Optical agglutination assay device

An optical agglutination assay device comprising:

• a housing;
• a first separate, discrete hollow reaction cell mounted on said housing, said first cell defining a generally planar liquid receiving first reaction chamber having a thickness which facilitates the use of small quantities of reactants, does not interfere with the agglutination process, and is insufficient to substantially interfere with the passage of light through an aqueous reaction system in said first chamber along a first path of travel extending transversely of the plane of the first chamber;
• a second separate, discrete hollow reaction cell mounted on said housing, said second cell defining a generally planar liquid receiving second reaction chamber having a thickness which facilitates the use of small quantities of reactants, does not interfere with the agglutination process, and is insufficient to substantially interfere with the passage of light through an aqueous reaction system in said second chamber along a second path of travel extending transversely of the plane of the second chamber;
• first means for delivering an aqueous agglutination reaction system and an unknown substance suspected of containing a target analyte into said first chamber, said agglutination system being such that agglutination therein is promoted or inhibited in the presence of said analyte;
• second means for delivering an aqueous agglutination reaction system into said second chamber;
• means for transmitting light into said first chamber along said first path of travel;
• means for detecting the intensity of light reflected form said first chamber;
• means for transmitting light into said second chamber along said second path of travel;
• means for detecting the intensity of light reflected from said second chamber;
• and
• means for comparing the intensity of the light reflected from said first chamber with the intensity of the light reflected from said second chamber as a measure of the occurrence of agglutination in said first chamber, wherein said first delivering means comprises at least one first elongated passageway extending through said housing and arranged in liquid communication with said first chamber, and an elongated first plunger receivable in each said at least one first passageway for pushing components of a reaction system along said at least one first passageway and into said first chamber;
• said second delivering means comprising at least one second elongated passageway extending through said housing and arranged in liquid communication with said second chamber, and an elongated second plunger receivable in each said at least one second passageway for pushing components of a reaction system along said at least one second passageway and into said second chamber;
• said first delivering means further comprising an elongated sample duct extending through said housing and arranged in liquid communication with said first chamber, and an elongated sample collector receivable in said duct and configured to extend therethrough for positioning a sample in proximity to said first chamber.