Point of care diagnostic systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for medical diagnosis or risk assessment for a patient are provided. These systems and methods are designed to be employed at the point of care, such as in emergency rooms and operating rooms, or in any situation in which a rapid and accurate result is desired. The systems and methods process patient data, particularly data from point of care diagnostic tests or assays, including immunoassays, electrocardiograms, X-rays and other such tests, and provide an indication of a medical condition or risk or absence thereof. The systems include an instrument for reading or evaluating the test data and software for converting the data into diagnostic or risk assessment information.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods that aid in providing a medical diagnosis or risk assessment for a patient using biochemical and historic patient data, including data from point of care diagnostic tests or assays, and processing the information to give an indication of a medical condition or risk.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Evaluation of Immunoassay Data

In diagnostic immunochromatographic assays, where results are determined by a color change or the production of color, results are generally determined visually by the human eye. As a result of the human perception and judgment involved, there is significant variance among those interpreting such test results as to whether a color change or other measurable signal has occurred, or the degree of such occurrence. Furthermore, there is thus a great deal of subjectivity involved in interpreting whether immunoassay results are positive or negative. This is particularly pronounced where the result is close to a threshold value. The variance is further enhanced when attempts are made to quantitate such assay test results. Accurate results may be critical for certain diagnostic assays.

It is desirable to develop techniques that are objective in nature, and that reduce the error associated with interpreting immunochromato-graphic and other assay test results. Therefore, it is an object herein to provide systems, methods, devices and instruments for objectively assessing data from biochemical and other tests and to use such data for diagnosis and risk assessment. It is also an object herein to incorporate decision-support methodologies into such systems and thereby enhance the diagnostic and risk assessment capabilities thereof.

It is also an object herein to provide systems and methods for use in detecting and measuring fetal fibronectin (fFN) levels in a patient sample and using such information to diagnose and assess risks of preterm labor, fetal membrane rupture and other related disorders and conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Systems and methods for medical diagnosis or risk assessment for a patient are provided. These systems and methods are designed to be employed at the point of care, such as in emergency rooms, operating rooms, hospital laboratories and other clinical laboratories, doctor's offices, in the field, or in any situation in which a rapid and accurate result is desired. The systems and methods process patient data, particularly data from point of care diagnostic tests or assays, including immunoassays, chemical assays, nucleic acid assays, calorimetric assays, fluorometric assays, chemiluminescent and bioluminescent assays, electrocardiograms, X-rays and other such tests, and provide an indication of a medical condition or risk or absence thereof.

The systems include an instrument for reading or evaluating the test data and software for converting the data into diagnostic or risk assessment information. In some embodiments, the systems include a test device, such as a test strip, for analyzing patient samples and obtaining patient data. Further, the systems optionally include a decision-support system or systems, such as a neural network, for evaluating the digitized data, and also for subsequent assessment of the data, such as by integration with other patient information, including documents and information in medical records. All software and instrument components are preferably included in a single package. Alternatively, the software can be contained in a remote computer so that the test data obtained at a point of care can be sent electronically to a processing center for evaluation. Thus, the systems operate on site at the point of care, such as in a doctor's office, or remote therefrom.

The patient information includes data from physical and biochemical tests, such as immunoassays, and from other procedures. The test is performed on a patient at the point of care and generates data that can be digitized, such as by an electronic reflectance or transmission reader, which generates a data signal. The signal is processed using software employing data reduction and curve fitting algorithms, or a decision support system, such as a trained neural network, or combinations thereof, for converting the signal into data, which is used to aid in diagnosis of a medical condition or determination of a risk of disease. This result may be further entered into a second decision support system, such as a neural net, for refinement or enhancement of the assessment.

In a particular embodiment, systems and methods for detecting and measuring levels of a target analyte in a patient sample, analyzing the resulting data, and providing a diagnosis or risk assessment are provided. The systems and methods include an immunoassay device in combination with a reader, particularly a computer-assisted reader, preferably a reflectance reader, and data processing software employing data reduction and curve fitting algorithms, optionally in combination with a trained neural network for accurately determining the presence or concentration of analyte in a biological sample. The methods include the steps of performing an immunoassay on a patient sample, reading the data using a reflectance reader and processing the reflectance data using data processing software employing data reduction. Preferred software includes curve fitting algorithms, optionally in combination with a trained neural network, to determine the presence or amount of analyte in a given sample. The data obtained from the reader then can be further processed by the medical diagnosis system to provide a risk assessment or diagnosis of a medical condition as output. In alternative embodiments, the output can be used as input into a subsequent decision support system, such as a neural network, that is trained to evaluate such data.

In a preferred embodiment, the test device is a lateral flow test strip, preferably, though not necessarily, encased in a housing, designed to be read by the reader and the assay is a sandwich immunoassay. For example, in one embodiment thereof, a patient sample is contacted with an antibody for a selected target analyte indicative of a disease, disorder or risk thereof. The antibody is preferably labeled by conjugation to a physically detectable label, and upon contacting with the sample containing the target analyte forms a complex. The antibody-analyte complex is then contacted with a second antibody for the antigen, which is immobilized on a solid support. The second antibody captures the antibody-analyte complex to form an antibody-analyte-antibody sandwich complex, and the resulting complex, which is immobilized on the solid support, is detectable by virtue of the label. The test strip is then inserted into a reader, where the signal from the label in the complex is measured. Alternatively, the test strip could be inserted into the reader prior to addition of the sample. The signal obtained is processed using data processing software employing data reduction and curve fitting algorithms, optionally in combination with a trained neural network, to give either a positive or negative result, or a quantitative determination of the concentration of analyte in the sample, which is correlated with a result indicative of a risk or presence of a disease or disorder. This result can optionally be input into a decision support system, and processed to provide an enhanced assessment of the risk of a medical condition as output. The entire procedure may be automated and/or computer-controlled.

In a particular embodiment, the analyte to be detected is fetal fibronectin (fFN) and the result obtained is a positive or negative indication of pregnancy or the risk of certain pregnancy-related conditions or fertility and infertility-related conditions, including ectopic pregnancy, preterm labor, pre-eclampsia, imminent delivery, term induction and fetal membrane rupture. Thus, provided herein is a rapid fFN test using a lateral flow test device.

At the very least, this test provides the same clinically relevant information as a fFN ELISA (an enzyme linked immunosorbent sandwich assay (ELISA)) test heretofore available in significantly less time and at the point of care. The fFN immunoassay provided herein allows the user to test a cervicovaginal swab sample in about 20 minutes. When practiced as described herein, additional information, such as a more accurate risk assessment or diagnosis, can be obtained.

The system herein provides a means to detect and to quantitate concentrations of fFN throughout pregnancy and to assess the risk and detect conditions associated therewith. Because of the sensitivity of the combination of the reader and devices provided herein, fFN may be monitored throughout pregnancy, including times when it is not detected by less sensitive systems.

The reflectance reader and test strip device are also provided herein. Also provided herein are the neural nets for assessing the data.

A method for classifying an image is also provided. The method includes the steps of reducing the image to a set of derived parameters from which the image can be reconstructed within a predetermined degree of tolerance; inputting the derived parameters into a classification neural network; and determining the classification of the image based on the output of the classification neural network. The method of reducing the image to a set of derived parameters is achieved by defining a mathematical function that contains a plurality of parameters representative of the image; and optimizing the parameters of the function using a methodology that minimizes the error between the image and a reconstruction of the image using the function.

In an alternative embodiment, the method of reducing the image to a set of derived parameters is achieved by inputting the image into a trained neural network, where the inputs to the network represent the image, the hidden layer of the network is such that the number of hidden elements is smaller than the number of inputs to the network, and the outputs of the network represent resconstruction of the image; and setting the derived parameters to the output values of the trained neural network.

In another alternative embodiment, the method of reducing the image to a set of derived parameters is achieved by defining a neural network in which the inputs to the network are the coordinates of a point in the image, the hidden layer contains a plurality of elements, and the output of the network represents the reconstruction of the associated point in the image; training the neural network so that the error between the network output and the image are minimized for all points in the image; and setting the derived parameters to the weights of the hidden layer of the trained neural network.

The neural networks and computer systems used in the methods are also provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the immunoassay test strip;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the immunoassay test strip of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the immunoassay device, including the immunoassay test strip of FIG. 1 and housing assembly;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the housing assembly for the immunoassay test strip of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a side assembly view of the housing assembly for the immunoassay test strip of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of an immunoassay reader device and an immunoassay device, inserted therein, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the reader;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of portion of the immunoassay device of FIG. 3 shown inserted into a cassette slot of a lower housing and extending to a reader head assembly within the immunoassay reader device;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the lower housing of the immunoassay reader device of FIG. 7 with the immunoassay device inserted therein and a stepper motor shown positioned relative to the immunoassay device as is when the immunoassay device is fully inserted into the cassette slot of the reader device;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the lower housing of the reader device of FIG. 7 with the immunoassay device of FIG. 3 fully inserted with the stepper motor shown positioned relative to the fully inserted immunoassay device, with a reader head shown positioned in a lowered position over a test opening of the immunoassay device, and with a carriage wheel shown engaged by the immunoassay device so as to lower the reader head into its lowered position therein;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a reader head assembly such as is found in the immunoassay reader device of FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a reader head of the reader head assembly of FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 12 is a reverse angle side view of the reader head assembly of FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 13 is a reverse angle side view of the reader head of FIG. 11 ;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the reader head assembly of FIG. 10 , having been actuated so as to pivot the reader head assembly into a raised position suitable for insertion and removal of the immunoassay device into and from the reader head assembly within the immunoassay reader device;

FIG. 15 is an end view of the reader head of FIG. 11 ;

FIG. 16 is an end view of the reader head assembly of FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 17 is a cut-away view of the reader head assembly of FIG. 11 with first and second light emitting diodes, a photodetector, corresponding fiberoptic bundles and an aperture at a lower end thereof depicted;

FIG. 18 is a partial closeup cross-sectional view of a reader head tip of the reader head of FIG. 17 showing the aperture and ends of fiberoptic fibers of the fiberoptic bundles of FIG. 17 ;

FIG. 19 is a closeup bottom view of the aperture of the reader head of FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrating a sigmoidal pattern for positioning individual fiberoptic fibers (fiberoptic conductors);

FIG. 20 is a closeup end view of the corresponding fiberoptic bundle at the first light emitting diode of FIG. 17 from which the fiberoptic bundle conducts light from the first light emitting diode;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process by which an immunoassay test strip is analyzed so as to determine an amount of background light at a control region of the immunoassay test strip;

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process by which an immunoassay test strip is analyzed so as to determine an amount of reflection resulting from a first illumination of a control portion of the immunoassay test strip; and

FIG. 23 is a schematic view diagram illustrating a process by which an immunoassay test strip is analyzed so as to determine an amount of reflection resulting from a second illumination of a control portion of the immunoassay test strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All patents and publications referred to herein are, unless noted otherwise, incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event a definition in this section is not consistent with definitions elsewhere, the definition set forth in this section will control.

As used herein, point of care testing refers to real time diagnostic testing that can be done in a rapid time frame so that the resulting test is performed faster than comparable tests that do not employ this system. For example, for the fFN immunoassay it is performed in less time than the fFN ELISA assay (i.e., less than about 3 to 4 hours, preferably less than 1 hour, more preferably less than half an hour). It can be performed in a doctor's office, at a bedside, in a stat laboratory, emergency room and other such locales, particularly where rapid and accurate results are required. The patient can be present, but such presence is not required. Point of care includes, but is not limited to: emergency rooms, operating rooms, hospital laboratories and other clinical laboratories, doctor's offices, in the field, or in any situation in which a rapid and accurate result is desired.

As used herein, an anti-fFN antibody is an antibody that binds selectively with fFN. Such antibodies are known to those of skill in the art and also may be readily isolated.

As used herein, a test strip refers to any means on which patient test data or other data is generated, recorded or displayed in a manner that forms an image or from which an image can be generated. Such strips, include, but are not limited to immunochromatographic test strips, such as lateral flow devices, X-ray films, such as X-rays and films produced from sequencing gels, EKG printouts, MRI results and other such means that generate or from which an image as defined herein can be generated. The strip is preferably adapted for scanning or reading by a reader, preferably the reader provided herein. Although referred to as a “strip”, it can be of any shape or geometry, including rectangular, three dimensional, circular, and so forth.

As used herein, a sigmoidal pattern (also referred to herein as sigmoidal-like; see, e.g., FIG. 19 ) with reference to the fiberoptices refers to the S-shaped or snake-like pattern of illumination selected for maximizing illumination across the lines on the test strip. The pattern is not strictly a sigmoidal shape, but refers to a pattern such as that depicted in FIG. 19 , which pattern provides a means for adding more area to any reading. Any other pattern that achieved this result is encompassed within this expression.

As used herein, quantative results are results that are absolute or relative values; qualitative results are typically negative or positive type results.

As used herein, fetal restricted antigens refers to antigen that are present in pregnant women uniquely or in substantially elevated amounts compared to non-pregnant women in maternal serum, plasma, urine, saliva, sweat, tears and other bodily fluids.

As used herein, fetal fibronectin is a fetal restricted antigen found in placenta, amniotic fluid and fetal connective tissue. It differs structurally from adult fibronectins. Fetal fibronectin is not present in significant quantities in maternal plasma or serum. Fetal fibronectin may be captured with a general binding antibody, such as an anti-fibronectin antibody, or an anti-fetal restricted antigen antibody, such as anti-fetal fibronectin antibody.

As used herein, an immunoassay is defined as any method using a preferential binding of an antigen with a second material, a binding partner, usually an antibody or another substance having an antigen binding site, which binds preferentially with an epitope of the fetal restricted antigen. Preferential binding, as used herein, refers to binding between binding partners that is selective and generally specific, and demonstrates less than 10%, preferably less than 5%, cross-reactive nonspecific binding. The immunoassay methods provided herein include any known to those of skill in the art, including, but not limited to, sandwich, competition, agglutination or precipitation, for example.

As used herein, a solid support refers to the material to which the antibody is linked. A variety of materials can be used as the solid support. The support materials include any material that can act as a support for attachment of the molecules of interest. Such materials are known to those of skill in this art. These materials include, but are not limited to, organic or inorganic polymers, natural and synthetic polymers, including, but not limited to, agarose, cellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, other cellulose derivatives, dextran, dextran-derivatives and dextran co-polymers, other polysaccharides, glass, silica gels, gelatin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, rayon, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutlyene, polycarbonate, polyesters, polyamides, vinyl polymers, polyvinylalcohols, polystyrene and polystyrene copolymers, polystyrene cross-linked with divinylbenzene or the like, acrylic resins, acrylates and acrylic acids, acrylamides, polyacrylamides, polyacrylamide blends, co-polymers of vinyl and acrylamide, methacrylates, methacrylate derivatives and co-polymers, other polymers and co-polymers with various functional groups, latex, butyl rubber and other synthetic rubbers, silicon, glass, paper, natural sponges, insoluble protein, surfactants, red blood cells, metals, metalloids, magnetic materials, or other commercially available media.

As used herein, a reader refers to an instrument for detecting and/or quantitating data, such as on test strips. The data may be visible to the naked eye, but does not need to be visible.

As used herein, a reflectance reader refers to an instrument adapted to read a test strip using reflected light, including fluorescence, or electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength. A preferred reflectance reader, which is provided and described herein, includes a cassette slot adapted to receive a test-strip, light-emitting diodes, optical fibers, a sensing head, including means for positioning the sensing head along the test strip, a control circuit to read the photodetector output and control the on and off operation of the light-emitting diodes, a memory circuit for storing raw and/or processed data, and a photodetector, such as a silicon photodiode detector.

As used herein, a sensing head refers to the assembly which is adapted to read a test strip using reflected light or other electromagnetic radiation. Thus, the sensing head in the reader provided herein refers to the part of the sensing head assembly that randomizes the optical bundles and arranges the fibers in the plane normal to the test strip.

As used herein, color refers to the relative energy distribution of electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum. Color can be assessed visually or by using equipment, such as a photosensitive detector.

As used herein, a color change refers to a change in intensity or hue of color or may be the appearance of color where no color existed or the disappearance of color.

As used herein, a decision-support system, also referred to as a “data mining system” or a “knowledge discovery in data system”, is any system, typically a computer-based system, that can be trained on data to classify the input data and then subsequently used with new input data to make decisions based on the training data. These systems include, but are not limited, expert systems, fuzzy logic, non-linear regression analysis, multivariate analysis, decision tree classifiers, Bayesian belief networks and, as exemplified herein, neural networks.

As used herein, an adaptive machine learning process refers to any system whereby data are used to generate a predictive solution. Such processes include those effected by expert systems, neural networks, and fuzzy logic.

As used herein, an expert system is a computer-based problem solving and decision-support system based on knowledge of its task and logical rules or procedures for using the knowledge. The knowledge and the logic are entered into the computer from the experience of human specialists in the area of expertise.

As used herein, a neural network, or neural net, is a parallel computational model comprised of densely interconnected adaptive processing elements. In the neural network, the processing elements are configured into an input layer, an output layer and at least one hidden layer. Suitable neural networks are known to those of skill in this art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,251,626; 5,473,537; and 5,331,550, Baxt (1991) “Use of an Artificial Neural Network for the Diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction,” Annals of Internal Medicine 115:843; Baxt (1992) “Improving the Accuracy of an Artificial Neural Network Using Multiple Differently Trained Networks,” Neural Computation 4:772; Baxt (1992) “Analysis of the clinical variables that drive decision in an artificial neural network trained to identify the presence of myocardial infarction,” Annals of Emergency Medicine 21:1439; and Baxt (1994) “Complexity, chaos and human physiology: the justification for non-linear neural computational analysis,” Cancer Letters 77:85).

As used herein, a processing element, which may also be known as a perceptron or an artificial neuron, is a computational unit which maps input data from a plurality of inputs into a single binary output in accordance with a transfer function. Each processing element has an input weight corresponding to each input which is multiplied with the signal received at that input to produce a weighted input value. The processing element sums the weighted inputs values of each of the inputs to generate a weighted sum which is then compared to the threshold defined by the transfer function.

As used herein, transfer function, also known as a threshold function or an activation function, is a mathematical function which creates a curve defining two distinct categories. Transfer functions may be linear, but, as used in neural networks, are more typically non-linear, including quadratic, polynomial, or sigmoid functions.

As used herein, an image is a multi-dimensional array of data points, where each data point is represented by a number, or a set of numbers, and where there is a relationship between adjacent points in each of the dimensions. The index values in each dimension typically represent a linear relationship, like position or time, but are not limited to these types of relationships. A single digitized scan line from a TV frame would be considered a two dimensional image. In the case of the preferred embodiment, an image refers to a one-dimensional set of pixels, which encode the intensity of the blue color on the test strip.

As used herein, classifying an image refers to associating an object or state with the image. Images of fruit might be classified as to the type of fruit shown in the image. In the case of the preferred embodiment, classifying the test strip image refers to associating the positive or negative state with the image.

As used herein, reconstructing an image refers to producing an image from a mathematical function. When an image is represented by a mathematical function, there may be errors in the representation due to any number of factors.

As used herein, back propagation, also known as backprop, is a training method for neural networks for correcting errors between the target output and the actual output. The error signal is fed back through the processing layer of the neural network, causing changes in the weights of the processing elements to bring the actual output closer to the target output.

As used herein, Quickprop is a backpropogation method that was proposed, developed and reported by Fahlman (“Fast Learning Variations on Back-Propagation: An Empirical Study”, Proceedings on the 1988 Connectionist Models Summer School , Pittsburgh, 1988, D. Touretzky, et al., eds., pp.38-51, Morgan Kaufmann, San Mateo, Calif.; and, with Lebriere, “The Cascade-Correlation Learning Architecture”, Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 2,(Denver, 1989), D. Touretzky, ed., pp. 524-32. Morgan Kaufmann, San Mateo, Calif.).

As used herein, diagnosis refers to a predictive process in which the presence, absence, severity or course of treatment of a disease, disorder or other medical condition is assessed. For purposes herein, diagnosis will also include predictive processes for determining the outcome resulting from a treatment.

As used herein, risk refers to a predictive process in which the probability of a particular outcome is assessed.

As used herein, a patient or subject includes any mammals for whom diagnosis is contemplated. Humans are the preferred subjects.

As used herein, biochemical test data refers to data from any analytical methods, which include, but are not limited to: immunoassays, bioassays, including nucleic acid and protein based assays, chromatography, data from monitors, and imagers; measurements and also includes data related to vital signs and body function, such as pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, data generated by, for example, EKG, ECG and EEG, biorhythm monitors and other such information. The analysis can assess for example, chemical analytes, serum markers, antibodies, protein, nucleic acids and other such material obtained from the patient through a sample.

As used herein, patient historical data refers to data obtained from a patient, such as by questionnaire format, but typically does not include biochemical test data as used herein, except to the extent such data is historical, a desired solution is one that generates a number or result whereby a diagnosis of a disorder can be generated.

As used herein, a run is defined as a group of tests that include a at least one of a positive reference, positive control, negative control and any number of clinical samples within a 24 hr. period.

Point of Care Diagnostic and Risk Assessment Systems

Provided herein are systems for use at the point of care for diagnosing and assessing certain medical risks. These systems are designed for use on site at the point of care, where patients are examined and tested, and for operation remote from the site.

The systems are designed to accept input in the form of patient data, including, but not limited to biochemical test data, physical test data, historical data and other such data, and to process and output information, preferably data relating to a medical diagnosis or a disease risk indicator. The patient data may be contained within the system, such as medical records or history, or may be input as a signal or image from a medical test or procedure, for example, immunoassay test data, blood pressure reading, ultrasound, X-ray or MRI, or introduced in any other form. Specific test data can be digitized, processed and input into the medical diagnosis expert system, where it may be integrated with other patient information. The output from the system is a disease risk index or medical diagnosis.

In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a reader, such as a reflectance or transmission reader, preferably a reflectance reader, for reading patient data, a test device designed to be read in the reader, software for analysis of the data. In an exemplified embodiment of the system, the reader is the reflectance reader provided herein, a test strip device in a plastic housing designed for use with the reader and software designed for analysis of the data generated from the test strip.

Assays

Any assay is intended for use in the systems and methods herein. Such assays include, but are not limited to: nucleic acid detection, including using amplification and non-amplification protocols, any assay that relies on calorimetric or spectrometric detection, including fluorometric, luminescent detection, such as creatine, hemoglobin, lipids, ionic assays, blood chemistry. Any test that produces a signal, or from which a signal can be generated, that can be detected by a detector, such as a photodector or a gamma counter, is intended for use as part of the systems provided herein. Any wavelength is intended to be included.

Immunoassays, including competitive and non-competitive immunoassays, are among those preferred for determination of the presence or amount of analyte in a patient sample, and are exemplified herein. It is understood that immunoassays are provided for exemplification, and that the methods and systems provided herein have broad applicability to patient test data and other test data.

A number of different types of immunoassays are well known using a variety of protocols and labels. Immunoassays may be homogeneous, i.e. performed in a single phase, or heterogeneous, where antigen or antibody is linked to an insoluble solid support upon which the assay is performed. Sandwich or competitive assays may be performed. The reaction steps may be performed simultaneously or sequentially. Threshold assays may be performed, where a predetermined amount of analyte is removed from the sample using a capture reagent before the assay is performed, and only analyte levels of above the specified concentration are detected. Assay formats include, but are not limited to, for example, assays performed in test tubes, wells or on immunochromatographic test strips, as well as dipstick, lateral flow or migratory format immunoassays.

Any known immunoassay procedure, particularly those that can be adapted for use in combination with lateral flow devices as described herein, can be used in the systems and methods provided herein. Any device which is compatible for use with a reader, preferably a reflectance reader, for determining the assay result is contemplated for use herein. Any such test strips that can be adapted for use in combination with a reader is contemplated for use in the systems provided herein. Such test strip devices as are known to those of skill in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,658,801, 5,656,502, 5,591,645, 5,500,375, 5,252,459, 5,132,097 and many other examples) may be used in systems as described herein, particularly in combination with the reader provided herein.

Typically these test devices are intended for use with biological samples, such as saliva, blood, serum, cerebral spinal fluid, cervico-vaginal samples, for example. Other biological samples, such as food samples, which are tested for contamination, such as by bacteria or insects, are also contemplated. Target analytes include, but are not limited to: nucleic acids, proteins, peptides, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigens, antigens indicative of bacterial, such as Salmonella and E. coli , yeast or parasitic infections, apolipoprotein(a) and lipoprotein(a), environmental antigens, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), E-3-G, interleukins and other cytokines and immunomodulatory proteins, such as IL-6 and interferon, small nuclear ribonuclear particles (snRNP) antigens, fFN and other indicators, such as IGF binding protein-1, of pregnancy related disorders.

Immunoassay Test Strip

A preferred embodiment is an immunoassay test strip that includes a membrane system that defines a liquid flow pathway. An exemplary immunoassay test strip provided herein is shown in FIG. 1 and described in EXAMPLE 1.

Lateral flow test immunoassay devices are among those preferred herein. In such devices, a membrane system forms a single fluid flow pathway along the test strip. The membrane system includes components that act as a solid support for immunoreactions. For example, porous or bibulous or absorbent materials may be placed on a strip such that they partially overlap, in order to conduct liquid along the strip. The membrane materials may be supported on a backing, such as a plastic backing. In a preferred embodiment, the test strip includes a glass fiber pad, a nitrocellulose strip and an absorbent cellulose paper strip supported on a plastic backing.

Antibodies that react with the target analyte and/or a detectable label system are immobilized on the solid support. The antibodies may be bound to the test strip by adsorption, ionic binding, van der Waals adsorption, electrostatic binding, or by covalent binding, by using a coupling agent, such as glutaraldehyde. For example, the antibodies may be applied to the conjugate pad and nitrocellulose strip using standard dispensing methods, such as a syringe pump, air brush, ceramic piston pump or drop-on-demand dispenser. In a preferred embodiment, a volumetric ceramic piston pump dispenser is used to stripe antibodies onto a glass fiber conjugate pad and a nitrocellulose strip.

The test strip may or may not be otherwise treated, for example, with sugar to facilitate mobility along the test strip or with water-soluble non-immune animal proteins, such as albumins, including bovine (BSA), other animal proteins, water-soluble polyamino acids, or casein to block non-specific binding sites.

Test Strip Housing

The test strip optionally may be contained within a housing for insertion into the reflectance reader. An exemplary immunoassay device, including a test strip and housing assembly is shown in FIGS. 3-5 and described in EXAMPLE 1.

Antibodies

Any antibody, including polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, or fragment thereof, such as the Fab frabment, that binds the analyte of interest is contemplated for use herein. Monoclonal and/or polyclonal antibodies may be used. For example, when mouse monoclonal anti-fetal fibronectin antibody is the labeled antibody-conjugate, a polyclonal goat anti-mouse antibody may be used to bind fetal fibronectin. An antibody that binds to the labeled antibody conjugate that is not complexed with fetal fibronectin may be immobilized in the control zone. For example, when fetal fibronectin is the analyte, a polyclonal goat anti-mouse IgG antibody may be used.

Conjugation of the Antibody to a Label

The detectable label may be any physical or chemical label capable of being detected on the solid support using a reader, preferably a reflectance reader, and capable of being used to distinguish the reagents to be detected from other compounds and materials in the assay.

Suitable antibody labels are well known to those of skill in the art. The labels include, but are not limited to enzyme-substrate combinations that produce color upon reaction, colored particles, such as latex particles, colloidal metal or metal or carbon sol labels, fluorescent labels, and liposome or polymer sacs, which are detected due to aggregation of the label. A preferred label is a colored latex particle. In an alternative embodiment, colloidal gold is used in the labeled antibody conjugate.

The label may be derivatized for linking antibodies, such as by attaching functional groups, such as carboxyl groups to the surface of a particle to permit covalent attachment of antibodies. Antibodies may be conjugated to the label using well known coupling methods. Coupling agents such as glutaraldehyde or carbodiimide may be used. The labels may be bonded or coupled to the antibodies by chemical or physical bonding. In a preferred embodiment, a carbodiimide coupling reagent, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDAC), is used to link antibodies to latex particles.

Measurement of Analytes

Any analyte that can be detected in any assay, particularly calorimetric assays, including immunoassays, and that can be associated with a disorder is contemplated for as a target herein. Suitable analytes are any which can be used, along with a specific binding partner, such as an antibody, or a competitor, such as an analog, in an immunoassay. Analytes may include, but are not limited to proteins, haptens, immunoglobulins, enzymes, hormones (e.g., hCG, LH, E-3-G estrone-3-glucuronide and P-3-G (progestrone-3-glucuronide)), polynucleotides, steroids, lipoproteins, drugs, bacterial or viral antigens, such as Streptococcus, Neisseria and Chlamydia, lymphokines, cytokines, and the like. A number of suitable analytes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,315, which is incorporated herein by reference. Although examples are provided for the determination of fetal fibronectin in cervicovaginal samples, the systems and methods provided herein are not limited to the detection and measurement of fetal fibronectin, but apply to any biochemical test, particularly those for which test strips can be developed or for which test strips are known.

Measurement of Fetal Fibronectin

In an exemplary embodiment, the system is used for diagnosing or predicting conditions such as pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, preterm labor or imminent delivery and fetal membrane rupture. Fetal fibronectin is a fetal restricted antigen found in placenta, amniotic fluid and fetal connective tissue. Since fetal fibronectin is strictly associated with pregnancy, determination of the presence of fetal fibronectin in a cervicovaginal sample is a highly reliable early indication of pregnancy. Also, the absence of a fetal restricted antigen in a cervicovaginal sample during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy is an indicator of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies, which are a major cause of mortality and mortality for women, and which are not readily distinguished from normal pregnancies using standard pregnancy determination methods and tests. Determination of impending preterm births is critical for increasing neonatal survival of preterm infants. The presence of fetal fibronectin (fFN) in cervicovaginal secretion samples in patients after week 12 of pregnancy is associated with a risk of impending delivery, including spontaneous abortions (12-20 weeks), preterm delivery (20-37 weeks), term (37-40 weeks) and post-date delivery (after 40 weeks), in pregnant women. In addition, the presence of fetal fibronectin in a cervicovaginal sample provides a method for determining increased risk of labor and fetal membrane rupture after week 20 of pregnancy. Detection of rupture of the amniotic membrane is important in distinguishing true and false labor, and when the rupture is small and the volume of amniotic liquid escaping is small, the rupture is often undetected. The methods and systems herein provide a means to reliably assess the risk for any of these conditions.

Test Strip for Measuring fFN and Cellular Fibronectin

Methods for measuring fetal fibronectin levels in cervicovaginal samples (see, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,096,830, 5,185,270, 5,223,440, 5,236,846, 5,281,522, 5,468,619 and 5,516,702, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and diagnostic tests for various pregnancy-related disorders are available (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,096,830, 5,079,171). These methods can been adapted for use with the assay device (see FIG. 1 ) in the diagnostic systems. In particular, an immunoassay test strip for measuring fFN in cervicovaginal samples is provided herein.

Antibodies for Fetal Fibronectin

The antibody conjugated to the label is an antibody that will bind the analyte of interest. In a particular embodiment, where fetal fibronectin levels are detected, the mouse monoclonal anti-fFN antibody (see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,522), conjugated to latex particles containing a blue dye may be used. In an alternative embodiment, a goat polyclonal antibody to human fibronectin is conjugated to a colloidal gold label.

In a preferred embodiment, an antibody that binds the labeled antibody conjugate that is not complexed with fetal fibronectin is immobilized in the control zone. For example, where the labeled conjugate includes a monoclonal anti-fetal fibronectin antibody, a polyclonal goat anti-mouse IgG antibody is used.

The antibodies may be raised and purified using methods known to those of skill in the art or obtained from publicly available sources. For example, monoclonal antibody FDC-6 (deposited at the American Type Culture Collection as accession number ATCC HB 9018; see U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,326; see, also, Matsuura et al. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A . 82:6517-6521; see, also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,919,889, 5,096,830, 5,185,270, 5,223,440, 5,236,846, 5,281,522, 5,468,619 and 5,516,702), which is raised against whole molecule onco-fetal fibronectin from a tumor cell line, may be used.

Fetal Fibronectin Assay Procedure

In conducting the assay, a patient sample is obtained. The sample may include fluid and particulate solids, and, thus, can be filtered prior to application to the assay test strip. The sample may be removed from the patient using a swab having a fibrous tip, an aspirator, suction or lavage device, syringe, or any other known method of removing a bodily sample, including passive methods for collecting urine or saliva. In particular, the sample may be extracted into a buffer solution, and optionally heated, for example, at 37° C. and filtered. In a preferred embodiment, where fetal fibronectin is to be detected in a sample, the sample is obtained from in the vicinity of the posterior fornix, the ectocervix or external cervical os using a swab having a dacron or other fibrous tip.

A volume of the test sample is then delivered to the conjugate pad ( FIG. 1 ) at the application zone using any known means for transporting a biological sample, for example, a standard plastic pipet. Any analyte in the sample binds to the labeled antibody and the resulting complex migrates into the nitrocellulose strip. Alternatively, the sample may be pre-mixed with the labeled conjugate prior to applying the mixture to the test strip. When the labeled antibody-analyte complex encounters the detection zone of the nitrocellulose strip, the immobilized antibody therein binds the complex to form a sandwich complex, thereby forming a colored stripe.

Any unbound latex-conjugated antibody continues to migrate into the control zone where it is captured by a second immobilized antibody or other agent capable of binding the conjugate, and thereby forms a second colored stripe due to the aggregation of the dye-containing latex beads.

The results of the assay are assessed using the reader and software provided herein. The rapid test herein provides, at the very least, the same clinically relevant information as a fFN ELISA (an enzyme linked immunosorbent sandwich assay (ELISA) see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,522) test heretofore available, but in significantly less time and at the point of care. This rapid fFN immunoassay allows the user to test a cervicovaginal swab sample in about 20 minutes. When comparing the 20 minute rapid fFN test to the data from the fFN ELISA, a Kappa coefficient of 0.68 was found with a 95% confidence interval [0.62, 0.76] and an overall concordance of at least about 91.6%. These data were obtained using a system including an immunoassay test strip in combination with a reflectance reader and data processing software employing data reduction and curve fitting algorithms or neural networks, as described herein. Thus, the systems herein provide results that are at the very least comparable to the ELISA, but generally are superior and more informative.

Reader

Reflectance and other readers, including densitometers and transmittance readers, are known to those of skill in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,598,007, 5,132,097, 5,094,955, 4,267,261, 5,118,183, 5,661,563, 4,647,544, 4,197,088, 4,666,309, 5,457,313, 3,905,767, 5,198,369, 4,400,353). Any reader that upon combination with appropriate software, as described herein, can be used to detect images and digitize images, such as the lines and stripes produced on chromatographic immunoassay devices or on gels or photographic images thereof, such as the lines on DNA and RNA sequencing gels, X-rays, electrocardiograms, and other such data, is intended for use herein.

The reader provided herein, particularly in combination with the software provided herein, is preferred for use in the point of care diagnostic systems.

In the exemplified embodiment, after sample is applied to the test device, colored or dark bands are produced. The intensity of the color reflected by the colored label in the test region (or detection zone) of the immunoassay test strip is, for concentration ranges of interest, directly proportional or otherwise correlated with an amount of analyte present in the sample being tested.

The color intensity produced is read, in accordance with the present embodiment, using a reader device, for example, a reflectance reader, adapted to read the immunoassay test strip. The intensity of the color reflected by the colored label in the test region (or detection zone) of the immunoassay test strip is directly proportional to an amount of analyte present in the sample being tested. In other words, a darker colored line in the test region indicates a greater amount of analyte, whereas a lighter colored line in the test region indicates a smaller amount of analyte. In accordance with the present embodiment, the color intensity produced, i.e., the darkness or lightness of the colored line, is read using a reader device, for example, a reflectance reader, adapted to read the immunoassay test strip. A reflectance measurement obtained by the reader device is, in accordance with the present embodiment, correlated to the presence and/or quantity of analyte present in the sample as described hereinbelow. The reader takes a plurality of readings along the strip, and obtains data that are used to generate results that are an indication of the presence and/or quantity of analyte present in the sample as described hereinbelow. The system also correlates such data with the presence of a disorder, condition or risk thereof.

Referring to FIG. 6 , an exemplary embodiment of the reader device 600 is shown with the immunoassay device 300 inserted into a cassette slot 602 therein. The cassette slot 602 is adapted to receive the immunoassay device 300 , and a reader head assembly (not shown) supported within the reader device 600 is adapted to read the immunoassay test strip. Such reading is performed by scanning a reader head (not shown) across a test window 314 in the immunoassay device 300 , and in the process directing light onto a test portion and a control portion of the immunoassay test strip. An amount of such light reflected back from the test portion and the control portion of the immunoassay test strip is measured as the reader head scans by the test region and the control region.

Also shown are a data entry keypad 604 , including ten digit keys (also labeled with letters of the alphabet, such as is commonly the case on telephone keypads), a delete key, a space key, an escape key, an enter key, and up and down arrow keys. The data entry keypad 604 can be used by an operator of the reader device 600 to input identification information, to control test parameters, to initiate and terminate testing, and the like. A processing unit (not shown) housed within the reader device 600 is responsive to the keypad and performs data analysis functions, as described hereinbelow, in accordance with modifications made to a processor in the processing unit by an appropriate software subsystem.

Also shown in FIG. 6 is a liquid crystal display screen 606 . The liquid crystal display screen 606 receives output data from the processing unit and displays it to an operator of the reader device 600 , including displaying results of tests, error messages, instructions, troubleshooting information, and the like.

Referring next to FIG. 7 , a perspective view of a lower housing 702 of the immunoassay reader device 600 of FIG. 6 is shown with a reader head assembly 704 located therein and the immunoassay device 300 inserted into the cassette slot 602 at a front edge of the lower housing 702 . The cassette slot 602 located at the front edge of the lower housing 702 provides an aperture through which the immunoassay device 300 is inserted into and guided into the reader device 600 in order measure light reflected from the test and control regions. When the immunoassay device 300 is inserted into the cassette slot 602 of the lower housing, a spring mechanism (see FIGS. 10 and 14 ) rotates a reader head 706 on the reader head assembly 704 to position the reader head 706 directly over the test window 314 of the housing of the immunoassay device 300 , such that longitudinal (or major) axes of optical fibers within the reader head 706 are normal to a surface of the immunoassay test strip at a distance of about 0.010 inches.

Alternatively, the reader head 706 may be fixed, at least rotationally, and the immunoassay device 300 may rotate up to the reader head 706 after insertion into the cassette slot 602 , such that longitudinal (or major) axes of optical fibers within the reader head 706 are normal to a surface of the immunoassay test strip at a distance of about 0.010 inches.

Referring next to FIG. 8 , a top view is shown of the lower housing 702 , the immunoassay device 300 , the cassette slot 602 , and a stepper motor 802 . As can be seen, after insertion into the lower housing 702 , the immunoassay device 300 is positioned in alignment with the stepper motor 802 , which is part of the reader head assembly. (The stepper motor is used to scan the reader head 706 across the test window 314 of the immunoassay device 300 .)

Referring next to FIG. 9 , shown are the lower housing 702 , the immunoassay device 300 , the stepper motor 802 , an actuator wheel 902 , the reader head 706 , and linkages for moving the reader head 706 parallel to a major axis of the immunoassay device 300 in order to scan the reader head 706 across the test window 314 of the immunoassay device 300 at a uniform distance of 0.010 inches. When the immunoassay device 300 is slid into the cassette slot 602 , the actuator wheel 902 and an actuator spring (not shown) work together to bring the reader head 706 down to within 0.010 inches of the immunoassay test strip within the housing 302 of the immunoassay device 300 .

In order to move the reader head 706 into position within 0.010 inches of the immunoassay test strip, the reader head 706 is pivoted along with a portion of the reader head assembly. Prior to being brought into position within 0.010 inches of the immunoassay test strip, while the immunoassay device 300 is being inserted into or removed from the immunoassay reader device 600 , the reader head 706 assumes a retracted position, i.e., raised position, so that the immunoassay device 300 can be inserted into or removed from the immunoassay reader device 600 without crashing the reader head 706 into the immunoassay device 300 . It is an important feature of the present embodiment that the fiberoptic fibers in each of the three groups are arranged along with fiberoptic fibers from the remaining groups in a sigmoidal-like (or “S”-like) pattern with three columns of thirteen fiberoptic fibers each. An arrangement that achieves this feature is intended herein.

When the immunoassay device 300 is inserted into the cassette slot 602 , it contacts the actuator wheel 902 and causes a carriage assembly of the reader head assembly to be brought down from the retracted position so that the reader head 706 is within 0.010 inches of the immunoassay test strip.

Insertion of the immunoassay device 300 causes the actuator wheel to pop-up by applying pressure to the actuator spring, bringing the carriage assembly down from the retracted position.

The immunoassay device 300 is pushed into the cassette slot 602 until it meets a stop. Once inserted, the immunoassay device 300 , the actuator wheel 902 , and the actuator spring remain fixed in position, while the reader head 706 is stepped across the test window 314 of the immunoassay device 300 by the stepper motor 802 . In other words, only the reader head 706 moves during the scanning of the immunoassay test strip.

Alternatively, the immunoassay device 300 is pushed into the cassette slot 602 until it meets the stop. Once inserted the immunoassay device 300 may be rotated up to within 0.010 inches of the reader head 706 by gently lifting the immunoassay device 300 . By gently lifting the immunoassay device 300 , a base of the reader head assembly is pivoted up toward the carriage assembly and the reader head 706 , positioning the immunoassay test strip within 0.010 inches of the reader head 706 . Then the reader head 706 is then stepped across the test window 314 of the immunoassay test strip by the stepper motor 802 . In other words, in accordance with this alternative, only the reader head 706 moves during the scanning of the immunoassay test strip and, the reader head 706 moves only during the scanning of the immunoassay test strip.

Regardless of whether one of these alternatives is used, whether any of numerous variations thereof, or whether any of numerous other possible embodiments well within the abilities of the skilled artisan to easily produce is used in order to position the reader head 706 within in a prescribed distance, e.g., 0.010 inches, of the immunoassay test strip, some mechanism is preferably employed to effect such positioning.

Total travel of the reader head 706 during scanning of the immunoassay test strip is 0.452 inches, which is achieved in 0.002 inch steps, which are 226 in number. One set of readings is taken per step, with each set of readings including a dark reading, a first light reading and a second light reading.

Prior to insertion of the immunoassay device 300 into the cassette slot 602 , and prior to scanning, the reader head 706 is stopped at a point that would place it approximately half way across (in the middle of) the test window 314 of the immunoassay device 300 . After insertion of the immunoassay device 300 into the immunoassay reader device 600 , when an operator depresses a scan key on the key pad (see FIG. 6 ), the reader head 706 is moved from this middle position toward the stepper motor 802 until a microswitch is activated. Once the microswitch is activated, the reader head 706 is said to be in a “home” position from which scanning of the immunoassay test strip commences. Once scanning commences, the reader head 706 advances from the home position across the test window 314 in 226 steps of 0.002 inches each. Thus, the reader head 706 scans in a direction moving away from the stepper motor toward the cassette slot 602 or to the left as depicted in FIG. 9 .

Referring next to FIG. 10 , the reader head assembly 1000 is shown. Shown are the actuator spring 1002 , the actuator 1004 , the base 1006 , the stepper motor 802 , the actuator wheel 902 , a rotor arm 1008 , and the reader head 706 . Also shown is a pivot point 1010 on which the carriage assembly 1012 , including the reader head 706 , stepper motor 802 , actuator wheel 902 , actuator spring, 1002 , and rotor arm 1008 pivot to assume a raised position for insertion and removal of the immunoassay device 300 from the immunoassay reader device 600 and to assume a lowered position for scanning the reader head 706 across the test window 314 of the immunoassay device 300 .

Referring next to FIG. 11 , shown is a side view of the reader head 706 of the reader head assembly of FIG. 10 . Shown is a first light emitting diode (LED) 1102 , a second light emitting diode (LED) 1104 , a photodetector 1106 , a reader head aperture 1108 , and mounting holes 1110 .

Referring next to FIG. 12 a reverse angle side view is shown of the reader head assembly 1000 of FIG. 10 . Shown are the stepper motor 802 , the base 1006 , mounting holes 1202 , and a mounting bracket 1204 on which the reader head 706 is mounted.

Referring next to FIG. 13 a reverse angle side view of the reader head 706 of FIG. 11 is shown. Seen are the mounting holes 1110 , and the reader head aperture 1108 .

Referring next to FIG. 14 , shown is a side view of the reader head assembly 1000 of FIG. 10 having assumed a retracted position. Shown are the actuator spring 1002 , the actuator arm 1004 , the stepper motor 802 , the reader head 706 , the reader head supporting bracket 1204 , the pivot 1010 on which such elements rotate, and a base 1006 relative to which such elements rotate.

As can be seen, the actuator arm 1004 , the actuator spring 1002 , the stepper motor 802 , the reader head 706 , the reader head mounting bracket 1204 , and mechanisms used for supporting and scanning the reader head 706 are designed so that the membrane (immunoassay test strip 214 ) in the immunoassay device 300 is brought to within 0.010 inches of the aperture 1108 of the reader head. Any design suitable to effect such can be employed with the present embodiment.

In the example illustrated, the actuator arm 1004 , the actuator spring 1002 , the stepper motor 802 , the reader head 706 , the reader head mounting bracket 1204 , and the mechanisms used for supporting and scanning the reader head 706 are the shown rotated on the pivot 1010 such as would be the case, in accordance with the variation shown, when the immunoassay device 300 has been removed from the immunoassay reader device 600 and/or as the immunoassay device 300 is being inserted into or removed from the reader device 600 .

Referring next to FIG. 15 , a side view is shown of the reader head 706 of FIG. 11 . Shown are the aperture 1108 and the first light emitting diode 1102 .

Referring next to FIG. 16 , an end view is shown of the reader head assembly 1000 of FIG. 10 . Shown is the stepper motor 802 , the base 1006 , and the actuator arm 1004 .

Referring next to FIG. 17 , shown is a side view partially in cross-section of the reader head 706 of FIG. 11 . Shown are the first light emitting diode 1102 , the second light emitting diode 1104 and the photodetector 1106 . Also shown is the aperture 1108 and the mounting holes 1110 . Shown coupled between each of the LED's 1102 , 1104 and the aperture 1108 are first and second fiberoptic bundles 1702 , 1704 . Similarly, a third fiberoptic bundle 1706 is shown coupled between the aperture 1108 and the photodetector 1106 . The first and second fiberoptic bundles 1702 , 1704 conduct light from the first and second LED's 1102 , 1104 , respectively, to the aperture 1108 . The third fiberoptic bundle 1706 conducts light from the aperture 1108 to the photodetector 1106 . In response to such light, the photodetector generates a reflection signal, e.g., a voltage indicative of an amount of reflected light.

Referring next to FIG. 18 , shown is a closeup partial cross-sectional view of the aperture 1108 of FIG. 17 . Also shown are individual fiberoptic fibers 1802 , 1804 , 1806 of the fiberoptic bundles 1702 , 1704 , 1706 of FIG. 17 , positioned within the aperture 1006 so as to transmit light 1808 from the aperture 1108 onto the immunoassay test strip 100 and to receive reflected light 1808 from the immunoassay test strip 100 entering the aperture 1108 . (The transmitted and reflected light 1808 is represented with an arrow.) As can be seen, a gap 1810 between the aperture 1808 and the immunoassay test strip 100 is present. The gap 1810 preferably has a width of approximately 0.010 inches, which is maintained as the reader head 706 is scanned across the test window 314 .

Referring next to FIG. 19 , a bottom view is shown of individual fiberoptic fiber ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 positioned in the aperture 1108 of the reader head 706 of FIG. 10 so as to maximize the distribution of light emitted from individual fiberoptic fibers (fiberoptic conductors), and furthermore to maximize the uniformity of light received into individual fiberoptic conductors. Indicated using diagonal cross-hatching angled from lower left to upper right are individual fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 of the first fiberoptic bundle 1702 . These individual fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 carry light emitted from the first light emitting diode from the first fiberoptic bundle through the aperture 1108 of the reader head 706 . Similarly, indicated with cross-hatching from an upper left to lower right are fiberoptic conductor ends 1904 of the second fiberoptic bundle 1704 . These individual fiberoptic conductor ends carry light emitted from the second light emitting diode to the aperture 1108 of the reader head 706 . Without cross-hatching are shown individual fiberoptic conductor ends 1906 of the third fiberoptic bundle 1706 . The third fiberoptic bundle 1706 carries light entering the aperture 1108 to the photodetector.

By employing the particularly advantageous arrangement of the fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 at the aperture 1108 , uniform distribution emissions and light reception is achieved. Such arrangement is said to be a “sigmoidal” (S-like or serpentine) arrangement or a “sigmoidal” distribution.

In order to achieve the sigmoidal arrangement of fiberoptic conductor ends shown, 39 fiberoptic conductors are positioned within the aperture 1108 . Next, a clamp assembly made up of a “U”-shaped channel, and an “I”-shaped clamp positioned at the open side of the “U” is employed. The fiberoptic conductors, portions of which protrude from the aperture 1108 are placed between the “U”-shaped channel and the “I”-shaped clamp and a compressive force is applied thereto by the “I”-shaped clamp, holding the protruding portions of the fiberoptic conductors firmly in position. A resin is then poured into the reader head 706 so as to become interposed between and around the fiberoptic conductors at the aperture 1108 . Once the resin is set, the clamp assembly is removed, and the protruding portions of the fiberoptic conductors are trimmed back flush with the aperture 1108 , so as to define a planar surface of fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 at the aperture 1108 . This planar surface is held parallel to a plane at an upper surface of the immunoassay test strip 100 during scanning of the immunoassay test strip.

Advantageously, by creating this planar surface of fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 , the associated fiberoptic conductors of which all of which have longitudinal axes that are substantially parallel to one another and normal to the plane defined by the fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 . As a result very efficient transfer of light to and from the fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 is achieved.

Once the fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 are set in the resin, and trimmed, as described above, in individual fiberoptic conductors are tested by projecting light individually through the fiberoptic conductors toward the fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 , to locate the fiberoptic conductor end associated with the particular fiberoptic conductor being tested. This determination is made by observing which of the fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 “lights up” when light is transmitted down the particular fiberoptic conductor. As fiberoptic conductors associated with the fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 are identified, the fiberoptic conductors are assigned to one of the first, second, and third fiberoptic bundles, so as to achieve, for example, the sigmoidal distribution of fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 illustrated in FIG. 19 .

Advantageously, by effecting the sigmoidal distribution of fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 associated with fiberoptic conductors of each of the first, second, and third fiberoptic bundles, a uniform distribution of light emitted from the aperture 1108 , and a uniform distribution of light reflected back to the aperture 1108 is achieved.

Referring next to FIG. 20 , a cross-sectional view of a first fiberoptic bundle 1702 is shown with individual fiberoptic elements 2002 selected to effect the sigmoidal distribution of FIG. 19 . As can be seen, 13 individual fiberoptic elements are present in the fiberoptic bundle 1702 , which is the same number of fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 depicted in FIG. 19 for each of the three fiberoptic bundles 1702 , 1704 , 1706 . The fiberoptic bundle 1702 shown in FIG. 17 carries the light from the first light emitting diode to the aperture 1108 of the reader head 706 . Cross-sectional views of the second and third fiberoptic bundles are similar to that shown in FIG. 20 .

Referring next to FIGS. 21 , 22 and 23 , three schematic views are shown illustrating a process for reading test results from immunoassay test strip 100 with the control region 2102 and the detection region 2104 depicted thereon, In the example shown, blue latex particles are detected in the test region and the control region on a nitrocellulose support. Also depicted are the aperture 1108 of the reader head 706 in a dark reading mode (FIG. 21 ), a first light reading mode ( FIG. 22 ) and a second light reading mode (FIG. 23 ).

The reader head assembly (described above) includes the first light-emitting diode (which in the present example is a blue LED), the second LED (which in the present example is an amber LED), a silicon photodiode detector, and fiberoptic fibers arranged with fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 in the sigmoidal distribution in the aperture 1108 (e.g., 0.002 inches wide), which is located at the bottom (or tip) of the reader head 706 at a point nearest the immunoassay test strip, when the immunoassay device 300 is inserted into the immunoassay reader device 600 . It is understood that the selection of LEDs will be dependent upon the signal produced in the test; all detectable electromagnetic wavelengths, preferably visible light, are contemplated herein. Fluorescence and other such labeling means are also contemplated herein.

The blue LED and the amber LED emit light of specified wavelengths (λ 1 and λ 2 , respectively). It should be understood that any suitable wavelengths maybe selected. Such selection is dependent on the particular assay with which the immunoassay reader device is being employed. The wavelengths selected are selected so as to allow removal of effects of the membrane, i.e., immunoassay test strip 214 , from the reflectance readings, and to optimize a reading of a reduction in reflectance associated with accumulated label at the reaction regions of the immunoassay test strip 214 .

For the present embodiment, where blue latex particles are detected on a nitrocellulose support, light having a wavelength of 430 nm (blue) is emitted from the first light emitting diode (LED 1 ), i.e., the blue LED, into the first fiberoptic bundle 1702 . The first fiberoptic bundle 1702 transmits the blue light to the aperture 1108 in the reader head 706 where it is emitted at an orientation normal to a plane at the upper surface of the immunoassay test strip 100 . A second light emitting diode (LED 2 ), i.e., the amber LED, emits light with a wavelength of 595 nm (amber) into a second fiberoptic bundle 1704 . The second fiberoptic bundle 1704 transmits the amber light to the aperture in the reader head 706 where it is emitted at an orientation normal to the plane at the upper surface of the immunoassay test strip 100 .

At the aperture, individual fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 of the first and second fiberoptic bundles 1702 , 1704 , along with individual fiberoptic conductor ends 1906 from the third fiberoptic bundle 1706 are arranged in three groups of thirteen optical fibers each: the first group from the first fiberoptic bundle 1702 , which transmits light emitted by the blue LED to the aperture 1108 ; the second group from the second fiberoptic bundle 1704 , which transmits light emitted by the amber LED to the aperture 1108 ; and the third group, which transmits reflected light received at the aperture 1108 through the third fiberoptic bundle 1706 to the photodetector. The thirty-nine fibers (thirteen in each of three groups) each include respective fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 arranged in the sigmoidal distribution (or pattern) (see FIG. 19 ) at the aperture 1108 such that the fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 are co-planar at the aperture and in the plane parallel to the plane at the upper surface of the immunoassay test strip 100 , when the reader head 706 is positioned to take measurements from the immunoassay test strip 100 .

At the fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 , each fiberoptic fiber (or conductor) has a longitudinal axis that is normal to the plane at the upper surface of the immunoassay test strip. As a result, light emitted from the fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 is directed in a direction substantially normal to this surface plane. The fiberoptic fibers in each of the three groups are arranged along with fiberoptic fibers from the remaining groups in a sigmoidal (or “S”-like) pattern with three columns of thirteen fibers each.

When the immunoassay device 300 is inserted into the cassette slot at the front of the immunoassay reader device 600 , the actuator spring and actuator arm rotate a carriage on which is mounted the reader head 706 so as to position the reader head 706 directly over the test opening of the immunoassay device 300 such that the longitudinal axes of the optical fibers at their ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 at the aperture, are normal to a plane at the surface of the immunoassay test strip and the ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 of the fibers at a distance of about 0.010 inches. Light from the first LED and the second LED is transmitted by the fibers onto the immunoassay test strip at an angle normal to the upper surface of the immunoassay test strip, and light is reflected normally back from the strip to the ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 . This reflected light is transmitted by the fibers of the third fiberoptic bundle to the photodetector.

The reader head 706 takes three separate reflectance readings ( FIGS. 21 , 22 and 23 , respectively) from each position at which it reads of the immunoassay test strip. Such measurements are made by reading an output of the photodetector (which is a voltage) while controlling the first and second LED's.

The first reading is used to determine an amount of ambient (or background) light leaking into the immunoassay device 300 (e.g., light leaking through the cassette slot entrance, or light reflected/transmitted into the reader through the housing of the immunoassay device 300 , which may be, for example, white plastic. The first reading is a “dark” reading taken with the blue LED and the amber LED both turned off. This dark reading (which is a voltage at the photodetector) is digitized in a conventional manner using an analog to digital converter, and may be subtracted by the processing unit from other “light” readings made in response to blue LED illumination and amber LED illumination so as to correct for this light leakage.

The second reading, used to determine levels of light reflections associated with the nitrocellulose, i.e., the immunoassay test strip 300 itself, is taken with the blue LED pulsed on and the amber LED turned off.

The third reading, used to detect the presence of the label on the immunoassay test strip 300 is taken with the amber LED pulsed on and the blue LED turned off.

A control circuit (including the processing unit, which includes a processor, such as a microprocessor) receives the digitized output of the photodetector for all three readings, controls the on and off operation of the blue LED and the amber LED, controls when photodetection readings are taken, and controls the position of the reader head 706 by controlling the stepper motor. A memory circuit stores raw and/or processed data (i.e., readings from the photodetector). The data may also be displayed to the operator via the LCD display of the immunoassay reader device 600 .

After being positioned above the housing by the actuator spring and actuator mechanism, the reader head 706 is moved (scanned) across the test strip by the stepper motor under the control of the control circuit to allow the reader head 706 to scan the exposed surface of the immunoassay test strip (including the detection and control zones through the test window 314 in the immunoassay device). As stated above, in a preferred embodiment, the distance between reader head 706 and immunoassay test strip 300 is approximately 0.010″.

The reader head 706 is slidably connected to a rail (e.g., guide rods), and is coupled to a worm or screw gear driven by the stepper motor.

Under the control of the control circuit, the stepper motor drives the reader head 706 along the rail in small steps (e.g., 0.002″/step). At each step, the control circuit takes the three readings described above (“dark”, blue LED illuminated, amber LED illuminated). The control circuit moves the reader head 706 such that the fiberoptic conductor ends 1902 , 1904 , 1906 pass directly above and normal to the exposed surface of the nitrocellulose strip in a sequence of small steps. As explained above, during each step a sequence of “dark”, blue LED and amber LED readings are taken and recorded.

The raw data read from the photodetector is then processed by the control circuit to determine the presence or concentration of analyte in the sample.

In a preferred embodiment, since the detection and control latex stripes are each about 0.020″ wide, and since each step of the sensing head is about 0.002″ long, there will be about 10 steps within each stripe, i.e., within the test region and the control region. Thus, there will be 10 sets of three readings (i.e., dark, blue LED and amber LED) at the test region and 10 sets of three readings (i.e., dark, blue LED and amber LED) at the control region. The remainder of the reading sets will not be made over either the test region or the control region.

In a preferred embodiment, when the immunoassay device 300 is inserted into the cassette slot of the immunoassay reader device 600 , the reader head 706 rotates down over the exposed nitrocellulose strip, and the control circuit then moves the head to an initial (or home) position. The control circuit moves (scans) the head across the exposed surface of the nitrocellulose strip, including the test region and the control region, in small increments of 0.002″ each. At each step, the control circuit takes the first reading ( FIG. 21 ) of the photodetector output with the blue LED and the amber LED, both off, takes the second reading ( FIG. 22 ) with the blue LED pulsed on and the amber LED off, and takes a third reading ( FIG. 23 ) with the blue LED off and the amber LED pulsed on.

The control circuit then steps the reader head 706 by controlling the stepper motor and repeats the three readings at its new location. This process is repeated for each of 226 steps (0.452″ at 0.002″/step) until the surface of the immunoassay test strip is read.

The raw reflectance data is then analyzed by the control circuit in accordance with appropriate software control to determine the presence or concentration of the analyte in the sample. The output values can be displayed via an operator interface, or can be output to another computer or apparatus.

Data Analysis and Decision Support Systems

The systems herein include software for data analysis. Data analysis includes any algorithms or methodology for obtaining diagnostically relevant information from the raw data. Simple algorithms as well as decision-support systems, particularly neural networks are contemplated herein.

In particular embodiments, the data analysis methodology includes, some or all of the following steps: (1) optionally correcting the reflectance readings to correct for light leakage; (2) reducing the raw reflectance data by using a ratiometric formula; (3) generating an image of the test data by plotting the reduced data; (4) expressing this image as a polynomial mathematical function, for example, by using a combination of a flat or parabolic image to represent the baseline and two gaussian curves to represent the peaks; (5) using a curve-fitting algorithm to generate parameters to define the image; (6) optimizing the reconstruction of the image and producing a fitted image; (7) comparing the scanned image and fitted image by solving the linear regression through the curves; (8) validating the parameters obtained from the curve-fitting and the peak heights obtained; and (9) classifying the validated result as positive or negative by comparing peak heights of a clinical sample to reference samples. The method may further include: (10) using the test result with other patient information in a decision-support system to generate a medical diagnosis or risk assessment.

In alternative embodiments, the parameters used to define the image, as in (5) above, and to classify the sample, as in (9) above, can be generated using trained neural networks.

Data Reduction

In an exemplary embodiment, the raw reflectance data obtained from the instrument are stored as an array of points containing a number of rows (n) corresponding to the number of points at which readings were taken along the test strip, and a number of columns (m) corresponding to the reflectance readings taken at each point, including background or dark readings and readings at different wavelengths. If necessary, the reflectance readings are processed by first subtracting the dark reading taken at the corresponding step to correct for light leakage, which typically is negligible. The corrected reflectance readings are then input into a ratiometric algorithm, which removes noise from the membrane and normalizes data between test strips:

 f(y)=[(R λ1 /R max/λ1 *R max/λ2 /R λ2 )].

The algorithm is based upon the ratio of readings at the different wavelengths and calculates a reduced data set (1×n), which is used to generate a curve from the original reflectance data. In processing the data, a new column of reduced data is generated by using the ratiometric formula.

In a preferred embodiment, the size of the matrix is 4×226, where 4 is the number of columns of data collected and 226 is the number of steps, or readings, taken along the test strip. The first column contains information about the location on the test strip from which the data is obtained; the second column is the reflectance in the absence of illumination by the instrument (dark reading); the third column is the reflectance when the test strip is illuminated at the first wavelength (e.g. 430 nm); and the fourth column is the reflectance when the test strip is illuminated at the second wavelength (e.g. 595 nm). The information in the second column is usually zero, unless a light breach has occurred with the instrument. The reflectance values in the third and fourth column are preferably in the 3,000-24,000 range.

In the preferred embodiment, the ratiometric formula would read as follows:

f(y)=[(R 430nm /R max/430nm *R max/595nm /R 595nm )]−1.

The algorithm calculates a reflectance ratio for each step, generating a fifth column of data. The information contained in the first, third and fourth columns can be converted into an image by plotting the first column (x-value) against the fifth column (y-value). Thus, the original data array has been converted to a 2-dimensional image, or an array of the size 1×226. By plotting this reflectance ratio as a function of each step, the result is a two-peak graph with the peaks occurring at the two stripes, corresponding to the detection and control zones.

Generating and Validating Images

The image created by the plot has three basic components: a baseline or background that is either flat or parabolic; a peak corresponding to the detection zone that is gaussian; and another peak corresponding to a control zone that is also gaussian.

The parabolic component can be defined using 3 variables:

f(y)=Ax 2 +Bx+C.

Each of the gaussian curves can be defined using 3 variables:

f(y)=Area*[exp −(x−μ)(x−μ)/2σ*σ ]/(σ(2π) ½ )

where Area =area contained within the gaussian;

μ=x-value of center position; and

σ=width.

A second plot can be generated from the three component curves, using 9 variables. This process is accomplished using a curve-fit algorithm. Any such algorithm known in the art may be used. Alternatively, the 9 parameters may be obtained using neural networks, as described below. From the parameters generated from the curve-fit function, a showfit function is used to generate an image from the fitted data. For example, in the preferred embodiment, a showfit function is used to generate a 1×226 matrix representing the fitted curve defined by the 9 parameters.

The fitted image is then compared to the original scanned image, which is produced by plotting the 1×226 data points as discussed above, to measure the performance of the curve-fit function. This is accomplished by plotting the fitted image against the scanned image and solving the linear regression through these values. The fitted image is then compared to the original image by plotting the fitted image against the scanned image and solving the linear regression through the values, where an exact match would yield a line with slope =1 and r 2 =1).

Once the curves have been fitted, the peak height of the curve in the detection zone is determined by subtracting the parabolic baseline from the maximum peak height. The peak height is then compared to that of a previously run sample of known analyte concentration. If the peak height of the clinical sample is greater that the peak height of the reference sample, then the test result is positive. If not, a negative test result is returned. The peak height of the curve representing the control zone may also be checked to determine if it meets a required minimum height, in order to test that the system is functioning.

Alternatively, peak areas may be calculated and compared to give a determination of analyte concentration in the sample. The graph may be mathematically analyzed, with a sigmoidal calculation across the background and a gaussian calculation to integrate the area beneath each of the two peaks. The analyte concentration is then determined based upon the ratio of the integrated area beneath each of the two peaks.

Methods for Reducing the Image to Parameters

Images or large sets of data, are not readily amenable for developing and training neural net analyses. For large data sets, the number of inputs required for neural network training must be reduced. To do this assumptions regarding the types of data that can be omitted are made. As a result of the loss of information, the performance of subsequently trained neural nets will hinge on the validity of the assumptions made. A method for reduction of data that reduces dimensionality with minimal or no loss of information will avoid this problem. The reduced database can be validated by using it to reconstruct the original dataset. With minimal or no loss of information, subsequently trained networks should yield higher performance than networks that are trained with less complete data. Methods are provided herein for reducing dimensionality with minimal loss of information. These methods are directly applicable to the images that are generated and data generated from the test strips described herein and is also generally applicable to all images and large datasets.

Methods for Optimizing the Reconstructed Image

Parameters for a mathematical function designed to reproduce, or approximate the scanned image are effective at determining the concentration of the compound being tested and thereby providing a means to classify the sample being tested. Examination of the data, for example, from the fFN test provided herein demonstrates that a scanned image can be constructed from three basic elements. There is a background density, referred to herein as the baseline density. Superimposed on the baseline are the two peaks. The first peak is referred to as the control peak and the second is the test peak. Since the shape of these peaks is very similar to a normal curve, it was assumed that the peaks have a gaussian shape. One characteristic of the “normal curve” that can be exploited is that the area under the curve is always 1.0. By modifying the formula, the height of a peak can be determined from a single function parameter. When analyzing an image, the peak density function used is:

Peak Density=Height*EXP(−Z*Z)

where Z=(X−Pos)*S,

X=Pixel Number,

Pos=Pixel number of center of peak,

S=Spread or width of the peak, and

Height=Height of the peak.

This function contains three parameters, Height, S and Pos. When the three parameters are set correctly, this function will closely match one of the peaks in the test strip image. With two peaks in the image, this function can also be used to estimate the second peak. With two peaks, there are six parameters so far that must be optimized. The goal of the optimization will be to change the above parameters in such a way as to reconstruct the image as closely as possible.

In order to reconstruct the image completely, the baseline of the image must also be estimated. Examination of scanned images showed that the baseline had a slight curve. By using a parabolic or quadratic form function, the baseline density is estimated. The function for the base density is,

Base Density=X*X*Curve+X*Slope+Offset.

Thus, the image can be accurately reconstructed by combining these three function in the following summation,

Image Density=Base Density+Control Peak Density+Test Peak Density.

This results in a total of nine parameters that must be optimized for an accurate reconstruction of the image.

The basic problem with attempting to fit this complex function to the test strip image is that there are no simple means for finding the optimal values for function parameters as there are for linear regression. There are many numerical techniques that can be used to optimize the parameters of the above image density function. The one used here is the downhill simplex method (see, “Numerical Recipes in C”, Second Edition, Cambridge University Press, 1992).

The basic method of this optimization uses an iterative approach to optimize the function parameters based on a defined cost function. Here the cost function is defined as the sum of the squares of the differences between the original image and the reconstructed image for every pixel in the scanned image. The downhill simplex method uses a simplex to accomplish this optimization. A simplex is a geometrical figure in N dimensions containing N+1 points. For the image density function defined above, N has the value 9. In two dimensions, for example, a simplex will contain 3 points, with lines connecting each pair of points. This simplex is called a triangle. As the dimension increases, the complexity of the simplex also increases. In three dimensions a simplex is a tetrahedron. This implies that if there are N parameters to be optimized, then N+1 solutions must be maintained. This translates to N 2 +N storage locations that are required to run the algorithm.

For exemplification, the optimization problem with 2 parameters is as follows. The simplex, a triangle, is formed from three points or three different sets of values for the parameters. These three points (call them solutions A, B and C), which are generated in the following way. Starting with and initial set of parameters (solution A), each parameter is perturbed by a small amount (typically 0.01). When the first of the two parameters is changed, solution B is generated. When the second parameter is perturbed, solution C is generated. The three solutions must be evaluated to determine the error function value for each.

Suppose that solution A has the highest error function value. The simplex algorithm attempts to make an improvement by picking a new point (solution, or set of parameters), that lowers the error function value. This basic operation is called a reflection. Three attempts are made at improving the solution. The first, normal, reflection picks its new set of parameters by forming a line from point A to the average of the remaining points. The line is then extended through the average point an equal distance. This new point is the reflection point. Reflection is the correct term since if one were to place a mirror on the line between B and C, the new point corresponds exactly to the reflection of A in the mirror.

If the new error function value for the normal reflection is better than the best current solution, then an expansion reflection is attempted. In this case the line from A is extended by the Step Up Factor (typically 1.50) through the average point. This operation makes the simplex larger. The point that gave the best error function value (either the normal reflection of A or the Expansion reflection of A) is retained as the new A point.

If the new error function value for the normal reflection is still the worst solution, then a contraction reflection is attempted. In this case the line from A is extended by the Step Down Factor (typically 0.75) through the average point. This operation makes the simplex smaller. If this solution is better then the original error function value for point A, the reflection point is retained as point A. If no improvement is made in the A solution, then the entire simples is contracted by moving each point toward the point with the best error function value by the fraction specified by the Shrink Factor (typically 0.95). These reflection operations continue until the difference between the best and worst solutions falls below the Restart Tolerance (typically 1.0E-9).

Alternative Method 1 for Reducing the Image to Parameters Using a Neural Network

A neural network can be used as an alternative to a polynomial mathematical function for the purpose of generating parameters that can be used to reconstruct an image. The basic architecture of the neural network contains at least three processing layers. During the training process, a sequence of example images are presented to the network for training. Training continues so that the error between each image and its reconstruction is minimized across the set of images used for training. The image, or a subsection of the image, is presented to the input layer of the network. The middle layer, or hidden layer, of the network contains a number of processing element that is much smaller then the number of inputs in the input layer. The output layer contains the same number of processing elements as the input layer. The output layer of the network will represent the reconstructed image that is presented to the input layer.

An alternative architecture contains an odd number of hidden layers, with the middle hidden layer containing a much smaller number of processing elements than the input and output layers. In each layer of the network, each processing element is connected to each of the processing element outputs of the previous layer.

The processing element used in the network typically generates a weighted sum of the inputs to processing element, with a transfer function applied to the weighted sum to generate the output of the processing element. The transfer function is any such function normally used in a neural network, including the sigmoid function, or the hyperbolic tangent function.

The neural network can be trained using any standard neural network training rule, including the back propagation learning rule. At each step of the training process, a training image is presented to the inputs of the neural network. The same image is also be presented to the outputs of the network as the desired, or target, output of the network. As learning proceeds, the error between the outputs of the neural network and the desired outputs of the network decreases.

In order for the error to decrease, the neural network middle hidden layer generates a greatly reduced representation of the input image that contains enough information to reconstruct the image. This reduced representation therefore also contains the information needed to classify the image.

Once trained, a new image is presented to the inputs of the neural network. The outputs of the middle hidden layer are then be used as the inputs to the classification means for further processing.

Alternative Method 2 for Reducing the Image to Parameters Using a Neural Network

A second alternative method for reducing an image to useful parameters is to substitute the neural network directly in place of the polynomial mathematical function. Here, the inputs of the neural network are the coordinates of the pixel in the image being examined. The desired output of the network are the density value of the associated pixel. The architecture of this neural network is substantially smaller then the architecture described in the first alternative method. Here the weights of the neural network become the parameters to be used by the classifier. The types of processing elements used in this architecture include the radial basis function type, and provisions might be made to allow a mix of processing element types in the hidden layer of the neural network. The architecture is developed to provide the smallest possible number of weights while still being capable of reconstructing the image.

In this alternative, the neural network is trained only on the image under consideration. Thus, each time a sample is tested, the network would be retrained. The weights of the trained network are used as inputs to the classification means.

VALIDATION

Method for Classifying the Image from the Parameters

Once the parameters are estimated, the parameters generated from the image reconstruction process along with several parameters easily calculated from the scanned image are used to classify the sample. In addition, the image parameters from several reference scans were used. The process of classification incorporates two steps. The first is a validation step to determine if the sample under consideration should be rejected or classified. The validated result is then classified as positive or negative as described above.

To ensure the accuracy of a test result, the system producing that result should be validated. Validation protocols are used to confirm that all components of a system operate properly, and that the data received from the system is meaningful. Moreover, in systems where raw data from instruments are manipulated by software, the proper functioning of that software should also be validated.

Validation of data analysis software can be performed in any number of ways. Typically, a known sample (e.g., reference, positive control, negative control) can be tested in the system to validate that the expected result is obtained. Alternatively, known raw data can be stored in memory and acted upon by the data analysis software to validate that the expected result is obtained. Such validation protocols ensure that the software is operating properly before a clinical sample of interest is evaluated by that system.

Validation of test systems can also be performed during the evaluation of a clinical sample being tested by that system. These types of validation protocols can evaluate components of the system, either individually or together. When the criteria set by validation protocols are not achieved, an invalid result is obtained, and the user will be made aware of the system malfunction. Such processes ensure that only accurate test results are presented to the user.

In an exemplary embodiment, for example, data are validated by several methods. First, the data are checked for completeness by checking that the size of the matrix is m×n, where m is the number of columns of data collected (e.g., location on dipstick, dark reading, reflectance at λ 1 and reflectance at λ 2 ) and n is the number of steps, or readings, taken along the test strip. For example, in the preferred embodiment, the matrix must be of an exact size of 4×226.

Next, the maximum peak heights must meet certain minimum values or the test data are invalid. For example, if the sample in question is a fFN positive reference (i.e. about 50 ng/ml of fFN) in the fFN point of care test (POCT), then the maximum control peak height must be between 0.200 and 1.500 units (inclusive) and the maximum test peak height must be between 0.020 and 0.310 units (inclusive) or the result is invalid.

If the sample in question is a fFN POCT positive control, then the maximum test peak height of the positive control (i.e, a control sample that always yields a positive result, typically about 70 to 80 ng/ml for the fFN POCT) must be greater than the maximum test peak height of the positive reference, or the result is invalid.

If the sample in question is a negative control (i.e., always yields a negative result, which for the fFN POCT is about 10-15 ng/ml), then the maximum test peak height of the negative control must be less than the maximum test peak height of the positive reference, or the result is invalid.

A run is only valid when the results of the fFN positive reference, positive control and negative control are all valid.

If the sample in question is a clinical sample, then the maximum control test peak height must be greater than about 0.20 units, or the result for that sample is invalid. Note, however, that the run may remain valid.

For comparison of the fitted image and the scanned image by solving the linear regression, the slope must be between 0.99 and 1.10, or the result is invalid. If the sample is a positive reference, positive control or negative control, then the run is invalid. If the sample is a clinical sample, then the run remains valid. The value of r 2 must be greater than 0.78, or the result is invalid. If the sample is a positive reference, positive control or negative control, then the run is invalid. If the sample is a clinical sample, the run remains valid.

For a valid result and valid run, if the maximum peak height of the clinical sample is greater than or equal to the maximum peak height of the positive reference, the test result is positive. If the maximum peak height of the clinical sample is less than the maximum peak height of a negative reference, the result is positive.

Thus, the validated result is then classified as positive or negative as follows:

a) for a valid result and valid run, if maximum peak height of clinical sample is greater than or equal to maximum peak height of fFN positive reference, the result is positive.

b) for a valid result and valid run, if maximum peak height of clinical sample is less than maximum peak height of fFN negative reference, the result is negative.

Alternatively, instead of calculating height, the areas under the curves can be compared. The same data are obtained, if the area under the curve from a clinical sample is compared to the area under the curve of the 50 ng/ml reference sample.

Alternative Method for Classifying the Image Using a Neural Network

Based on the available data generated from scans all possible variables were identified that could be used to improve the ability to classify the sample. The initial training runs used the parameters generated from the image reconstruction process along with several parameters easily calculated from the scanned image. One such parameter is the area under a peak. It can be calculated from original parameters as following:

Area =sqrt(π) * Height/S, where S is spread or width of the peak. A sigma variable, related to the normal distribution can also be calculated from the parameters by:

Sigma=1/(sqrt(2)*S).

In addition, the image parameters from a Calibrator scan (fFN positive reference) were also used. The following is a list of the variables that are available for use by the neural network.

1. Sample Baseline Square Term

2. Sample Baseline Linear Term

3. Sample Baseline Offset

4. Sample Control Peak Position

5. Sample Control Peak Sigma

6. Sample Control Peak Area

7. Sample Test Peak Position

8. Sample Test Peak Sigma

9. Sample Test Peak Area

10. Sample Test Peak Height

11. Sample Control Peak Height

12. Sample Baseline estimated value between the peaks

13. Sample Ratio of Test Area to Control Area

14. Sample Ratio of Test Height to Control Height

15. Calibrator Baseline Square Term

16. Calibrator Baseline Linear Term

17. Calibrator Baseline Offset

18. Calibrator Control Peak Position

19. Calibrator Control Peak Sigma

20. Calibrator Control Peak Area

21. Calibrator Test Peak Position

22. Calibrator Test Peak Sigma

23. Calibrator Test Peak Area

24. Calibrator Test Peak Height

25. Calibrator Control Peak Height

26. Calibrator Baseline estimated value between the peaks

27. Calibrator Ratio of Test Area to Control Area

28. Calibrator Ratio of Test Height to Control Height

Four predictor variables were also added. In these variables the calibrator strip value is compared to the sample strip value and a +1 or −1 is used depending on the comparison. The additional variables are:

Test Area Predictor

Area Ratio Predictor

Test Height Predictor

Height Ratio Predictor.

The desired, or target output of the neural network was a classification of the concentration of the sample. If the sample concentration was greater than or equal to 50 ng/ml the desired output was set to 1.0. The desired output was set to 0 otherwise. A sensitivity analysis of the associated training runs was used to indicate which variables were important to the prediction task. The ThinksPro software product from Logical Designs Consulting was used to train the networks and perform the sensitivity analysis. Alternatively, a variable selection process based on genetic algorithms or some other method could be used to select the best subset of variables from this list (see, e.g., copending U.S. application Ser. Nos. 08/798,306 and 08/912,133, which describe a suitable variable selection process).

Using the reduced set of variables one or more networks are trained to estimate the classification of the sample. If more than one network is used, the outputs of each network are averaged together to give a consensus result.

In another embodiment, the nine variables may optionally be fed through a previously trained neural network to obtain a test result. For example, the nets may be trained with data for which ELISA test results are known. Alternatively, variables other than the nine described above may be used to train the neural net. The nets can be used not only to return positive or negative results, but also to determine if the assay itself is valid for any particular run.

The reduction of data for input to neural networks can be accomplished by a neural network itself. An example of such a net is a net with an hourglass architecture with an input, output and three hidden layers, wherein the input and output layers contain n nodes, with the first and third hidden layers containing less than n nodes, and the second hidden layer containing five nodes. If trained so that the output layer exactly matches the input layer, such nets would reduce the original dataset of n elements down to five elements, and also retain the ability to reconstruct the original dataset of n elements from these five elements.

Further Analysis Using Decision Support Systems

The output from the data analysis step provides an assessment of the raw biochemical test data that is measured by the reader or other instrument. Such data may then be considered as is, but is can be further entered into a decision-support system, particularly a neural network, that has been trained to evaluate the particular data and disease. For example, U.S. application Ser. No. 08/599,275, now abandoned, copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/798,306, and copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/912,133, filed Aug. 14, 1997, as well as published International PCT application No. WO 97/29447, which claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/599,275, filed Feb. 9, 1996, now abandoned, and copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/798,306 and corresponds to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/912,133 describe neural nets and methods for developing neural networks for diagnosis of disorders. The accuracy of biochemical test data is improved when used in these neural nets. Such neural nets, are thus contemplated for inclusion in the systems herein.

Briefly, in the methods described in these applications patient data or information, typically patient history or clinical data, are analyzed by the decision-support systems to identify important or relevant variables and decision-support systems are trained on the patient data. Patient data are augmented by biochemical test data or results to refine performance. The resulting decision-support systems are employed to evaluate specific observation values and test data to guide the development of biochemical or other diagnostic tests, to assess a course of treatment, to identify new diagnostic tests and disease markers, to identify useful therapies, and to provide the decision-support functionality for the test. Methods for identification of important input variables for a medical diagnostic tests for use in training the decision-support systems to guide the development of the tests, for improving the sensitivity and specificity of such tests, and for selecting diagnostic tests that improve overall diagnosis of, or potential for, a disease state and that permit the effectiveness of a selected therapeutic protocol to be assessed are also provided. The methods for identification can be applied in any field in which statistics are used to determine outcomes. A method for evaluating the effectiveness of any given diagnostic test is also provided.

Thus, such neural networks or other decision-support systems will be included in the systems provided herein as a means of improving performance of the biochemical test data.

The following examples are included for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Immunoassay Test Strip

A. The Test Strip

The test strip 100 includes a membrane system including three components: a porous or bibulous member 102 ; a conjugate pad 108 ; and an absorbent pad 110 . The membrane system may be mounted on a substrate or backing 112 , with the conjugate pad 108 and the absorbent pad 110 slightly overlapping the porous or bibulous member 102 , which is interposed thereinbetween. As can be seen, the conjugate pad 108 overlaps the porous or bibulous member 102 so that a fluid sample placed onto the conjugate pad 108 is communicated from the conjugate pad 108 to the porous or bibulous member 102 . Similarly, the absorbent pad 110 overlaps with the porous or bibulous member 102 so that fluid samples introduced into the porous or bibulous member 102 from the conjugate pad 108 can then be transmitted to the absorbent pad 110 . Thus, the conjugate pad 108 , the absorbent pad 110 and the porous or bibulous member 102 are all in fluid communication with one another, making any fluid sample placed on the conjugate pad 108 able to propagate through the conjugate pad 108 to the porous or bibulous member 110 and then to the absorbent pad 110 .

The porous or bibulous member is capable of transporting a liquid sample along the test strip and serves as the solid support upon which the immunoreactions occur. Antibodies which react with the target analyte and/or label are immobilized on the solid support. Possible solid supports include paper and cellulose derivatives, such as cellulose esters and ethers, natural and synthetic polymeric materials, such as vinyl polymers and partially hydrolyzed derivatives, polycondensates, copolymers and inorganic materials. A preferred solid support is a nitrocellulose membrane.

The porous or bibulous member contains two distinct zones, a detection zone 104 and a control zone 106 , at which two different antibodies are immobilized. The detection zone contains an immobilized capture antibody that binds the analyte of interest, whereas the control zone contains an immobilized antibody or other component, such as an antigen, that binds labeled antibody conjugate (discussed below) which has not bound to analyte.

The membrane system also includes a conjugate pad 108 , which serves as a sample application component, and which includes an antibody to the analyte, which is conjugated to a detectable label. The conjugate pad is in fluid communication with the porous or bibulous member 102 . The labeled antibody conjugate is diffusively bound to the conjugate pad and becomes mobile upon application of the liquid sample and moves along the test strip. The conjugate pad is made of a porous material, such as glass fiber. The conjugate pad may also act as a prefilter for the sample.

The membrane system may also include an absorbent pad 112 , which is also in fluid communication with the porous or bibulous member, and which serves to draw liquid continuously through the device. The absorbent strip may be made of a material such as cellulose paper or other material known to those of skill in the art.

Referring to FIG. 3 , which depicts an exemplary immunoassay device, including a test strip and housing assembly 300 , the housing 302 generally surrounds the test strip 100 ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and includes an opening through which test sample is applied 304 , as well as an aperture above the detection and control zones 306 that permits measurement of the amount of label by the reader, which is correlated with the amount of analyte in the test sample. The housing 302 includes at its upper surface 308 a fattened end 310 , used for gripping the housing 302 , an application window 304 (or sample window) through which a sample is applied to a conjugate pad 108 of an immunoassay test strip within the housing 302 . The housing 302 also includes a test window 314 through which the test result of the immunoassay is viewed. In accordance with the embodiments shown, no window material is mounted within the test window 314 (or the sample window 312 ). Thus, an optical path from outside the housing 302 through the test window 314 to the immunoassay test strip is unobscured by even a transparent material. Other alternative embodiments may include an optically transparent material (transparent at wavelengths emitted by light emitted from devices described herein), however, such is not preferred.

Referring next to FIG. 4 a top view is shown of the immunoassay test strip housing 302 of FIG. 3 . Shown are the sample window 312 , and the test window 314 , and the enlarged gripping portion 310 . Also shown are structures 402 for holding the immunoassay test assembly within the housing 302 and structures 404 for securing upper and lower halves of the housing 302 to one another.

Referring next to FIG. 5 , a side cross-sectional assembly view is shown of the housing 302 for the immunoassay test strip 100 . Shown are the sample window 312 , the test window 314 , and the structures 402 for holding the immunoassay test strip assembly in place within the housing 302 . As can be seen, an upper half 502 of the housing 302 is mated with a lower half 504 of the housing 302 . The immunoassay test strip is sandwiched between the upper and lower halves 502 and 504 of the housing 302 and is secured in place by the structures 402 of the upper half 502 . The immunoassay test strip is positioned so as to be viewable through the test window 314 when the immunoassay test strip assembly is secured within the housing and the conjugate pad is positioned to be contactable through the sample window 312 .

These devices are particularly adapted for use with the reflectance reader provided herein.

B. Colored Latex Label

The immunoassay test strip includes a membrane system supported on a plastic backing. The membrane system is formed from three partially overlapping materials: a conjugate pad made of Whatman glass fiber (FO75-07S, 2.4 cm length) treated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a nitrocellulose strip supplied by Sartorius (8 μm, 3.3 cm length) and an absorbent pad made of Whatman C7218 (1.65 cm length) cellulose paper. These three materials are in fluid communication with each other. The conjugate pad and nitrocellulose overlap by 1 mm and the nitrocellulose and absorbent pad overlap by 4 mm. The membrane materials are hand-laminated and attached to a membrane card, which is cut using an Azco guillotine compression cutter, using G&L adhesive membrane.

The conjugate pad contains a mouse monoclonal anti-fFN antibody (FDC-6 or A137) conjugated to latex particles containing a blue dye. The conjugate pad acts as a pre-filter for the sample in that mucous from the sample is left behind in the conjugate pad after performing the assay.

The latex particles, which are polymerized from styrene and acrylic acid, may be any suitable latex particles (such as are available from Bangs Laboratories). The particles are polymerized in an aqueous solution with a surfactant added. The particles are internally labeled with blue dye by swelling the particles in organic solvent and adding the dye. The particles are then placed in an aqueous solvent, which shrinks the particles and traps the dye. The dye is an organic soluble blue dye. Carboxyl groups are covalently attached to the surface of the bead for coupling to the antibody. The particles are supplied as a 2.5-10% aqueous suspension containing surfactant as Bangs Uniform Microsphere Stock D0004031 CB and have a mean diameter of 0.40 μm, with a standard deviation of 0.4 μm, and a surface area of 1.405e+13 μm 2 /g.

Antibodies are conjugated to the latex particles in a one-step covalent conjugation process using EDAC, a carbodiimide coupling reagent. The conjugate is characterized as 1% solids; 50 μg/mg beads total bound protein (Bead BCA); and >80% covalent bound protein (Tris-SDS+Bead BCA).

The antibody conjugated to the latex particles is mouse monoclonal antibody specific for fetal fibronectin. The antibody (FDC-6 or A137 monoclonal) is raised against whole molecule onco-fetal fibronectin from a tumor cell line. The antibody is produced as ascites at a contract manufacturer and is purified by Protein G and dialyzed into PBS buffer.

The nitrocellulose strip contains two distinct zones, a detection zone and a control zone, at which two different antibodies are immobilized. The detection zone contains immobilized anti-fibronectin polyclonal antibody as a capture antibody, whereas the control zone contains immobilized goat anti-mouse polyclonal antibody. The antifibronectin polyclonal antibody is produced in goats. The antisera is obtained from a commercial source and is purified by use of a fibronectin column which is made by attaching purified fibronectin (antigen) to a resin. The antisera is passed through a column containing the resin. After washing unbound material, the antibody is eluted via low pH glycine. The purified antibody is then dialyzed. The goat anti-mouse IgG antibody (GAMGG) immobilized in the control zone is obtained from Biosource. The antibody is purified by passing the serum through a mouse IgG column, which binds the antibody, and then eluting off the antibody using glycine.

The antibodies are applied to the conjugate pad and nitrocellulose strip using an IVEK Linear Striper, which is a volumetric ceramic piston pump dispenser. The anti-fibronectin polyclonal capture antibody is applied in a 1x Spotting Buffer P/N 00387, which contains citrate, phosphate and NaCl, at an antibody concentration of 1 mg/ml and a striping rate of 1 μl/sec. The position of the test line is 37-40 mm from the bottom of the strip. The control antibody is applied in a 1x Spotting Buffer P/N 00387 at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml and a striping rate of 1 μl/sec. The position of the control line is 43-46 mm from the bottom of the strip. The dimensions of the antibody stripes are approximately 7.5 mm (wide)×0.5-1.0 mm (high). The nitrocellulose strip is not otherwise treated after application of the capture and control antibodies to block non-specific binding sites.

The detection and control stripes are applied to the strip and then dried for 60 minutes at RT, after which the conjugate is striped onto the strip. The conjugate is mixed in a diluent containing 20% sucrose, 0.2% BSA, 0.5% TW20 and 100 mm Tris. After application of the conjugate, the strip is then dried for 30 min. at 37° C.

The test strip is contained within a housing, which includes a lower member and an upper member with openings that include a circular aperture above the area of the conjugate pad, through which test sample is applied, and a rectilinear aperture above the detection and control zones. The circular application aperture is in contact with the test strip. The latex conjugate is placed slightly downstream from the sample application opening. The upper and lower members are mated together to sandwich the test strip. The test strip is confined non-removably in the housing, and the device is not intended to be re-usable. The upper member is configured for use with a reader that measures the amount of label that is indicative of the amount of fetal fibronectin in the test sample.

C. Colloidal Gold Label

In an alternative embodiment, colloidal gold is used for labeling the antibody. The test strip configuration is similar to that described in EXAMPLE 1A for the latex particle embodiment, with the following modifications.

In the colloidal gold assay, a goat polyclonal antibody to human adult and fetal fibronectin is present in the conjugate pad, immobilized mouse monoclonal anti-fetal fibronectin antibody (specific to the IlIl CS region of fetal fibronectin) is present in the detection zone of the nitrocellulose test strip and immobilized human adult fibronectin is present in the control zone.

The anti-fibronectin antibodies (polyclonal) are labeled with colloidal old by passively adsorbing anti-fibronectin antibodies onto colloidal gold. his preparation is then treated with a solution containing protein and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) to coat the colloidal gold particles. This method is described in Geoghegan and Ackerman, Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry , 25(11):1187-1200 (1977).

EXAMPLE 2

Immunoassay Procedure

A. Colored Latex Label

In conducting the assay, the sample is extracted from a swab into antiprotease transfer buffer (0.05 M Tris buffer, pH 7.4, 1% BSA, 5 mM EDTA, 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), and 500 Kallikrein Units/ml of Aprotinin), heated for 15 min. at 37° C. and filtered through a large pore (25μ) plunger filter. A volume of 200 μl of test sample is then delivered to the conjugate pad at the application zone using a standard plastic pipet. Any fFN in the sample will bind to the labeled monoclonal antibody and the resulting complex migrates into the nitrocellulose strip. When the complex encounters the detection zone, the immobilized anti-FN antibody binds the complex, thereby forming a colored stripe due to the aggregation of the dye-containing latex beads. Any unbound latex-conjugated anti-fFN antibody continues to migrate into the control zone where it is captured by the immobilized goat anti-mouse antibody and thereby forms a colored stripe due to the aggregation of the dyecontaining latex beads. The reaction time is 20 minutes.

B. Colloidal Gold Label

The test strip assay procedure is similar to that described in EXAMPLE 2A for the latex particle embodiment, with the following modifications. The buffer used to extract the sample is Tris-acetate and a protein matrix (4% PSA and 4% PVP).

Fetal fibronectin and adult human fibronectin in the sample bind with the labeled anti-fibronectin antibody conjugate on the conjugate pad. The labeled fetal fibronectin-anti-fibronectin complex and adult human fibronectin-anti-fibronectin complexes, and unbound labeled anti-fibronectin conjugate migrate into the nitrocellulose strip, where they encounter the detection region, including immobilized anti-fetal fibronectin monoclonal antibody.

In the detection region, the immobilized anti-fetal fibronectin capture antibody binds with the fetal fibronectin-anti-fibronectin complex, whereby a gold label forms a colored stripe due to concentration of the gold label. The amount of gold label bound to the test region correlates with the amount of fetal fibronectin in the sample.

The unbound labeled anti-fibronectin antibody conjugate and adult human fibronectin-anti-fibronectin complex then pass to the control region of the immunoassay test strip, which includes immobilized adult human fibronectin. There, any unbound antibody conjugate binds to the immobilized adult human fibronectin, where the gold label forms a second colored stripe. The presence of a colored stripe indicates that the assay results are valid, whereas the absence of this stripe indicates that the results are not valid, i.e., that the sample did not reach the control region, and thus a good reading at the test region cannot be assumed. Any adult human fibronectin-anti-fibronectin complexes formed do not bind with the detection or control zones.

EXAMPLE 3

Operation of the Reflectance Reader

The test strip is read using the reflectance reader exemplified herein. This reader (described above) is adapted to read an immunochromatographic test strip supported within the housing. The reflectance reader includes a cassette slot for receiving the test-strip housing, and a sensing head assembly for reading the test strip supported within the test-strip housing using reflected light. The sensing head assembly includes a first light-emitting diode (LED 1 ), a second LED (LED 2 ), a silicon photodiode detector, and 39 optical fibers randomly arranged in a narrow slit (e.g., 0.020″ wide) located at the bottom of the sensing head assembly. LED 1 emits light with a wavelength of 430 nm (blue), and LED 2 emits light with a wavelength of 595 nm (amber). The optical fibers are arranged in three groups of 13 optical fibers each: the first group transmits light emitted by LED 1 to the slit; the second group transmits light emitted by LED 2 to the slit; and the third group transmits reflected light received at the slit to the photodetector. The 39 fibers each include an end randomly arranged within a plane located at the slit such that the ends are co-planar, with the plane being normal to the test strip when the sensing head assembly is positioned (as described below) to take reflectance readings. The optical fibers in each of the three groups are randomly arranged within the plane with respect to the fibers of the other two groups.

The slit width is selected to be as narrow as permitted, with the practical minimum being driven by the availability of small diameter optical fibers. The maximum slit width should not be larger than about 90% of the width of the colored stripe, otherwise the background of the strip, in addition to the colored stripe, will be read and less color will be detected, unless the slit, or aperture, is positioned directly above the colored stripe.

When the housing is inserted into the cassette slot of the reader, a spring mechanism rotates the sensing head directly over the second aperture of the housing such that the plane defined by the optical fibers is normal to the surface of the nitrocellulose strip at a distance of about 0.010″. Light from LED 1 and LED 2 can be transmitted by the fibers onto the nitrocellulose strip at a normal angle, and light reflected normally from the strip can be transmitted by the fibers to the photodetector.

The sensing head takes three separate reflectance readings of each portion of the nitrocellulose strip by reading the output of the photosensor while controlling LED 1 and LED 2 . The first reading, used to determine the amount of ambient light leaking into the reader (e.g., light leaking through the slot entrance, or light reflected into the reader through the white plastic of the housing), is a dark reading taken with LED 1 and LED 2 both turned off. The dark reading count is subtracted from the other two readings to correct for light leakage. The second reading, used to determine background reflections associated with the nitrocellulose, is taken with LED 1 pulsed on and LED 2 turned off. The third reading, used to detect the presence of the latex label on the test strip, is taken with LED 2 pulsed on and LED 1 turned off. A control circuit reads the photodetector output and controls the on and off operation of LED 1 and LED 2 . A memory circuit stores the raw and/or processed data. The data may also be displayed to the operator via an appropriate interface (e.g., an alphanumeric character matrix).

After being positioned above the housing by the spring mechanism, the sensing head can be moved slidably across the test strip to allow the head to scan the entire exposed surface of the nitrocellulose strip (including the detection and control zones). In the preferred embodiment, this distance is approximately 0.452″. The head is slidably connected to a rail (e.g., guide rods), and is coupled to a worm or screw gear driven by a stepper motor. Under the control of the control circuit, the stepper motor drives the head along the rail in small steps (e.g., 0.002″/step). At each step, the control circuit takes three readings as described above. Thus, the control circuit moves the head such that the optical fibers pass directly above and normal to the exposed surface of the nitrocellulose strip in a sequence of small steps, and takes a sequence of dark, LED 1 and LED 2 readings at each step. The control circuit then processes the data read from the photodetector at each sequence of three readings to determine the presence or concentration of fFN.

Since the detection and control latex stripes are each about 0.020″ wide, and since each step of the sensing head is about 0.002″ long, there will be about 10 steps within each stripe. Thus, there will be 10 sets of three readings (i.e., dark, LED 1 and LED 2 ) at each of the stripes, and the remainder of the reading sets will not be made over either stripe.

The control circuit processes the LED 1 and LED 2 readings by first subtracting the “dark reading” taken at the corresponding step to correct for light leakage. The corrected LED 1 and LED 2 readings are then input into a ratiometric algorithm to determine the concentration of fFN. The algorithm is based upon the ratio of readings at the detection and control zones. If a sample includes a high concentration of fFN, latex readings at the detection zone will be relatively high and the readings at the control zone will be low. If the sample includes a low concentration of fFN, however, latex readings at the detection zone will be relatively low and readings at the control zone will be high. The algorithm calculates a reflectance ratio for each step which equals (amber count—dark count)/(blue count—dark count). Generally, light leakage is so minimal that this step can be omitted. If the reflectance ratio is graphed as a function of the steps, the result will be a two-peak graph with the peaks occurring at the two stripes. The graph is mathematically analyzed, with a sigmoidal calculation across the background and a gaussian calculation to integrate the area beneath each of the two peaks. The fFN concentration is then determined based upon the ratio of the integrated area beneath each of the two peaks.

In operation, when the test-strip housing is inserted into the cassette slot of the reader, the sensing head rotates down over the exposed nitrocellulose strip, and the control circuit then moves the head to an initial position. The control circuit moves the head across the exposed surface of the nitrocellulose strip, including the detection and control zones, in small increments of 0.002″ each. At each step, the control circuit takes a first reading of the photodetector output with LED 1 and LED 2 both off, takes a second reading with LED 1 pulsed on and LED 2 off, and takes a third reading with LED 1 off and LED 2 pulsed on. The control circuit then steps the sensing head and repeats the three readings. This process is repeated for each of 226 steps (0.452″ at 0.002″/step) until the entire surface is read. The control circuit may then analyze the raw data to determine the presence or concentration of fFN. The output values can be displayed via an operator interface, or can be output to another computer or apparatus.

Since modifications will be apparent to those of skill in this art, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A point of care system for determining results from a diagnostic or risk assessment test, comprising:a point of care test; and a reader for analyzing data from the test, wherein the reader is a reflectance reader with a reader head that comprises: a reader head body; a light emitting diode; a first fiberoptic bundle optically coupled to the light emitting diode; a photodetector; a second fiberoptic bundle optically coupled to the photodetector; an aperture in the reader head body; and a plurality of fiberoptic conductor ends arranged in a sigmoidal distribution in the aperture, a first portion of the fiberoptic conductor ends comprising fiberoptic conductors of the first fiberoptic bundle, and a second portion of the fiberoptic conductor ends comprising fiberoptic conductors of the second fiberoptic bundle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the point of care test includes a test strip that displays results from the test, and the reader is adapted to read the strip.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader further comprises:a control unit including a processor modified with a software subsystem, wherein the software is for analyzing the data produced in the test.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein in the point of care test is an immunoassay.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the immunoassay detects fetal fibronectin (fFN) in a sample.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the test assesses the risk of having a condition or diagnoses the condition.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the condition is pregnancy-related or is related to fertility status.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the condition is an infertility-related disorder, a neurological disorder, a cardiovascular disorder, an inflammatory disorder, a viral or bacterial infection, a hormonal disorder, a metabolic disorder or a genetic disease.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the results of the test are qualitative.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the results of the test are quantitative.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:software programmed for analyzing the results from the test.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the test comprises a test strip that displays the results of the test and the reflectance reader comprises:data processing software employing data reduction and curve fitting algorithms converting a reflectance signal obtained from reading the test strip into a determination of the presence of an analyte in a sample.

13. A point of care system for determining results from a diagnostic or risk assessment test, comprising:a point of care test; and a reader for analyzing data from the test, wherein: the reader is a reflectance reader, comprising: a reader head comprising: a reader head body; a light emitting diode; a first fiberoptic bundle optically coupled to the light emitting diode, and adapted to transmitting light from the light emitting diode; a photodetector adapted for generating a reflection signal in response to reflected light; a second fiberoptic bundle optically coupled to the photodetector, and adapted to transmit an amount of reflected light to the photodetector; an aperture in the reader head body; and a plurality of fiberoptic conductor ends arranged in a sigmoidal distribution in the aperture, a first portion of the fiberoptic conductor ends comprising fiberoptic conductors of the first fiberoptic bundle, and a second portion of the fiberoptic conductor ends comprising fiberoptic conductors of the second fiberoptic bundle, the plurality of fiberoptic conductor ends being further arranged in a substantially co-planar relationship; and a reader housing comprising: a housing body; and a cassette slot adapted to receive a test device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the reader further comprises:a control unit including a processor modified with a software subsystem, wherein the software is for analyzing the data produced in the test.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:software programmed for analyzing the results from the test.

16. A point of care system for determining results from a diagnostic or risk assessment test, comprising:a point of care test; and a reflectance reader for analyzing data from the test, wherein: the test is an immunoassay performed on a test strip, wherein the results from the immunoassay are detectable by a change in color or other property that can be detected using the reflectance reader; and the immunoassay test strip comprises: (a) a conjugate pad which serves as a sample application component; (b) a porous or bibulous member which is capable or transporting a liquid sample along the test strip and serves as the solid support upon which the immunoreactions occur; and (c) an absorbent pad, which serves to draw liquid continuously through the device, wherein: the materials of the membrane system form a single fluid flow pathway and the test strip is designed to be read by the reader.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the porous or bibulous member comprises an immobilized capture antibody that binds to the analyte of interest in a detection zone.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein:the conjugate pad comprises an antibody diffusively bound thereto; and the antibody is labeled with a colorimetrically or fluorometrically detectable label.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:software programmed for analyzing the results from the test.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the point of care test includes a test strip that displays results from the test; and the reader is adapted to read the strip.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the condition is pregnancy-related or is related to fertility status.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the condition is an infertility-related disorder, a neurological disorder, a cardiovascular disorder, an inflammatory disorder, a viral or bacterial infection, a hormonal disorder, a metabolic disorder or a genetic disease.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the results of the test are qualitative.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the results of the test are quantitative.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the immunoassay detects fetal fibronectin (fFN) in a sample.

26. A reflectance reader, comprising:a reader head comprising: a reader head body; a light emitting diode; a first fiberoptic bundle optically coupled to the light emitting diode; a photodetector; a second fiberoptic bundle optically coupled to the photodetector; an aperture in the reader head body; a plurality of fiberoptic conductor ends arranged in a sigmoidal distribution in the aperture, a first portion of the fiberoptic conductor ends comprising fiberoptic conductors of the first fiberoptic bundle, and a second portion of the fiberoptic conductor ends comprising fiberoptic conductors of the second fiberoptic bundle.

27. The reader of claim 26, that is adapted for reading an immunoassay test strip.

28. The reader of claim 26, further comprising software for correlating a reflectance reading with a diagnostic parameter.

29. The reader of claim 28, wherein the software comprises a decision-support system.

30. The reader of claim 28, wherein the software comprises a neural network.

31. The reader of claim 30 wherein the plurality of fiberoptic conductor ends is further arranged in a substantially co-planar relationship.

32. The reader of claim 26 further comprising:another light emitting diode; a third fiberoptic bundle optically coupled to the other light emitting diode; a third portion of the fiberoptic conductor ends comprising fiberoptic conductors of the third fiberoptic bundle.

33. The reader of claim 32 including a bonding agent between and around the fiberoptic conductors at the fiberoptic conductor ends, wherein the bonding agent maintains the fiberoptic conductor ends in said sigmoidal distribution.

34. The reader of claim 33, wherein said light emitting diode is adapted to emit light of a first wavelength, and wherein said other light emitting diode is adapted to emit light of a second wavelength.

35. A reader head for use in determining an amount of analyte in a sample comprising:a reader head body; a light emitting diode; a first fiberoptic bundle optically coupled to the light emitting diode; a photodetector; a second fiberoptic bundle optically coupled to the photodetector; an aperture in the reader head body; a plurality of fiberoptic conductor ends arranged in a sigmoidal distribution in the aperture, a first portion of the fiberoptic conductor ends comprising fiberoptic conductors of the first fiberoptic bundle, and a second portion of the fiberoptic conductor ends comprising fiberoptic conductors of the second fiberoptic bundle, the plurality of fiberoptic conductor ends being further arranged in a substantially co-planar relationship.

36. A reflectance reader, comprising:the reader head of claim 35, wherein: the first fiberoptic bundle optically coupled to the light emitting diode is adapted to transmitting light from the light emitting diode; the photodetector is adapted for generating a reflection signal in response to reflected light; the second fiberoptic bundle optically coupled to the photodetector is adapted to transmit an amount of reflected light to the photodetector; and the plurality of fiberoptic conductor ends are arranged in a sigmoidal distribution in the aperture, a first portion of the fiberoptic conductor ends comprising fiberoptic conductors of the first fiberoptic bundle, and a second portion of the fiberoptic conductor ends comprising fiberoptic conductors of the second fiberoptic bundle, the plurality of fiberoptic conductor ends being further arranged in a substantially co-planar relationship.

37. The reader of claim 36, further comprising:a reader housing comprising: a housing body; and a cassette slot adapted to receive a test device for measuring the analyte.

38. The reader of claim 36, that is for determining an amount of analyte in a sample.

39. The reader of claim 37, wherein the test device is an immunoassay device.

40. The reader of claim 36, further comprising:a control unit including a processor modified with a software subsystem.

41. The reader of claim 37, further comprising:a control unit including a processor modified with a software subsystem.

42. The reader of claim 40, wherein said processor includes means for processing a reflectance signal and for generating an output signal indicative of an amount of analyte in response thereto.

43. The reader of claim 41, wherein the software comprises a decision-support system.

44. The reader of claim 43, wherein the decision-support system is a neural net.