Test system for hormone measurement

Abstract

The invention relates to a test cartridge for use in an analysis unit for hormone measurement, having: at least one insertion opening for receiving a sample to be measured, in particular saliva or urine or blood, and at least one reagent store, wherein reaction reagents, in particular comprising at least one buffer medium, are stored in the at least one reagent store; measurement chambers, wherein in each measurement chamber, preferably exclusively for a menstruation cycle hormone, detection reagents for the quantitative and / or qualitative detection of menstruation cycle hormones are stored; and at least one fluid path, wherein the fluid path is formed as a connection between the insertion opening and the measurement chambers and / or the reagent store and the measurement chambers, wherein measurement chambers with detection reagents for three, in particular at least five, menstruation cycle hormones, preferably at least for progesterone and / or oestrogen and / or follicle-stimulating hormone and / or luteinising hormone and / or human chorionic gonadotropin, are comprised.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Hormone measurement test system

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The invention relates to a test cartridge for use in an analysis unit for hormone measurement. Furthermore, the invention relates to a test system for hormone measurement and a method for hormone measurement.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Several systems for measuring menstrual cycle hormones are known from the prior art. These systems typically use saliva or urine as samples on test strips designed as lateral flow tests. These lateral flow tests operate on the principle of thin-layer chromatography, whereby hormone-specific immunostaining makes the hormone being tested visible, for example, by binding to an antibody. In practice, this usually means that a colored control band, contrasted with the test strip, indicates that the test was performed correctly, and the presence or absence of at least one second band, usually at a defined position, indicates the test result.

[0007] Since a multitude of hormones control and influence the menstrual cycle, with concentrations characteristic of each phase, various hormones must be measured to fully map the menstrual cycle and reliably determine the cycle phase. A disadvantage of the current technology is that individual test strips must be used to measure all relevant hormones, leaving the user to evaluate the results and decide which strips are appropriate for the next measurement. This makes the use of test strips prone to error, especially since the results of standard test strips are often ambiguous for a layperson, for example, due to faint bands or minimal visual change compared to previous measurements. Camera-based systems are now available to improve the readability and accuracy of the test strips.

[0008] For some systems used to measure menstrual cycle hormones, evaluation units are available that can optically analyze the test strips and, based on the analysis, generate a recommendation for the next test strip(s) to be used. However, even with these systems, the user ultimately has to keep all the different test strips available and select the ones to use. This still carries a risk of confusion, which can lead to a loss of information, especially with samples only available once a day, such as the frequently used morning urine, which has a particularly high hormone concentration. This can result in an incomplete picture of the menstrual cycle.

[0009] Disclosure of the invention

[0010] The test cartridge, test system and method according to the invention, comprising the features of the independent claims, overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and enable a fault-resistant and simple mapping of a user's menstrual cycle.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments of the test cartridge, test system and method according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description and figure description.

[0012] The features described and claimed in relation to the device shall also be deemed to be disclosed and claimable in accordance with the procedure, and vice versa.

[0013] The test cartridge for use in an analysis unit for hormone measurement has at least one insertion opening for receiving a sample to be measured, in particular saliva, urine or blood, and at least one reagent reservoir, wherein reaction reagents, in particular comprising at least one buffer medium, are stored in the at least one reagent reservoir, as well as measuring chambers, wherein in each measuring chamber, preferably exclusively for one menstrual cycle hormone, detection reagents for the quantitative and / or qualitative detection of menstrual cycle hormones are stored, and at least one fluid path, wherein the fluid path is designed as a connection between the insertion opening and the measuring chambers and / or the reagent reservoir and the measuring chambers.

[0014] According to the invention, measuring chambers are provided with detection reagents for at least three, in particular at least five, menstrual cycle hormones, preferably at least for progesterone and / or estrogen and / or follicle-stimulating hormone and / or luteinizing hormone and / or human chorionic gonadotropin.

[0015] The invention recognizes that by providing detection reagents for at least five menstrual cycle hormones, an informative hormonal profile of a menstrual cycle can be obtained, whereby the storage of the detection reagents on a test cartridge avoids user errors. Advantageously, it is possible to store more than five detection reagents on the test cartridge to further improve the hormonal profile.

[0016] The inlet opening can be designed to directly receive the sample to be measured, usually a liquid, or to receive a sample container, particularly an interchangeable one, containing the sample to be measured. Alternatively, instead of a single inlet opening that is repeatedly used for receiving different samples, a plurality of inlet openings can be provided, each designed specifically for the single receipt of a single sample. The reagent reservoir can contain various reaction reagents necessary for the measurement reaction, for example, in liquid or dried form. It is particularly advantageous to store at least one buffer medium in the reagent reservoir, which converts the sample to be measured into a state necessary for the measurement reaction and / or acts as a mobile phase and / or can be used as a washing buffer for cleaning the fluid path.The test cartridge is advantageously designed as a lateral flow test, particularly as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Specifically, the fluid path with the measuring chambers is designed according to the principle of thin-layer chromatography and includes a separation layer, for example, made of porous paper, glass fiber, or sintered polymer. The transport of the sample and / or the reaction reagents through the fluid path is achieved primarily by capillary action. Alternatively, the test cartridge can also be designed with active fluid transport, for example, via mechanical transport devices.

[0017] The detection reagents for a menstrual cycle hormone comprise, in particular, at least one capture component and one detection component, whereby not all detection reagents necessary for a measurement reaction need to be stored in the measuring chambers. The capture components are preferably stored dry and immobilized in the measuring chambers. The capture components are particularly preferably hormone-specific antibodies, especially for progesterone and / or estrogen and / or follicle-stimulating hormone and / or luteinizing hormone and / or human chorionic gonadotropin, which are particularly preferably labeled with a detection component, in particular with a reporter enzyme. Upon binding of the hormone to be measured or the capture component to the antibody, the reporter enzyme causes, for example, a color change and / or fluorescence, thus enabling quantification of the hormone.Alternatively, it can also be provided that only the capture elements are immobilized in the measuring chamber and the detection elements are stored separately, in particular in a reagent reservoir and / or on the fluid path and / or in the area of ​​the introduction opening. In a further particularly preferred alternative, it is possible that the measuring chambers have spatially separated sections, wherein the detection elements, in particular mobile ones, are stored in one, preferably first, section and the capture elements, in particular immobilized ones, are stored in a, preferably second, section. It is also conceivable that the capture elements are stored in a dry state and the detection elements in liquid form.

[0018] The test cartridge advantageously features windows and / or recesses in the area of ​​the measuring chambers to allow for visual detection of the result of the measurement reaction, in particular the color change, for example as a band that contrasts with the color of the test cartridge and / or is fluorescent. In addition to the detection reagents for the menstrual cycle hormones, the measuring chambers may contain a control reagent that indicates the correct execution of the measurement reaction.

[0019] According to a first advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that a plurality of identical measuring chambers with detection reagents for each menstrual cycle hormone to be measured are included.

[0020] In other words, for each menstrual cycle hormone to be measured, there are multiple identical measuring chambers for repeated measurements. Advantageously, the measuring chambers, each containing the respective detection reagents, are present in a number sufficient to cover a complete menstrual cycle. This can be achieved by having the same number of all measuring chambers, or by having a customized number of each, based on how often the hormone, measured with the corresponding detection reagent in the measuring chamber, needs to be measured to cover a complete menstrual cycle.

[0021] According to a further advantageous embodiment, measuring chambers can be arranged on a fluid path, particularly in series, with a plurality of fluid paths preferably being arranged in parallel. Advantageously, each detection reagent or a defined selection of detection reagents is contained in a separate measuring chamber on a fluid path, with a plurality of such fluid paths being arranged parallel to one another. In this context, "parallel" does not necessarily mean that the fluid paths are used simultaneously, but merely that the fluid paths are arranged adjacent to one another in the broadest sense, rather than sequentially. Alternatively, it can also be provided that only measuring chambers with the same detection reagent are arranged on each fluid path, or that multiple measuring chambers with the same detection reagent are arranged on a fluid path.

[0022] According to a further advantageous embodiment, a discharge port and / or a reject reservoir may be included, wherein the discharge port and / or the reject reservoir are connected to the measuring chambers via the fluid path. This ensures that residues of the samples and / or reaction reagents can be removed from the fluid path and / or the test cartridge and thus do not impede further measurement reactions and / or influence the results.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment, switching means, in particular valves, can be assigned to the fluid path, wherein the switching means are preferably arranged between the inlet opening and the measuring chambers and / or between the measuring chambers and an outlet opening and / or a reject reservoir. This embodiment works particularly well with a plurality of fluid paths, since it makes it possible to switch the fluid paths on and / or off independently of one another. Thus, the fluid paths can be switched on and / or off at different times; for example, a new fluid path can be switched on each day over the course of a menstrual cycle, whereby, in particular, only one fluid path is ever switched on and thus continuously open for the sample and / or the reaction reagents.Advantageously, the switching devices between the inlet opening and the measuring chambers can switch simultaneously with the switching devices between the measuring chambers and the outlet opening and / or the reject reservoir, thus ensuring that a fluid path from the inlet opening and / or the reagent reservoir to the outlet opening and / or the reject reservoir is continuously open. The switching of the fluid path by the switching devices can occur at different times, for example, directly after a measurement reaction has taken place or only immediately before a measurement reaction is to be carried out. Alternatively, the switching devices can switch with a time delay, meaning, for example, that the fluid path from the measuring chamber to the outlet opening and / or a reject reservoir can be opened only after completion of or during the measurement reaction.

[0024] According to a further advantageous embodiment, a reagent reservoir can be provided that contains cleaning agents, particularly for rinsing the fluid path. In one possible embodiment, the cleaning agents are stored in a separate reagent reservoir, which is additional to the reagent reservoir containing the reaction reagents. However, it is also conceivable that the cleaning agents and reaction reagents are contained in the same reagent reservoir, for example, if the same buffer medium is used for sample preparation and for rinsing the fluid paths. The cleaning agents are particularly effective at removing residues of the sample and / or reaction reagents from the fluid path and / or measuring chambers and / or introduction ports, especially before a further measurement reaction takes place, for example, via the same fluid path.

[0025] A further object of the invention is a test system comprising a test cartridge, preferably according to one of the embodiments described above, further comprising an analysis unit which includes a cartridge holder, wherein the test cartridge can be inserted into the cartridge holder, and a detection unit, in particular an optical unit, which is set up to detect a reaction result in the measuring chambers, and an evaluation unit which is set up to process and evaluate the detected reaction result.

[0026] To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the explanations regarding the test cartridge for use in an analysis unit for hormone measurement with regard to the advantages of the test system.

[0027] The analysis unit allows for the particularly advantageous automatic recording and evaluation of results, with the results and evaluations being conveniently stored on a storage medium. This enables a user's menstrual cycle to be mapped with particularly robust and traceable data.

[0028] The analysis unit can be, for example, a Vivalytic diagnostic device from the applicant, or an alternative, particularly compact, diagnostic device specifically designed for home use by users. The detection unit, preferably optical, can be, for example, a camera, which can advantageously be additionally equipped with an excitation device to form a fluorescence detection unit. The evaluation unit can be, for example, an internal or external computer, and advantageously also a smartphone with user software. The analysis unit preferably has a data interface via which the results and / or evaluation results can be transferred from the analysis unit to an external storage unit and / or external evaluation unit, preferably a smartphone with user software. Furthermore, measurement instructions can advantageously be transferred to the analysis unit via the data interface.

[0029] According to a first advantageous embodiment, the analysis unit can include control means configured to initiate, terminate, and / or control measurement processes on the test cartridge. It is particularly advantageous that at least the initiation of a measurement process is controlled by the control means, especially via control of the switching elements of the test cartridge. For example, the switching elements can be configured to only activate a defined fluid path when activation by the control means occurs. Advantageously, it can also be provided that the switching elements automatically close the fluid path as soon as activation by the control means is complete. Furthermore, the control means can, for example, control and / or initiate cleaning processes, in particular a flushing of the fluid path after a completed measurement reaction.

[0030] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control means can be configured to activate measuring chambers containing all available detection reagents during each measurement process, or to select and activate measuring chambers containing specific detection reagents for the measurement process based on evaluation results. Alternatively, instead of activating specific measuring chambers, the control means can also activate specific fluid paths based on whether they contain the desired measuring chambers. Capturing all possible menstrual cycle hormones at each point in a menstrual cycle through a measurement process with all detection reagents has the advantage of obtaining the greatest possible information content for each point in time, thus creating, for example, a complete hormone profile for each point in time.Selective activation of measuring chambers with specific detection reagents, and the associated selection of menstrual cycle hormones to be measured, particularly based on a specific phase of the menstrual cycle, has the advantage of reducing material requirements and thus potentially also manufacturing costs. Activation based on evaluation results is particularly preferred, thanks to an evaluation algorithm that advantageously uses the results of the current test cartridge and previous test cartridges. This allows for advantageous individualization of the evaluation, enabling, for example, adjustments to account for varying menstrual cycle lengths between individuals.

[0031] A further object of the present invention is a method for hormone measurement, in particular for the measurement of menstrual cycle hormones, preferably with a test cartridge according to one of the embodiments described above and / or with a test system according to one of the embodiments described above, comprising the method steps: -providing reaction reagents, in particular at least one buffer medium, in a reagent reservoir of a test cartridge,

[0032] -Introduction of detection reagents for quantitative and / or qualitative detection of menstrual cycle hormones into measuring chambers of the test cartridge, -Introduction of a sample to be measured, in particular saliva or urine or blood, into an insertion opening of the test cartridge,

[0033] -Inserting the test cartridge into a cartridge holder of an analysis unit, -Transporting the sample and / or the reaction reagents into a measuring chamber via at least one fluid path,

[0034] -Performing a measurement reaction for menstrual cycle hormones in the measuring chamber,

[0035] -Detection of the reaction result by a detection unit of the analysis unit, in particular an optical unit,

[0036] -Evaluation of the reaction result by an evaluation unit of the analysis unit.

[0037] According to the invention, measurement reactions are carried out in the measuring chambers using detection reagents for at least three, and in particular at least five, menstrual cycle hormones, preferably at least for progesterone and / or estrogen and / or follicle-stimulating hormone and / or luteinizing hormone and / or human chorionic gonadotropin. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the descriptions of the advantages of the method for the test cartridge for use in an analysis unit for hormone measurement and to the test system comprising a test cartridge.

[0038] The procedural steps do not necessarily have to be carried out in the previously listed order and can also partially occur in parallel. For example, the preparation of reaction reagents and the storage of detection reagents can take place simultaneously or in reverse order. Likewise, procedural steps can be performed multiple times; in particular, a measurement reaction can be carried out in a single measurement process for several menstrual cycle hormones.

[0039] The evaluation of the reaction results and / or a results protocol generated by the evaluation preferably includes at least measured values ​​of the menstrual cycle hormones, as well as an algorithm-based prognosis of the progress of the menstrual cycle.

[0040] Advantageously, the reaction results and / or the result log can be transferred via a data interface to an external storage unit and / or external analysis unit, for example a smartphone with user software, and / or are transferred automatically.

[0041] It may be advantageous to provide for the removal of residual samples and / or reaction reagents into a discharge opening and / or a reject storage area.

[0042] It may also be advantageous to flush the fluid path with a cleaning agent.

[0043] According to a further advantageous embodiment, switching on and / or off of fluid paths can be provided by means of switching devices.

[0044] It can be particularly advantageous to control measurement processes on the test cartridge using control means of the analysis unit. It can further be advantageous to provide that, in each measurement process, measuring chambers with all possible detection reagents are activated, or that a selection of detection reagents takes place based on evaluation results, in particular a specific menstrual cycle phase, and that, based on this, only measuring chambers with the selected detection reagents are activated.

[0045] Brief description of the drawings

[0046] Fig. 1 Schematic overview of a test system comprising a test cartridge and an analysis device in a first embodiment

[0047] Fig. 2 Schematic representation of a method for hormone measurement in a first embodiment

[0048] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a test system comprising a test cartridge 1. The test cartridge 1 has an insertion port 2 through which a sample, in particular saliva, urine, or blood, can be applied to the test cartridge 1. Advantageously, a plurality of insertion ports 2 can also be provided. Furthermore, the test cartridge 1 comprises reagent reservoirs 3, which contain reaction reagents, advantageously at least one buffer medium, and / or cleaning agents, for rinsing fluid pathways 5. The reaction reagents and cleaning agents can be stored in the same or in different reagent reservoirs 3. The fluid pathways 5 are designed, in particular, for thin-layer chromatography and connect the reagent reservoirs 3 and / or the insertion port 2 to the measuring chambers 4.

[0049] The measuring chambers 4 contain detection reagents for at least three, and in particular at least five, menstrual cycle hormones, preferably at least for progesterone and / or estrogen and / or follicle-stimulating hormone and / or luteinizing hormone and / or human chorionic gonadotropin. The detection reagents comprise at least one capture element and one detection element, wherein only the capture elements, preferably dried and immobilized, need to be stored in the measuring chambers 4. The detection elements can be stored in combination with the capture elements or independently, for example, in a separate section of the measuring chambers 4, or in a reagent reservoir 3, the insertion ports 2, or on a fluid path 5. The measuring chambers 4 advantageously have recesses and / or windows through which the results of the measurement reaction can be optically recorded.Advantageously, exactly one detection reagent is stored in each measuring chamber 4, and in particular, a multiple of identical measuring chambers 4 containing the same detection reagent are included. Several measuring chambers 4 are advantageously arranged in series on a fluid path 5, preferably in groups in which each of the available detection reagents is represented once. Alternatively, measuring chambers 4 with selected detection reagents, which, for example, characterize a specific phase of the menstrual cycle, can also be arranged as a group on a fluid path.

[0050] The measuring chambers 4 are connected via fluid paths 5 to a discharge opening or a reject reservoir 6, into which residues of the samples and reaction reagents are transported. After a measurement reaction, the fluid paths 5 can advantageously be flushed with a cleaning agent stored in reagent reservoir 3.

[0051] The test cartridge 1 can be inserted into a cartridge holder of an analysis unit 8. The analysis unit 8 comprises control means 11, which are configured to initiate and / or terminate measurement processes and / or measurement responses on the test cartridge 1 and / or to control them. For this purpose, the control means 11 can, for example, actuate the switching means 7, which are primarily designed as valves. The switching means 7 can open and close fluid paths 5, whereby, in particular, only one fluid path 5 can be open at any one time. Alternatively, it can also be provided that several fluid paths 5 can be open simultaneously.

[0052] Furthermore, the analysis unit 8 comprises a detection unit 9, in particular a camera, with a field of view 9.1, which captures the measuring chambers 4. The field of view can advantageously be aligned with the targeted fluid path(s) 5. The detection unit 9 captures the measurement result of a measurement reaction and transmits the results to an evaluation unit 10. The evaluation unit 10 can include an evaluation algorithm which, based on the evaluation, decides which fluid path 5 and / or which measuring chambers 4 with which detection reagents, are to be targeted in the next measurement and transmits this selection to the control means 11. The control means 11 then control the corresponding fluid paths 5 and / or measuring chambers 4 in the next measurement to detect the desired menstrual cycle hormones.

[0053] Alternatively, it can be provided that all menstrual cycle hormones are measured in each measurement, i.e., that measuring chambers 4 with all detection reagents are activated in each measurement. It is particularly advantageous to activate a fluid path 5 on which a measuring chamber 4 is located for each detection reagent.

[0054] Figure 2 shows a schematic process flow for hormone measurement. In a first process step S1, the reaction reagents are provided in a reagent reservoir 3 on a test cartridge 1, in particular at least a buffer medium and advantageously the detector components. In a process step S2, which can take place in parallel with S1, the detection reagents, in particular the capture components and / or detector components, are stored for quantitative and / or qualitative detection of menstrual cycle hormones in measuring chambers 4, in combination or in separate sections of a measuring chamber 4, of the test cartridge 1, preferably dry, and advantageously at least the capture components are immobilized. Alternatively, only the capture components are stored in the measuring chambers 4 and the detector components are stored in the reagent reservoir 3, the insertion openings 2 or the fluid path 5.In process step S3, a sample to be measured, in particular blood, saliva, or urine, is introduced into an insertion opening 2 of the test cartridge 1, and in process step S4, the test cartridge 1 is inserted into a cartridge receptacle of an analysis unit 8. In process step S5, the sample and / or the reaction reagents are transported into a measuring chamber 4 via a fluid path 5, in particular by capillary action.

[0055] The menstrual cycle hormones are measured in measuring chamber 4 in a process step S6 by a measurement reaction, wherein at least three, in particular at least five, menstrual cycle hormones, in particular at least progesterone and / or estrogen and / or follicle-stimulating hormone and / or luteinizing hormone and / or human chorionic gonadotropin, are advantageously measured in separate measuring chambers 4, in particular arranged in series. The reaction result is recorded in a process step S7 by a detection unit 9 of the analysis unit 8, in particular an optical unit, and sent to an evaluation unit 10 in a process step S8 and evaluated by it, preferably by an evaluation algorithm which decides, based on the measurement, which cycle phase is present and / or which menstrual cycle hormones should be considered in the next measurement.

[0056] Advantageously, the results and / or evaluation results and / or control commands based thereon can be transmitted to control means 11 in a process step S9, wherein the control means 11 initiate and / or terminate and / or control measurement processes on the test cartridge 1 based on the transmitted data. Particularly preferably, in a process step S5.1, which in particular takes place between process steps S4 and S5, the control means 11 control the switching means 7 on the test cartridge 1 based on the data obtained in S9, thereby enabling or disabling fluid paths 5, in particular based on which detection reagents are arranged in the measuring chambers 4 of the enabled and / or disabled fluid paths 5.

Claims

Claims 1. Test cartridge for use in an analysis unit for hormone measurement, comprising at least one insertion opening (2) for receiving a sample to be measured, in particular saliva, urine, or blood, and at least one reagent reservoir (3), wherein reaction reagents, in particular comprising at least one buffer medium, are stored in the at least one reagent reservoir (3), further comprising measuring chambers (4), wherein in each measuring chamber (4), preferably exclusively for one menstrual cycle hormone, detection reagents for the quantitative and / or qualitative detection of menstrual cycle hormones are stored, and at least one fluid path (5), wherein the fluid path (5) is designed as a connection between the insertion opening (2) and the measuring chambers (4) and / or the reagent reservoir (3) and the measuring chambers (4), characterized in that measuring chambers (4) contain detection reagents for at least three, in particular at least five, menstrual cycle hormones,preferably including at least progesterone and / or estrogen / or follicle-stimulating hormone and / or luteinizing hormone and / or human chorionic gonadotropin.

2. Test cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of identical measuring chambers (4) with detection reagents for each menstrual cycle hormone to be measured.

3. Test cartridge according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that measuring chambers (4) are arranged on a fluid path (5), in particular in series, wherein preferably a plurality of fluid paths (5) are arranged, in particular in parallel.

4. Test cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, that includes an outlet opening and / or a reject storage container (6), wherein the outlet opening and / or the reject storage container (6) are connected to the measuring chambers (4) via the fluid path (5).

5. Test cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that switching means (7), in particular valves, are assigned to the fluid path (5), wherein the switching means (7) are preferably arranged between the insertion opening (2) and the measuring chambers (4) and / or between the measuring chambers (4) and an outlet opening and / or a reject storage container (6).

6. Test cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a reagent reservoir (3) comprises cleaning agents, in particular for rinsing the fluid path.

7. Test system for hormone measurement, comprising a test cartridge (1), preferably according to one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an analysis unit (8) which includes a cartridge receptacle, wherein the test cartridge (1) can be inserted into the cartridge receptacle, and a detection unit (9), in particular optical, which is configured to detect a reaction result in the measuring chambers (4), and an evaluation unit (10) which is configured to process and evaluate the detected reaction result.

8. Hormone measurement test system according to claim 7, characterized in that the analysis unit (8) comprises control means (11) which are configured to start and / or stop and / or control measurement processes on the test cartridge (1).

9. Hormone measurement test system according to claim 8, characterized in that the control means (11) are configured to control measuring chambers (4) with all available detection reagents in each measurement process. or that the tax resources (11) are set up to select and control measuring chambers (4) with specific detection reagents for the measuring process on the basis of evaluation results.

10. Method for measuring hormones, in particular for measuring menstrual cycle hormones, preferably with a test cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 6 and / or with a test system according to one of claims 7 to 9, comprising the method steps: -Provision of reaction reagents, in particular at least a buffer medium, in a reagent reservoir (3) of a test cartridge (1), -Depositing detection reagents for quantitative and / or qualitative detection of menstrual cycle hormones in measuring chambers (4) of the test cartridge (1), -Introducing a sample to be measured, in particular saliva or urine or blood, into an insertion opening (2) of the test cartridge (1), -Inserting the test cartridge (1) into a cartridge receptacle of an analysis unit (8), -Transporting the sample and / or the reaction reagents into a measuring chamber (4) via at least one fluid path (5), -Performing a measurement reaction for menstrual cycle hormones in the measuring chamber (5), -Detection of the reaction result by a detection unit (9), in particular an optical unit, of the analysis unit (8), -Evaluation of the reaction result by an evaluation unit (10) of the analysis unit (8), characterized in that, that in the measuring chambers (4) measuring reactions with detection reagents for at least three, in particular at least five, menstrual cycle hormones, preferably at least for progesterone and / or estrogen and / or follicle-stimulating hormone and / or luteinizing hormone and / or Human chorionic gonadotropin will be administered.

Images