Abstract: A two-piece slide dispenser includes a housing defining an internal compartment for the storage of a plurality of reagent slides or similar items. The housing includes a dispensing opening and a loading opening. A finger or similar structure at least partially obstructs the dispensing opening to prevent inadvertant falling out of the reagent slides. A one-piece, multiple function, resilient spring boot including a biasing portion and a light and humidity sealing portion is also provided. Once reagent slides are loaded through the loading opening into the internal compartment, the spring boot is mounted in the compartment to engage the slides biasing them toward the dispensing opening. The biasing portion of the spring boot can be hemispherical or of a similar configuration allowing this portion to fold into itself. The biasing portion also includes an extension extending from the hemisphere to engage the slides.

Abstract: A method for controlling a liquid volume flowing onto a reactive surface which includes a sample application port, two systems of capillary channels, a reaction chamber, and an overflow chamber. The liquid sample to be analyzed is applied to the sample application port which gives the liquid entry to a capillary channel leading to the reaction chamber which contains a material capable of detecting the component of interest in the liquid. When the reaction chamber is filled, the remaining liquid will flow through another capillary channel to an overflow chamber. The capillary channel leading to the overflow chamber is controlled so that liquid cannot flow back into the reaction chamber.