Urine Test Strip Layout to Prevent Cross-Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional test strips for urine analysis are cumbersome for non-professionals to use, requiring multiple pads to be compared within a short time frame, leading to potential contamination and inaccurate results due to cross-interference and difficulty in reading multiple indicators.
Innovation Solution
A dry chemical test strip with non-absorbent support sheet featuring spaced testing areas, allowing urine to be dripped sequentially onto specific pads, each with absorbent material, and covered by films or partitions to prevent cross-contamination and facilitate independent reading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple test pads are arranged closely on a test strip for comprehensive urine analysis, then the testing capability and information obtained are improved, but the risk of cross-contamination between testing areas increases and the difficulty of accurate reading increases
Solution Approach 1:
The test strip is divided into multiple independent testing areas, each separated by hydrophobic barriers or spacing structures. This segmentation prevents urine sample cross-contamination between different test pads while maintaining comprehensive testing capability for multiple urine parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
Hydrophobic barrier structures are introduced as intermediaries between adjacent hydrophilic test pads. These barriers act as mediators that allow the urine sample to reach each test pad through capillary action while preventing lateral flow and cross-contamination between testing areas.
2Loss of information
If multiple test pads are arranged on a test strip for comprehensive analysis, then the testing capability is improved, but the time required for non-professionals to read all results accurately increases beyond the valid reading period
Solution Approach 1:
The test strip is segmented into multiple independently accessible testing areas separated by hydrophobic barriers. This allows non-professionals to read results from one testing area at a time sequentially, reducing the total reading time while maintaining comprehensive testing capability across all parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The test pads are arranged and separated in advance with hydrophobic barriers that naturally guide the urine sample flow. This preliminary structuring enables systematic sequential reading without requiring complex operational procedures, reducing reading time while ensuring accurate results.
3Ease of operation
If conventional test strips allow direct dipping and reading of multiple indicators, then the operation simplicity is improved, but the accuracy of results decreases due to cross-interference between testing areas
Solution Approach 1:
The test strip incorporates hydrophobic barriers that segment the urine sample flow path into distinct zones for each test pad. This segmentation maintains operational simplicity through direct dipping while preventing cross-interference between testing areas, thereby improving result accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Hydrophobic barrier structures serve as intermediaries between adjacent test pads, allowing the urine sample to interact with each test pad independently. This intermediary structure preserves the simplicity of direct dipping operation while eliminating cross-contamination that would compromise measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate, convenient, and reliable urine analysis by non-professionals, minimizing cross-contamination and ensuring timely reading of results without interference between testing areas.
Implementation Method 1
the absorbent material is arranged under the non-absorbent support sheet; and when the urine sample is dripped into one of the at least two or more absorbent test pads, the absorbent material is capable to absorb the redundant urine sample
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
A testing device is disclosed in the present invention and includes a test strip, where the test strip includes a non-absorbent support sheet on which at least two or more testing areas are arranged, and liquid communication cannot be made between the testing areas, and the testing areas include an absorbent material thereon, and the absorbent material includes a reaction reagent that can detect an analyte in a urine sample or test the property of the urine sample; and the absorbent material, where the absorbent material is located under the support sheet; and when a liquid sample is dripped to each of the two or more testing areas, the absorbent material absorbs the excess liquid sample, thus avoiding interference of other testing areas where the liquid sample is not dripped.