A reflectometer and method of use for measuring an amount of analyte in a sample are provided. The reflectometer can include a plurality of reading heads for obtaining reflectance information from discrete regions on a lateral flow test strip. The reflectance information is processed to obtain a digital value for the reflectance. The discrete regions can include a test zone and at least two control zones that each has a differing amount of detection moiety binding substance. The digital values for each control zone can be employed to establish a high end standard and a low end standard. The digital value for the test zone interpolated to the standards to obtain an accurate quantitative value for the analyte in the sample.

A test device is configured for diagnostic testing and includes an optical readable medium, in turn including a pattern of spots of material arranged on a surface of the device. Several patterns may be provided. The patterns accordingly formed may be human and/or machine readable. They may notably encode security information, e.g., indicating whether the device has already been used. The spots may notably be inkjet spotted. In addition, a method is provided for decoding information encoded in a pattern of such a test device. In embodiments, liquid is introduced in the device, which comprises additional spots having a substantially different solubility than spots forming the actual pattern. Thus, the additional spots get solubilized in and flushed by the liquid as the latter wets them, and an initially hidden pattern may be read, which is formed of the remaining spots (not solubilized). Encoding methods are also provided.

A method of evaluating the suitability of a mobile device for performing an analytical measurement based on a color formation reaction. The capability of the mobile device to have relevant settings of the mobile device controlled by software running on the mobile device is evaluated. The relevant settings pertain to image raw data processing steps to be carried out by the mobile device and may include a color space transformation and a tone mapping transformation. When the evaluation indicates that the mobile device is capable of having the relevant settings controlled by the software, control information indicating that the mobile device is suitable for performing the analytical measurement is provided. When the evaluation indicates that the mobile device is not capable of having the relevant settings controlled by the software, control information indicating that the mobile device is unsuitable for performing the analytical measurement is provided.

An analyte testing system for quantifying the presence of an analyte in a speciment by lateral flow chromatography. The system comprises a test cassette (10) with a lateral flow chromatography and a mobile hand-held processor device (16) comprising a digital camera (16a), a source of light (16b) and a processor (16c), which software and hardware (16c) are configured to determine automatically the distance between camera and object and the measures of light in the region of interest of the lateral flow chromatography prior any retrieval of image data for further analysis and quantification of the visual signals.

A gas sampling apparatus having a sampling film in a cartridge includes the cartridge configured to store and send the sampling film out, and the sampling film detachable from the cartridge, wherein the sampling film is configured to adsorb a target material and prevent disturbance between sampled target materials.

Method and apparatus for electronic detection and determination includes detecting a signal T0 in a detection zone and a signal R0 in a reference zone before a sample is added; adding a sample and detecting the signals in each of the detection zone and the reference zone at an interval of a second preset period; calculating a judgement value based on 2k immediately previous signals in each of the detection zone and the reference zone, the signal T0 in the detection zone before the sample is added, and the signal R0 in the reference zone before the sample is added, each time when k successive signals are detected in each of the detection zone and the reference zone; and determining a judgement result based on m successive judgement values and a preset result threshold corresponding to a current detection time.

A reagent test paddle includes a contamination detection medium, a reference color bar, at least one chemical test medium, and a unique identifier. The contamination detection medium includes a reagent that changes color in the presence or when exposed to a hostile or inhospitable environment. Each chemical test medium includes a regent that is responsive to a respective analyte in a biological sample. The reference color bar includes reference color samples of different colors. The unique identifier, like a serial number, identifies the particular paddle and its chemical test medium so it can be uniquely and anonymously associated with a user. A method includes capturing and interpreting digital images of a biologically unexposed and subsequently exposed reagent test paddle at various delay times within an automatically calibrated environment; locating the paddle in a plurality of digital images, extracting the reference color bar and locating the contamination detection medium and chemical test medium in each digital image. Color changes of the chemical test medium and contamination medium are detected at various delay times after sample exposure. To determine validity of test results, the method further compares the detected colors of the contamination detection medium with predetermined colors expected for no contamination and contamination.

A reagent test paddle includes a contamination detection medium, a reference color bar, at least one chemical test medium, and a unique identifier. The contamination detection medium includes a reagent that changes color in the presence or when exposed to a hostile or inhospitable environment. Each chemical test medium includes a regent that is responsive to a respective analyte in a biological sample. The reference color bar includes reference color samples of different colors. The unique identifier, like a serial number, identifies the particular paddle and its chemical test medium so it can be uniquely and anonymously associated with a user. A method includes capturing and interpreting digital images of a biologically unexposed and subsequently exposed reagent test paddle at various delay times within an automatically calibrated environment; locating the paddle in a plurality of digital images, extracting the reference color bar and locating the contamination detection medium and chemical test medium in each digital image. Color changes of the chemical test medium and contamination medium are detected at various delay times after sample exposure. To determine validity of test results, the method further compares the detected colors of the contamination detection medium with predetermined colors expected for no contamination and contamination.

A method, a mobile device and a kit for performing an analytical measurement are disclosed, wherein outliers are eliminated. In the inventive method, a mobile device having a camera and a test strip for performing a color-change detection reaction are provided. A sample is applied to a test field of the test strip and an image of at least part of the test strip is captured. A region of interest in the image is determined and associated with a first sub-set of pixels. A color distribution is evaluated and outliers are eliminated in the first sub-set of pixels. A sub-region of interest is determined within the region of interest and is associated with a second sub-set of pixels. Mean values of the color distributions of the first sub-set of pixels and the second sub-set of pixels are compared to thereby determine homogeneity information of the image.

A device for determining an assay result may include a test strip, a light source system, a light detection system, and a processor.