Rapid and efficient filtering whole blood in a capillary flow device

Abstract

This invention provides lateral flow filters with pore size gradients and with features to prevent peripheral flows around the filter. The filters can be laminated composites of two or more planar filter layers. Cartridges employing the filters can include a filtration chamber configured to retain the lateral flow filters including a port for sample application and a capillary channel for filtrate egress. The fluid egress port can be positioned to receive filtrate from one filter layer but not another.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to side flow filter elements and filter cartridges using such filter elements to separate particulates from suspension samples. The filter may include a flow along the length of the planar filter that flows into the capillary channels after filtration. The filter may be two or more filter elements stacked, for example, having larger pores at the point of sample application relative to the filtrate outlet area. Background technique [0002] Biological samples are often required for diagnostic testing, such as whole blood or urine, which include large amounts of particulate matter that can clog microchannels of assay devices and interfere with reaction and detection systems. To avoid the problem of particulates in clinical samples, particulates are typically centrifuged or removed by filtration prior to sample analysis. [0003] Prior art particulate removal by filtration has largely focused on forced transverse flow mecha...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The problem with this single-filter technology is that the same filter that handles the coarse particles in the sample also needs to handle the final fine filtration step

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