Apparatus and processes for facilitating reaction between analyte and test reagent system

An apparatus for facilitating reaction between a first liquid test reagent system and analyte contained in a liquid sample, and for facilitating reaction between an admixture of said first liquid test reagent system and liquid sample and a second liquid test reagent system, comprising:

• mounting means;
• reservoir means provided on said mounting means, said reservoir means having an entrance and for receiving said second liquid test reagent system;
• capillary means mounted slidably on said mounting means and for advancement from a rearward position towards and entry into said reservoir means through said entrance thereof;
• first and second cavities provided in said mounting means and upon said capillary means being in said rearward position said cavities residing intermediate said capillary means and said reservoir means with said capillary means, cavities and reservoir means being aligned linearly with said first cavity adjacent said capillary means and with said second cavity adjacent said reservoir means;
• said first cavity for receiving said liquid sample and said second cavity for receiving said first liquid test reagent system;
• and
• upon said capillary means being advanced from said rearward position towards said reservoir said capillary means engaging said liquid sample to draw said sample therein by capillary attraction, upon continued advancement of said capillary means said capillary means engaging said first liquid test reagent system to draw said first liquid test reagent system therein by capillary attraction to provide an admixture of said first liquid test reagent system and said sample and and to bring said analyte and said first liquid test reagent system into contact in said capillary means and facilitate said reaction therebetween, and upon further continued advancement of said capillary means said capillary means entering said reservoir means and engaging said second liquid test regent system to draw said second liquid test reagent therein by capillary attraction and to bring said second liquid test reagent system and said admixture into contact in said capillary means to facilitate said reaction therebetween.

An apparatus for facilitating reaction between analyte contained in a liquid sample and an analytical test reagent system, and for providing a control test between said sample and a control test reagent system for comparison with said reaction to determine the validity thereof, comprising:

• first capillary means for receiving said analytical test reagent system;
• second capillary means for receiving said control test reagent system;
• reservoir means for receiving said liquid sample;
• and
• said first and second capillary means dimensioned for entry into said reservoir and said first and second capillary means and said reservoir means mounted for at least relative movement toward each other and entry of said first and second capillary means into said reservoir means to draw by capillary attraction respective portions of said sample into said first capillary means and said second capillary means to bring said analyte and analytical test reagent system into contact in said first capillary means and facilitate said reaction therebetween and to bring a portion of said sample and said control test reagent system into contact in said second capillary means to provide said control test.

A process of facilitating reaction between analyte contained in a sample and test reagent system, wherein at least one of said sample and test reagent system is a liquid, comprising the steps of:

• placing said liquid one of said sample and test reagent system in reservoir means;
• placing the other of said sample and test reagent system in a bore of non-circular cross-section provided in a capillary tube, said capillary tube dimensioned for entry into said reservoir means;
• mounting said reservoir means and said capillary tube for at least relative movement towards each other and entry of said capillary tube into said reservoir means;
• and
• providing said relative movement towards each other and entry of said capillary tube into said reservoir means to draw by capillary attraction said one of said sample and test reagent system from said reservoir means into said bore and to bring said analyte and test reagent system into turbulent contact in said bore and facilitate said reaction.

A process of facilitating reaction between analyte contained in a liquid sample and a first liquid test reagent system and of facilitating reaction between an admixture of said sample and said first liquid test reagent system and a second liquid test reagent system, comprising the steps of:

• placing said second liquid test reagent system in a reservoir provided with an entrance;
• mounting capillary means slidably for advancement from a rearward position towards and entry into said reservoir through said entrance;
• placing said sample and said first liquid test reagent system, respectively, in first and second cavities residing intermediate said capillary means upon said capillary means being in a rearward position and said reservoir;
• and
• advancing said capillary means from said rearward position towards said reservoir to cause said capillary means to engage said liquid sample in said first cavity and draw said sample into said capillary means by capillary attraction, continuing advancement of said capillary means to cause said capillary means to engage said first liquid test reagent system residing in said second cavity to draw said first liquid test reagent system into said capillary means by capillary attraction and to bring said analyte and said first liquid test reagent system into contact in said capillary means and facilitate said reaction therebetween, and further continuing advancement of said capillary means to cause said capillary means to enter said reservoir through said entrance and engage said second liquid test reagent system to draw said second liquid test reagent system into said capillary means by capillary attraction and to bring said second liquid test reagent system and said admixture of said sample and said first liquid test reagent system into contact in said capillary means to facilitate said reaction therebetween.

A process of facilitating reaction between analyte contained in a liquid sample and an analytical test reagent system and for providing a control test between said ample and a control test reagent system for comparison with said reaction to determine the validity thereof, comprising the steps of:

• placing said analytical test reagent system in first capillary means;
• placing said control test reagent system in second capillary means;
• placing said liquid sample containing said analyte in a reservoir;
• providing said first and second capillary means with cross-sectional dimensions permitting entry thereof into said reservoir;
• mounting said first and second capillary means and said reservoir for at least relative movement towards each other and entry of said first and second capillary means into said reservoir;
• and
• providing said relative movement and entry of said first and second capillary means into said reservoir and drawing by capillary attraction respective portions of said sample into said first capillary means and said second capillary means to bring said analyte and analytical test reagent system into contact in said first capillary means and facilitate said reaction and to bring a portion of said sample and said control test reagent system into contact in said second capillary means to provide said control test.