| 摘要 |
Methods and devices for analyzing fluid variables such as viscosity, surface tension, analyte concentration, the presence of particulates or aggregates are provided. The devices analyze fluid variables by measuring cessation of fluid flow through the medium or a change in flow rate due to an inherent property of the fluid variable, or due to a modification of the fluid variable as the fluid migrates through the medium. One lateral flow device provided analyzes a fluid variable in a sample by measuring relative rates of capillary flow down two or more converging arms of a common element of porous media, such as filter paper, in which at least one of the arms has been modified by the addition of flow-modifying agents which affect the flow rate in response to the concentration of the analyte. The fluid fronts will converge at a position determined by their relative flow rates, which is thus indicative of a fluid variable, such as analyte concentration, in the sample fluid. Another lateral flow device provided herein analyzes fluid variables in a sample by measuring relative rates of capillary flow down two or more arms of a common element of porous media, such as filter paper, in which at least one of the arms has been modified by the addition of flow-modifying agents which affect the flow rate in response to the concentration of the analyte. The relative distance at completion of the fluid fronts from the sample introduction point is determined by their relative flow rates, which is thus indicative of the fluid variable, such as concentration of analyte, in the sample fluid. Yet another lateral flow device provided herein qualitatively measures fluid variables in a sample by detecting changes in the rate of the capillary flow of the sample fluid along a path through an element of porous media, or through multiple elements of porous media which are in serial contact with each other, in which the sample and/or the fluid path has been modified by the addition of flow-modifying agents which cause flow to stop in the presence of the fluid variable, such as a particular concentration of analyte.
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