A reagent strip and a reagent analyzer for reading the reagent strip is described. The reagent strip includes a substrate, at least one reagent pad positioned on the substrate, and a photo luminescent phosphor spot positioned at a fixed location on the substrate. The photo luminescent phosphor spot is formulated to exhibit a predetermined addressable attribute.

Disclosed is a device including a substrate having a plurality of detection areas to receive at least a portion of a sample having an analyte or suspected of having an analyte and at least one reference marker adjacent to at least one of the detection areas, wherein each of the detection areas detects a specific analyte and the at least one reference marker defines a scale mark, a shape mark, a color mark, or a combination thereof. Also disclosed is an imaging system and method for using the device and imaging system.

It is disclosed a method for calibrating an electronic device for measuring the concentration of a biological compound, in particular bilirubin. The method comprises the step a) of performing (10) a plurality of reflectance measurements for each reference strip of a plurality of reference strips (110-1, 110-2, . . . 110-8) having respective predefined concentration values of the biological compound, the step b) of calculating (20), for each reference strip, a respective value of a statistical reflectance indicator as a function of the plurality of reflectance measurements, generating a plurality of values of the statistical reflectance indicator, the step c) of subdividing the plurality of values of the statistical reflectance indicator into at least two subsets (I, II, III), the step d) of interpolating (41) the values of the statistical reflectance indicator of each subset so as to generate an interpolation curve for each subset, the step e) of calculating (43), for each pair of interpolation curves relative to two adjacent subsets (I, II), a reflectance threshold value for which the difference of the reflectance values of the pair of interpolation curves is minimum, the step f) of selecting, for each interpolation curve, a portion delimited at least in part by the respective reflectance threshold values, said portion being associated with the respective plurality of values of the statistical reference indicator, and the step g) of generating (50) a calibration curve of the electronic device by combining the selected portions of the interpolation curves.

A method of determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample of a body fluid with a mobile device having a camera is disclosed. The camera captures an image of a color reference card and of a reagent test field of an optical test strip having a sample applied to it. A predetermined pixel-based mean tone map correction is applied to the image obtained, which results in a first intensity-corrected image. Local brightness information is derived from the first intensity-corrected image. A mobile device-specific tone map correction is applied to the first intensity-corrected image, taking into account the local brightness information. A second intensity-corrected image is thereby obtained. Analyte concentration is determined based on a color formation reaction of the test field by using the second intensity-corrected image. Optionally, a color correction may be derived and applied to the second intensity-corrected image to obtain an intensity-corrected and color-corrected image.

Medical test cards for detecting analytes are provided including a substantially planar body, an analyte detection means, an opening feature, and an optical code. The analyte detection means is enclosed within the planar body and is configured to provide a colorimetric change when a portion of the analyte detection means is contacted with the analyte. The opening feature is configured to provide access to the analyte detection means and the optical code includes information identifying the analyte detection means. Uses of such medical test cards include accessing the analyte detection means enclosed within the planar body by using the opening feature and contacting the analyte detection means with the sample. The optical code is read using an imaging device to identify the analyte detection means and the analyte detection means is imaged following contact with the sample using the imaging device.

A detection system and a portable detection device for detecting an object of interest in a lateral flow immunoassay strip. The lateral flow immunoassay strip has a detection carrier and a reporter, the detection carrier has a control zone and a test zone. The detection system has a laser light source, a scanning and spatial modulation module, a signal acquisition assembly, and a processing device. The laser light source provides a laser light. The scanning and spatial modulation module receives the laser light, and then provides a scanning and spatially modulating laser beam for irradiating a lateral flow immunoassay strip to generate a detecting signal. The signal acquisition assembly receives the detecting signal. The processing device electronic connects to the signal acquisition assembly and receives the detecting signal from the signal acquisition assembly.

Disclosed is a method for determining a quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception in a female mammalian subject, the method comprising: a) providing a liquid sample suspected of containing hCG; b) measuring, by means of an assay or assay device, an analyte measurement signal, whose value is dependent upon the level of hCG; c) comparing the measured signal value to an analyte threshold, wherein said analyte threshold corresponds to a time since conception; d) providing an quantitative estimate of the length of time since conception based upon the comparison in step (c).

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 test strip fixation device for use in a method of determining analyte concentration in a body fluid using a mobile device with a camera. The device has top and bottom surfaces, has an essentially planar shape, and also has a cut-out portion configured for application of a body fluid sample. The top surface has color reference fields with known reference color values, including grey and non-grey reference fields. The grey reference fields are symmetrically arranged around the cut-out portion and around at least some of the non-grey color reference fields. The top surface also has position detection code elements. The bottom surface has a connector configured for detachable connection of an optical test strip relative to the test strip fixation device, and a reagent test region of the test strip can be aligned with the cut-out portion. A method of using the device is also disclosed.

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.