Abstract: The present invention provides a novel dry analytical element for determination of an analyte in a fluid sample in thin film immunoassay, particularly chemiluminescence, fluorescence and colorimetry immunoassay. There is provided an analytical element comprising a support member, a reagent matrix comprised of at least one layer of a porous material carried on the support member, the matrix including a read area, an absorbent material in contact with the matrix, and light absorbing or reflecting means integral to the absorbent material and/or positioned between the absorbant material and the read area for absorbing or blocking background signal generated by washed, removed label and other interferents from outside the read area prior to it moving back into the read area. The analytical element can comprises a cover depending on the type of immunoassay to be conducted.

Abstract: A flexible container containing pre-deposited reagents, comprising a plurality of temporarily sealed, breakable compartments dispersed in the container, each compartment containing a reagent useful for immuno-assaying, and each compartment comprising opposed confining walls at least one of which is sufficiently flexible as to allow the compartment to be compressed in the presence of an adequate external force, external outlets in the container for the contents of said compartments, passageways extending from each of the compartments to the outlets, each of the outlets terminating in a platform that supports a drop of at least 10 .mu.L as a pendant drop, the platforms of at least two of the outlets being adjacent so as to form between them an exterior angle with respect to each other sufficient to cause drops pendant therefrom to substantially uniformly intermix.

Abstract: A slide for reacting a biological sample with reagents, and a method for using the same. The slide comprises a liquid-impervious top surface comprising glass, first portions of the surface having thereon a hydrophobic mask that repels an aqueous liquid, and second portions of the surface being completely free of any coverage by the mask so as to be wettable with an aqueous liquid, at least one of the other wettable second portions being totally isolated from the other wettable second portions by some of the mask, so that aqueous liquid will not flow from the one wettable portion to the another wettable portion until an overflow amount of aqueous liquid is added to the one wettable portion in an amount sufficient to bridge across the mask, and an absorbent material mounted at one side of the surface in position to receive liquid from the slide.