Sample card system and method for optical detection using capillary action

An analyte detection system comprising:

• a. a sample card including:
• a housing having at least one cavity made from a flexible material,
• a sample substrate, at least a portion of the sample substrate onto which a sample is to be collected, being configured to be exposed from outside the housing,
• at least one test capsule held in the at least one cavity and containing a liquid to be delivered to a collected sample,
• an absorbent pad to collect the liquid from the at least one test capsule after the liquid is released and to deliver the liquid to the sample substrate,
• one or more detection reagents contained in at least one of the at least one test capsule, the sample substrate, and the absorbent pad, and
• an identifying mark indicating a sample card type;
• and
• b. a reader device including:
• a housing with a card carrier to receive the sample card,
• a door shiftably mounted relative to the housing and the card carrier between opened and closed positions,
• a card rupture mechanism configured to release the liquid in the test capsule after a sample card has been inserted into the card carrier and the door is subsequently placed in the closed position,
• a light assembly,
• an optical reader configured to:
• read the identifying mark in indicating the sample card type such that the system conducts an analysis protocol for an analyte or group of analytes specific to the sample card type with the analyte or group of analytes being selected from the group consisting of explosives, narcotics, gunshot residue, organophosphate reagents, and toxic industrial chemicals, and read an optical signal produced by reaction of the collected sample and the one or more detection reagents,
• a signal processor for determining a test result based on the optical signal, and
• a communication system for conveying the test result.