid contact, at least two of said layers having a particulate structure comprising
• (i) a plurality of heat-stable, organo-polymeric particles non-swellable in and impermeable to said sample, said particles having a particle size of from about 1 to 200 microns, and
• (ii) an adhesive, in an amount less than 10 percent by weight of said particles, comprising an organic polymer different from that of said particles and which is insoluble in said sample, substantially all of said adhesive concentrated on surface areas of adjacent particles where said adjacent particles are in closest proximity bonding said particles into a coherent, three-dimensional lattice which is non-swellable in said liquid with interconnected void spaces among particles of said lattice to provide transport of said liquid, said lattice having a void volume of from about 25 to 80 percent, said particles in the particulate structure of said element which first contacts said sample having a particle size within the range of from about 20 to 200 microns and said particles in said other particulate structure(s) having a smaller particle size, at least one of said other particulate structure(s) containing an interactive composition for the analyte or a reaction product of said analyte;
• the red blood cells of said sample being retained in said particulate structure which first contacts said sample, and said analyte, or said reaction product of said analyte, interacting with said interactive composition contained in one of said other particulate structure(s) to produce a detectable change within said element;
• and
• (b) detecting said change to determine the presence and/or concentration of said analyte.

A method for the analysis of an analyte contained in a liquid, wherein said analyte, or a reaction product of said analyte, interacts within an analytical element to produce a detectable change corresponding to the presence and/or concentration of said analyte, said method comprising

• (a) providing as said analytical element an element having a support bearing a particulate structure comprising
• (i) a plurality of heat-stable, organo-polymeric particles non-swellable in and impermeable to said liquid, said particles having a particle size of from about 1 to 200 microns, and
• (ii) an adhesive, in an amount less than 10 percent by weight of said particles, comprising an organic polymer different from that of said particles and insoluble in said liquid, substantially all of said adhesive concentrated on surface areas of adjacent particles where said adjacent particles are in closest proximity bonding said particles into a coherent, three-dimensional lattice non-swellable in said liquid with interconnected void spaces among particles of said lattice to provide transport of said liquid, said lattice having a void volume of from about 25 to 80 percent;
• and;
• (b) contacting together said element and said liquid to interact said analyte, or a reaction product of said analyte, with said element and produce said detectable change.

A method for the analysis of an analyte contained in a liquid, said method comprising

• (a) providing as said analytical element an element having a support bearing a particulate structure comprising
• (i) a plurality of heat-stable, organo-polymeric particles non-swellable in and impermeable to said liquid, said particles having a particle size of from about 1 to 200 microns, and
• (ii) an adhesive, in an amount less than 10 percent by weight of said particles, comprising an organic polymer different from that of said particles and insoluble in said liquid, substantially all of said adhesive concentrated on surface areas of adjacent particles where said adjacent particles are in closest proximity bonding said particles into a coherent, three-dimensional lattice non-swellable in said liquid with interconnected void spaces among particles of said lattice to provide transport of said liquid, said lattice having a void volume of from about 25 to 80 percent;
• (b) contacting together said element and said liquid to interact said analyte, or a reaction product of said analyte, with said element and produce a detectable change within said element;
• and
• (c) detecting said change to determine the presence and/or concentration of said analyte.

A method for the analysis of an antigen contained in an aqueous liquid wherein said antigen, the same antigen bearng a detectable label, and an antibody for said antigen interact within an immunoassay element to produce a detectable change corresponding to the presence and/or concentration of said antigen, said method comprising

• (a) providing as said immunoassay element a multi-zone element having two or more zones in fluid contact, at least one of said zones containing antibody immobilized therein and at least one of said zones having a particulate structure comprising:
• (i) a plurality of heat-stable, organo-polymeric particles non-swellable in and impermeable to said liquid, said particles having a particle size of from about 1 to 200 microns, and
• (ii) an adhesive, in an amount less than 10 percent by weight of said particles, comprising an organic polymer different from that of said particles and insoluble in said liquid,
• substantially all of said adhesive being on contiguous surface areas of adjacent particles where said adjacent particles are in closest proximity and bonding said particles into a coherent, three-dimensional lattice which is non-swellable in said liquid and which has interconnected void spaces among said particles to provide transport of said liquid, said lattice having a void volume of from about 25 to 80 percent;
• and
• (b) contacting together said aqueous liquid and said multi-zone element in the presence of a known quantity of antigen bearing a detectable label to form in the zone of said element containing said antibody an antigen-antibody complex comprising said antigen contained in said aqueous liquid, a portion of said known quantity of antigen bearing said detectable label, and said antibody while the remaining portion of antigen bearing said detectable label migrates to one of said other zones, the formation of said complex producing
• (i) a detectable change in said zone containing said complex corresponding to said portion of antigen bearing said detecetable label contained in said complex, or
• (ii) a detectable change in one of said other zones corresponding to the difference between the portion of antigen bearing said detectable label contained in said complex and that contained in said known quantity of antigen bearing said detectable label, both of said detectable changes (b)(i) and (b)(ii) also corresponding to the presence and/or concentration of said antigen contained in said aqueous liquid.

A method for the analysis of an antigen contained in an aqueous liquid wherein said antigen, the same antigen bearing a detectable label, and an antibody for said antigen interact within an immunoassay element, said method comprising

• (a) providing as said immunoassay element a multi-zone element having two or more zones in fluid contact, at least one of said zones containing antibody immobilized therein and at least one of said zones having a particulate structure comprising:
• (i) a plurality of heat-stable, organo-polymeric particles non-swellable in and impermeable to said liquid, said particles having a particle size of from about 1 to 200 microns, and
• (ii) an adhesive, in an amount less than 10 percent by weight of said particles, comprising an organic polymer different from that of said particles and insoluble in said liquid,
• substantially all of said adhesive being concentrated on surface areas of adjacent particles where said adjacent particles are in closest proximity and bonding said particles into a coherent, three-dimensional lattice which is non-swellable in said liquid and which has interconnected void spaces among said particles to provide transport of said liquid, said lattice having a void volume of from about 25 to 80 percent;
• (b) contacting together said aqueous liquid and said multi-zone element in the presence of a known quantity of antigen bearing a detectable label to form in the zone of said element containing said antibody an antigen-antibody complex comprising said antigen contained in said aqueous liquid, a portion of said known quantity of antigen bearing said detectable label, and said antibody while the remaining portion of antigen bearing said detectable label migrates to one of said other zones, the formation of said complex producing
• (i) a detectable change in said zone containing said complex corresponding to said portion of antigen bearing said detecetable label contained in said complex, or
• (ii) a detectable change in one of said other zones corresponding to the difference between the portion of antigen bearing said detectable label contained in said complex and that contained in said known quantity of antigen bearing said detectable label;
• and
• (c) detecting either of said changes to determine the presence and/or concentration of antigen in said aqueous liquid.