1. A test kit for detecting an analyte in a sample comprising:
a) a lateral flow chromatographic test strip comprising:
i) an application zone, wherein the sample is applied to the application zone;
ii) a reagent zone comprising at least one first reagent, wherein the sample and the first reagent encounter each other while a test for detecting the analyte is being performed and wherein the first reagent interacts with the analyte to form a first complex; and
iv) a detection zone comprising at least one test zone comprising at least one second reagent, wherein the second reagent complexes with and immobilizes the analyte at the test zone and wherein the detection zone is located downstream of the application zone; and
b) at least one sample collection system comprising at least one sample collection device and at least one mobile capturing reagent that is incorporated into at least one sample application device, wherein the mobile capturing reagent is capable of interacting with at least one interfering substance in the sample such that the capturing reagent separates the interfering substance from the analyte and keeps the interfering substance from interfering with a detection of the analyte, wherein the collection system collects the sample prior to the sample being transferred to the chromatographic test strip.
2. The test kit of claim 1, wherein the reagent zone is located upstream of the application zone.
3. The test kit of claim 1, wherein the sample collection system comprises one sample collection device and the capturing reagent is incorporated into the sample collection device.
4. The test kit of claim 1, wherein the sample collection system comprises a first sample collection device and a second sample collection device, wherein the first sample collection device collects the sample and the second sample collection device comprises the mobile capturing reagent, wherein the sample is transferred from the first sample collection device to the second sample collection device before being transferred to the chromatographic test strip.
5. A method for detecting an analyte in a sample, comprising the steps of:
a) collecting a sample with at least one sample collection system, wherein the sample collection system comprises at least one sample collection device and at least one mobile capturing reagent that is incorporated into at least one sample collection device;
b) applying the sample and the mobile capturing reagent to a sample application zone of a lateral flow chromatographic test strip;
c) if at least one interfering substance is present in the sample, capturing the interfering substance, wherein the mobile capturing reagent interacts with the interfering substance to separate the interfering substance from the analyte and keep the interfering substance from interfering with a detection of the analyte; and
d) detecting the analyte separated from the interfering substance on the lateral flow chromatographic test strip.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the mobile capturing reagent is incorporated into the sample collection device that collects the sample.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the sample collection system comprises a first sample collection device and a second collection device, wherein the first sample collection device collects the sample and the second collection device comprises the mobile capturing reagent, wherein the sample is transferred from the first sample collection device to the second collection device before being applied to the lateral flow chromatographic test strip.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein step d) occurs on a detection zone of the lateral flow chromatographic test strip comprising at least one test zone comprising at least one detection reagent, wherein the detection reagent complexes with and immobilizes the analyte or an antibody against the analyte at the test zone and wherein the detection zone is located downstream of the sample application zone.
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. A chamber shrink wrapping machine having a longitudinal body defining a lower portion of a chamber, a hood with an integral L-sealer transversely hinged to the body to define an upper portion of the chamber when lowered, an air heater to supply heated air to the chamber, a roller conveyor mounted to the body to initially support a product to be wrapped in the chamber longitudinally and transversely closely adjacent the L-sealer during sealing and cutting of heat-shrinkable film around the product when the hood is lowered, wherein the body defines longitudinal and transverse horizontal air ducts in the lower portion of the chamber to direct heated air toward the L-sealer and around the product.
2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the ducts peripherally surround the roller conveyor to allow heated air to flow therearound.
3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the ducts are formed as horizontal elongate slots.
4. A chamber shrink wrapping machine having a longitudinal body defining a lower portion of a chamber, a hood with an integral L-sealer transversely hinged to the body to define an upper portion of the chamber when lowered, an air heater to supply heated air to the chamber, a roller conveyor mounted to the body to initially support a product to be wrapped in the chamber longitudinally and transversely closely adjacent the L-sealer during sealing and cutting of heat-shrinkable film around the product when the hood is lowered, wherein the roller conveyor has a plurality of parallel rollers that are transversely skewable and rotatable to subsequently convey the product longitudinally and transversely away from the L-sealer towards the centre of the chamber to allow heated air to circulate around the product to shrink the film thereon, and wherein the plurality of rollers are transversely unskewable and rotatable to finally convey the shrink-wrapped product longitudinally out of the chamber when the hood is raised.
5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of rollers are rotatably and transversely skewably supported between two parallel side rails, one of which is fixed to the body and the other of which is longitudinally movable relative thereto to thereby collectively transversely skew the plurality of rollers.
6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein one end of each roller is rotatably and transversely skewably mounted to the fixed side rail by a spring, and the other end of each roller is rotatably and longitudinally slidably mounted in an elliptical seat in the movable side rail.
7. A chamber shrink wrapping machine having a longitudinal body defining a lower portion of a chamber, a hood with an integral L-sealer transversely hinged to the body to define an upper portion of the chamber when lowered, an air heater to supply heated air to the chamber, a roller conveyor mounted to the body to initially support a product to be wrapped in the chamber longitudinally and transversely closely adjacent the L-sealer during sealing and cutting of heat-shrinkable film around the product when the hood is lowered, and a hood actuator, wherein the hood actuator is arranged to support the weight of the hood whilst it is lowered and then clamp the hood in a closed position.
8. A machine according to claim 7, wherein the hood actuator includes a strut to support the hood, the strut being coupled to a spring loaded over-centre lever arranged to resist movement of the strut, and thereby support the weight of the hood, as the hood is lowered and then draw the strut downwards to clamp the hood closed.
9. A machine according to claim 8, wherein the over-centre lever is loaded by a tension spring fixed to the body of the machine.
10. A machine according to claim 7, wherein the hood actuator is driven to lower the hood, the hood actuator having a one-way clutch that allows the hood to be idly raised.
11. A machine according to claim 10, further including a drive gear fixed to a motor, a free gear fixed to the one way clutch and an engagement device to rotationally fix the fixed gear to the free gear to transmit drive from the motor to lower the hood.
12. A machine according to claim 11, wherein the engagement device is a gear which can be brought into contact with fixed gear and the free gear.
13. A machine according to claim 12, wherein the engagement gear is arranged to be brought into engagement by moving the hood from an initial upright position to a closed position.
14. A machine according to claim 10, wherein the hood actuator is driven by a reduction drive electric motor.
15. A machine according to claim 14, wherein the motor is pivotably mounted on a sprung base so that the motor moves against the action of the springs when the hood is closed to clamp the hood in a closed position.
16. A machine according to claim 10, further including a controller to control the hood actuator.
17. A machine according to claim 1, further including a controller to control the air heater and the roller conveyor.