Abstract: The invention concerns an analytical test element for the determination of an analyte in a liquid containing an inert carrier, a detection element and a channel capable of capillary liquid transport which has a sample application opening at one end and a vent opening at the other end of the channel capable of capillary liquid transport, wherein the channel capable of capillary liquid transport is formed at least partially by the carrier and the detection element and extends in the direction of capillary transport from the sample application opening at least to the edge of the detection test element that is nearest to the vent opening and wherein a notch is located in one of the surfaces forming the channel capable of capillary liquid transport at the edge of the test element forming the sample application opening so that one side of the edge of the test element forming the sample application opening is at least partially discontinuous and the surface opposite to the notch is exposed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the capillary transport of a liquid between two opposite, essentially planar layers, in which the two layers are arranged parallel to one another at such a distance that there is a capillary-active gap between the two layers, wherein at least one of the two layers contains at least two discrete adjacent parts and capillary-active transport of the liquid is possible beyond the common boundary of the parts that lie in one layer.

Abstract: A process for the production of analytical devices is provided in accordance with the present invention. Analytical devices include analytical test elements with a capillary-active zone for examining liquid samples. In the process a carrier layer is prepared, a spacer layer is laminated onto the carrier layer, a contour is punched, cut or stamped through the spacer layer laminated onto the carrier layer which determines the shape of the capillary-active zone, those parts of the spacer layer which are not required to form the capillary-active zone are removed from the carrier layer and a cover layer is applied to the spacer layer to result in a capillary-active zone. The process according to the invention is preferably suitable for manufacturing analytical devices from tape material.