1. A dry reagent diagnostic device for the simultaneous enzymatic analysis of two different analytes in a single application of a single 1\u201320 ul sample of whole blood, wherein
the fast analyte is determined by a fast reaction zone, and a second reaction zone, physically separated from the first reaction zone, determines the second analyte;
a fluid bridge formed by the applied sample connects the two reaction zones;
said first reaction zone and second reaction zone having reaction materials and geometry; selected to allow simultaneous rehydration and activation of both zones by a single unseparated whole blood drop;
said reaction zone materials and geometry being selected so as to return detectable analyte signals in the presence of whole blood;
said reaction zone materials and geometry being selected as to generate a detectable sample application signal upon initial contact with whole blood;
said detectable sample application signal being capable of triggering an automated reaction zone reader which is capable of performing subsequent test timing in an automated manner;
and at least one of the reaction zones produces a detectable change in an optical signal.
2. The device of claim 1, in which the analytes are glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate.
3. The device of claim 2, in which one reaction zone is an electrochemical reaction zone, and the reaction detected is an electrochemical reaction, wherein said device has at least one working electrode for said electrochemical reaction zone, and at least one reference electrode.
4. The device of claim 3, in which said at least one electrode contains carbon particles.
5. The device of claim 3, in which said electrochemical reaction zone detects glucose, said electrochemical reaction zone contains a glucose sensing electrode, and said glucose electrode contains or is associated with a glucose oxidase enzyme and an electron transfer mediator.
6. The device of claim 3, in which said electrochemical reaction zone detects glucose, said electrochemical reaction zone contains a glucose sensing electrode, and said glucose electrode contains or is associated with glucose dehydrogenase enzyme and an electron transfer mediator.
7. The device of claim 3, in which said electrochemical reaction zone detects beta-hydrozybutyrate, said electrochemical reaction zone contains a beta-hydroxybutyrate sensing electrode, and said beta-hydroxybutyrate electrode contains or is associated with beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase enzyme and an electron transfer mediator.
8. The device of claim 3, in which one or more layers of a microporus, microparticle and binder composition, which allows plasma to pass but blocks red cells, cover said at least one working electrode for said electrochemical reaction zone.
9. The device of claim 8, in which one or more layers of the microporus, microparticle and binder composition are rendered microporous through a freeze-drying step.
10. The device of claim 8, in which the microporous microparticle composition is composed of spherical particles with a diameter between 0.1 and 50 microns.
11. The device of claim 2, in which said optical signal is selected from group consisting of colorimetric, fluorescent, or luminescent signals.
12. The device of claim 11, in which said analyte determined by said reaction zone producing a detectable change in an optical signal is glucose and said reaction zone of the device contains or is associated with a glucose oxidase enzyme, peroxidase, and a hydrogen peroxide sensitive optical indicator dye.
13. The device of claim 11, in which said analyte determined by said reaction zone producing a detectable change in an optical signal is glucose and said reaction zone of the device contains or is associated with a glucose dehydrogenase enzyme, NAD, diaphorase, and a NADH sensitive optical indicator dye.
14. The device of claim 11, in which said analyte determined by said reaction zone producing a detectable change in an optical signal is beta-hydroxybutyrate and said reaction zone of the device contains or is associated with a beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase enzyme, NAD, diaphorase, and a NADH sensitive optical indicator dye.
15. The device of claim 1, in which a chemical sample application signal detection means is incorporated into at least one of the reaction zones, and in which the chemical sample application signal detection means changes its colorimetric, fluorescent, or luminescent state upon contact with the liquid sample.
16. The device of claim 15, in which an increase in reflectance on at least one wavelength of the chemical sample application signal detection means is used to trigger the start of an automated meter system that monitors the reaction optically.
17. The device of claim 1, in which the first analyte produces an electrochemical signal, and in which the second analyte produces a detectible change in an optical signal.
18. The device of claim 17, in which the device contains conducting electrodes to transmit the electrochemical signal, and an optical wave guide to transmit the optical signal.
19. The device of claim 18, in which the optical wave guide is a single optical fiber.
20. A method for determining the concentration of two or more analytes in a single sample of whole blood with a volume under 20 ul, comprising the steps of;
applying said blood sample to a dry reagent diagnostic device in a single application, said dry reagent diagnostic device containing at least two reaction zones;
wherein a first analyte in said sample is determined by a first reaction zone, and a second reaction zone, physically separated from the first reaction zone, determines a second analyte in said sample;
forming a fluid bridge with the applied blood sample to connect; all reaction zones on said device;
said first reaction zone and second reaction zone having reaction zone materials and geometry; and selected to allow simultaneous rehydration and activation of all zones by a single unseparated whole blood drop;
said reaction zone materials and geometry being selected as to return detectable analyte signals in the presence of whole blood;
and determining the concentration of at least one of said analytes from at least one of said reaction zones by a detectable change in an optical signal.
21. The method of claim 20, in which at least one analyte produces an electrochemical signal, and in which at least one analyte produces a detectible change in an optical signal.
22. The method of claim 20, in which the dry reagent diagnostic device contains conducting electrodes to transmit an analyte produced change in an electrochemical signal, and an optical wave guide to transmit an analyte produced change in an optical signal.
23. The method of claim 20, in which said reaction zone materials and geometry are selected as to generate a detectable sample application signal upon initial contact with whole blood; and
said detectable sample application signal being capable of triggering an automated reaction zone reader which is capable of performing subsequent test timing in an automated manner.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-17. (canceled)
18. A multiple layered absorbent fabric comprising:
(a) a liquid pervious layer comprising at least one hydrophilic nonwoven web of melt spun continuous multiple component fibers wherein the multiple components are made from polymers with different melting points and wherein the melt spun fibers have a length and a surface and the polymers extend substantially along the complete length of the melt spun fibers with the polymer having the lowest melting point occupying at least a portion of the surface of the melt spun fiber;
(b) a liquid impervious layer comprising a film made from a polymer having a melting point below the melting point of the melt spun fiber polymers; and
(c) an absorbent layer comprising a spunlaced web disposed between the liquid perilous layer and the liquid impervious layer, and
(d) a backing layer comprising a fibrous web positioned adjacent the liquid impervious layer opposite from the absorbent layer.
19. The absorbent fabric of claim 18, wherein the hydrophilic nonwoven web is treated with a hydrophilic surfactant.
20. The absorbent fabric of claim 19, wherein the hydrophilic surfactant is a fatty acid ester.
21. The absorbent fabric of claim 18, wherein the hydrophilic nonwoven web has at least one component made from a polymer with a hydrophilic additive.
22. The absorbent fabric of claim 18, wherein the hydrophilic nonwoven web comprise at least one spunbond web.
23. The absorbent fabric of claim 22, wherein the hydrophilic nonwoven web comprise at least one spunbond web and at least one meltblown web wherein the at least one meltblown web is disposed between the at least one spunbond web and the absorbent layer.
24. The absorbent fabric of claim 23, wherein the hydrophilic nonwoven web comprise two spunbond webs and at least one meltblown web wherein the at least one meltblown web is disposed between the two spunbond webs.
25. The absorbent fabric of claim 18, wherein the melt spun continuous multiple component fibers comprise bicomponent fibers.
26. The absorbent fabric of claim 25, wherein the polymers of the multiple components are selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides and copolymers thereof.
27. The absorbent fabric of claim 25, wherein a combination of polymers of the bicomponent fibers comprises a polyolefin and a polyester.
25. The absorbent fabric of claim 18, wherein the polymer of the film is selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and ethylene maleic anhydride.
29. The absorbent fabric of claim 18, wherein the spunlaced web comprises at least some naturally absorbent fibers.
30. The absorbent fabric of claim 29, wherein the naturally absorbent fibers are selected from the group consisting of wood pulp, cellulose, and cotton.
31. The absorbent fabric of claim 29, wherein the spunlaced web further comprises at least some synthetic fibers.
32. The absorbent fabric of claim 31, wherein the synthetic fibers are polyester fibers.