摘要 |
A method of assaying analytes using a rate procedure is described where the change in density over time has a variable rate. The method features the steps of depositing the sample on to a dried slide-like test element, making an initial rate reading during an early time window, using the initial rate readings in a comparison study with rates from known low and high concentration results to predict whether the sample rate will be sufficiently low as to be ascertainable during a later time window or not, and then calculating a rate of reaction and concentration during either the early time window or the early time window with a portion of the later time window respectively. To avoid the possibility of a consistent bias, the initial rate readings are used directly in the comparison study without first calculating a concentration, by comparing the initial rate reading of a sample against known rates corresponding to samples with low and high concentrations to determine the length of the time window to be used in the rate calculation. <IMAGE> |