Device for determining an analyte in a liquid sample

A device for determination of an analyte in a liquid sample, comprising:

• a) an elongated support to be gripped extending along a reference direction having a proximate gripping zone and a distal portion away from said gripping zone;
• b) a first means for capillary diffusion in said reference direction, integral with the support to be gripped, comprising a downstream zone which is accessible to external observation, and an upstream zone opposite to said downstream zone along said reference direction;
• c) a movable member movably mounted inside said support along said reference direction, for taking up the liquid sample, comprising a second means for capillary diffusion extending in said reference direction having a distal collection zone for collecting said sample, and a proximal transfer zone opposite to said distal collection zone along said reference direction, said movable member being mounted on said support so that it can move between a protruding position and a retracted position, wherein:
• in the protruding position, the distal collection zone of the second means for capillary diffusion protrudes from the distal portion across an opening of said support to be brought into direct contact with said sample at said distal portion of said support, and in which the transfer zone of the second means for capillary diffusion remains inside said support and is in capillary flow discontinuity with, and away from, the upstream zone of the first means for capillary diffusion,
• and in the retracted position, the transfer zone of the second means for capillary diffusion is in capillary flow continuity, inside said support, with the first means for capillary diffusion, and in which the collection zone of the second means for capillary diffusion is contained in said distal portion of said support, leaving said opening across said support free of said second means for capillary diffusion;
• d) means for opening and closing said opening in said support, respectively in the protruding and retracted positions of said movable member;
• e) a set of predetermined reagents for at least one of detection and quantitative analysis of the analyte, comprising
• a first reagent comprising a marker, being arranged in the free state on any one of the first and the second capillary means for capillary diffusion in a functional location upstream of the downstream zone of the first means for capillary diffusion, and
• a second reagent, fixed in the downstream zone of the first means for capillary diffusion, for direct or indirect capture of the first reagent.