Method and apparatus for producing visual results using colorimetric strips

A colorimetric test strip for detecting the absence or presence of a compound in a fluid, said colorimetric test strip comprising test strip material, a reagent area disposed on said test strip material and a bordering reference color area disposed on said test strip material,

• said reference color areas containing predetermined color shades that are different from the color shades of said reagent areas prior to use, said reference color area not being adapted for receiving applied fluid,
• said reagent area adapted for receiving applied fluid and for comparison of the resulting color in said reagent area to the color in said reference color area, such that the absence or presence of the compound in the fluid is detected.

A colorimetric test strip to assist in performing fluid analysis for detecting the absence or presence of a compound in a fluid, said colorimetric test strip comprising:

• one or more chemical test locations on a test strip material comprising:
• a reagent area disposed on said test strip material located adjacent to and between two reference color areas disposed on said colorimetric test strip,
• said reference color areas bordering said reagent area, said reference color areas containing predetermined color shades, one of said reference color areas contains a predetermined color shade lighter than the expected shade of said reagent area, the other of said reference color areas contains a predetermined color shade darker than the expected shade of said reagent area, said reference color area not being adapted for receiving applied fluid, said reagent area adapted for receiving applied fluid and for comparison of the resulting color in said reagent area to the color in said reference color areas such that the absence or presence of the compound in the fluid is detected.