Dipstick drug test is the simplest form
of lateral flow drug test device. The test strip consists of the basic components of a lateral flow immunoassay, a plastic
support strip, a porous/wicking material
layer containing test reagents, and labels.
TEST PRINCIPLE
The test reagents embedded
within the porous wicking material of the test strip are capable of binding and
labeling the sample analyte, substance to be detected. When a sample solution is
applied to the sample application section, the arrow pointed end of the strip,
the sample solution will migrate along the test strip towards the other end of
the test strip. The migrating sample solution contacts, dissolves, and reacts
with the assay reagents. As a result, the presence or quantity of the analyte in
the sample solution is indicated by the presence or absence of a color band of
the membrane section in the middle of the test strip.
Testing a sample solution with a dipstick
device involves dipping the sample the arrow pointed end of the test strip into
the sample solution. Sample solution level should not surpass the arrowhead. The
test result is read in about 5 minutes.
The following is a design of a
dipstick device pouch, which contains a simplified
user's manual.
