Multi-analyte test device

Claim 1

A multi-analyte test device for the analysis of a plurality of analytes in a liquid, the device comprising, a first member, a second covering member, said members having opposing surfaces, means for spacing said members apart a distance effective to induce capillary flow of liquid introduced between said surfaces and to create a liquid transport zone, at a first location, access means permitting introduction of a quantity of liquid into said zone, said access means being in either said first or second members or said spacing means, said first or second member opposite to said access means being configured to create a temporary energy barrier to liquid flow beyond the vicinity of said access means; a plurality of individual test elements disposed on one of said members at locations other than said first location and spaced away from the other of said members, said other member in the areas directly opposite to said test elements being recessed, at least two of said elements each respectively comprising a test composition for the generation of a detectable response indicative of a different one of the analytes, and control means for confining liquid flow from said access means to a plurality of predetermined flow paths each of which extends to only one of said test elements, whereby all of said analytes from a single quantity of the liquid are each detectable by the respective test element for that analyte without contamination from others of said test elements.