Qualitative immunochromatographic method and device

Abstract

A method for determining the presence of a predetermined minimum detectible amount of one or more analytes in a sample suspected of containing the analyte is disclosed. Each analyte is a member of a specific binding pair ("sbp member") consisting of ligand and its complementary receptor. The method comprises contacting with a test solution containing said sample and predetermined amounts of two or more of a plurality of first sbp members, each respectively analogous to one of said analytes, a contact portion of a piece of bibulous material capable of being traversed in at least one direction by the test solution by capillary migration. The bibulous material contains predetermined amounts of two or more of a plurality of second sbp members, each respectively capable of binding one of the analytes and corresponding first sbp member. The second sbp members are non-diffusively bound to the bibulous material at least between the contact portion and a predetermined site on the piece of bibulous material separated from the contact portion such that in the presence of a predetermined amount of one or more analytes the analogous first sbp member migrates at least to the predetermined site on the piece of bibulous material. Next, at least a portion of the test solution is allowed to traverse the bibulous material by means of capillary migration. The predetermined site is examined for the presence of one or more of the first sbp members, which is usually indicated by the presence of a detectible signal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.