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Last Updated: March 28, 2024

Claims for Patent: 6,197,254


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Summary for Patent: 6,197,254
Title: Self-contained assaying apparatus
Abstract:A self-contained and highly portable assaying system includes a luminometer and a detector cap assembly. The detector cap assembly, which is structured with a first portion and a second portion, is capable of collecting a specimen, and causing a bioluminescent or chemiluminescent assaying reaction to be conducted in a light-tight environment within the detector cap assembly (devoid of any available ambient light). The luminometer is structured to be removably fixed to the detector cap assembly to sense low level luminescent emissions produced by the assaying reaction. A quantified result is subsequently provided to a user or operator that indicates the outcome of the assay activities.
Inventor(s): Silver; Lawrence Stanley (Hauppauge, NY), Juliano; Michael (East Setauket, NY), Gillen; Adelbert M. (New Hope, PA)
Assignee: International Food Protection (Bayport, NY)
Application Number:09/228,330
Patent Claims:1. A self-contained assaying apparatus for use in collecting an analyte and quantifying the analyte via low levels of luminescent emissions produced by an assaying reaction, the assaying apparatus comprising:

a) a self-contained hand-holdable low level luminometer for use in detecting and quantifying low levels of luminescent emissions produced by a one of either of a bioluminescent assaying reaction and a chemiluminescent assaying reaction, the low levels of luminescent emissions produced being proportional to the quantity of analyte associated with the assaying reaction;

b) the luminometer including a photodiode detector head assembly structured with a transparent window which forms a portion of a detector head housing of a housing of the luminometer to enable the detection of the luminescent emissions entering the luminometer by way of the transparent window, the luminometer further including a computer to receive and process information operatively coupled from the photodiode detector head assembly to produce a quantified result indicative of a quantity of analyte associated with the assaying reaction;

c) a detector cap assembly structured with a swabbing surface fixed to a first portion thereof, the detector cap assembly arranged to be removably fixed to the photodiode detector head assembly forming a light tight environment so that the analyte collected on the swabbing surface of the detector cap assembly, and housed within the light tight environment, is situated directly over the transparent window and proximate to photo detection means located behind the transparent window; and

d) means to cause the assaying reaction to occur within the detector cap assembly substantially upon the swabbing surface proximate to the transparent window thereby enabling the luminescent emissions produced by the assaying reaction to be detected by the photo detection means to produce a quantified result associated with the assaying reaction.

2. The assaying apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the level of luminescent emissions detected and quantified is produced by a bioluminescent assaying reaction, with the level of luminescent emissions compared to a pre-determined threshold level established to determine if a quantity of analyte associated with the assaying reaction is greater than a pre-determined quantitative limit.

3. The assaying apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the photodiode detector head assembly comprises:

a) a PIN photodiode that produces a current signal proportional to the detected luminescent emissions, the PIN photodiode housed within the photodiode detector head assembly and situated proximate to the transparent window; and

b) a pre-amplifier having an input and an output, the input coupled to the PIN photodiode to receive the current signal produced thereby, with the output providing a higher level signal that is conditioned, processed, and coupled to the computer.

4. The luminometer in accordance with claim 3, wherein the photodiode detector head assembly further includes an electronic shutter responsive to the computer that is superposed directly over the PIN photodiode and immediately behind the transparent window of the photodiode detector head assembly, the electronic shutter structured to be set to one of either a darkened state thereby significantly restricting a level of luminescent emissions incident upon the PIN photodiode and a nearly transparent state enabling luminescent emissions to reach and be detected by the PIN photodiode.

5. The assaying arrangement in accordance with claim 1, with the detector cap assembly comprising:

a) a first portion having a wall structure providing an internal cavity, and a first opening and a second opening, the first opening and wall structure of the first portion structured to enable the first portion to be removably fixed over the photodiode detector head assembly in a light tight manner such that at least a portion of the photodiode detector head assembly substantially fills the internal cavity and so that only emissions entering the second opening of the first portion are incident upon the transparent window of the photodiode detector head assembly;

b) the swabbing surface, which is substantially flattened, pre-wetted, and is fixed to the first portion and arranged to cover the second opening thereof, the swabbing surface positioned to be superposed over the transparent window of the photodiode detector head assembly when the first portion is removably fixed over the photodiode detector head assembly in the light tight manner, the swabbing surface available to swab a surface to collect the analyte;

c) a second portion comprising a wall structure providing an internal chamber and an opening, the opening configured to enable the second portion to be removably installed onto the first portion and over the swabbing surface to cap the first portion in a light tight manner so as to substantially prevent ambient light from being incident upon the swabbing surface while the second portion is so installed thereover;

d) the second portion housing a movable structure within the chamber having a substantially flat surface that is oriented substantially parallel to a plane of the opening of the second portion, the movable structure configured to be moved between a first retracted position away from the opening of the second portion and a second deployed position more proximate to the opening;

e) a porous pad that is fixed to and substantially covering the flat surface of the movable structure, the porous pad being impregnated with suitable dried reagents that may be activated by wetting when brought into pressure contact with the pre-wetted swabbing surface; and

f) a first barrier, which is thin and frangible, and arranged to cover the opening of the second portion in a recessed fashion to hermetically seal a portion of the internal chamber having the porous pad and the movable structure contained therein while the movable structure is in the first retracted position, the hermetically sealed portion of the chamber enabling the porous pad to remain dry until the first barrier is ruptured;

g) the first barrier structured to be appropriately ruptured when the movable structure is moved from the first retracted position to the second deployed position wherein the porous pad is brought into pressure contact with the swabbing surface causing the dried reagents to be drawn to and activated by the wetness of the swabbing surface possibly resulting in at least one of a bioluminescent reaction and a chemiluminescent assaying reaction producing the luminescent emissions that are detectable by the photodiode detector head assembly.

6. A self-contained luminometer for use in detecting and quantifying low levels of luminescent emissions, the luminometer comprising:

a) a photodiode detector head assembly within a detector head housing having a transparent window which forms a portion of the detector head housing of the luminometer, the detector head assembly structured with a detection means situated behind the transparent window to enable the detection of the low levels of luminescent emissions passing through the transparent window to provide an electrical signal representative thereof, the transparent window thereby arranged as a portion of the detector head housing to enable the efficient detection of the luminescent emissions entering the luminometer by way of the transparent window;

b) a signal conditioning module coupled to the detection means of the photodiode detector head assembly to receive, condition, and process the electrical signal to produce at least one digital value representative of the electrical signal at one or more temporal instants during a predetermined temporal interval; and

c) a computer included to receive and process the digital values produced by the signal conditioning module to enable a quantified result to be generated indicative of a level of the luminescent emissions detected;

d) the signal conditioning module and the computer also housed within the housing, the housing structured to enable a detector cap assembly to be fixed thereto to form a light tight environment before the luminescent emissions to be detected are generated.

7. The luminometer in accordance with claim 6, wherein the photodiode detector head assembly comprises:

a) a semiconductor photodetector that produces a current signal proportional to the detected luminescent emissions; and

b) a pre-amplifier having an input and an output, the input coupled to the semiconductor photodetector to receive the current signal produced thereby, with the output providing a higher level signal that is provided to the signal conditioning module.

8. The luminometer in accordance with claim 7, wherein the photodiode detector head assembly further includes an electronic shutter responsive to the computer that is superposed directly over the semiconductor photodetector and immediately behind the transparent window within the photodiode detector head assembly, the electronic shutter arranged to be set to one of either a darkened state thereby significantly restricting a level of luminescent emissions incident upon the semiconductor photodetector and a nearly transparent state enabling luminescent emissions to reach and be detected by the semiconductor photodetector.

9. The luminometer in accordance with claim 8, wherein the semiconductor photodetector is provided by a PIN photodiode arranged to detect and quantify levels of luminescent emissions that are less than 0.1 pico-watts.

10. The luminometer in accordance with claim 9, wherein the electronic shutter is provided by a polarizing liquid crystal shutter.

11. The luminometer in accordance with claim 8, wherein the signal conditioning module includes:

a) a filter and amplification module structured with an input and an output, the input coupled to the pre-amplifier to receive therefrom the electrical signal that is to be filtered, amplified, and coupled to the output; and

b) an analog-to-digital converter operatively coupled to receive the output of the filter and amplification module and configured to produce at least one digital value representative of the electrical signal, which is to be communicated to the computer.

12. The luminometer in accordance with claim 11, wherein the signal conditioning module further includes an integrator interposed between the filter and amplification module and the analog-to-digital converter, the integrator provided to integrate the output of the filter and amplification module and produce an integrated output signal indicative of a total amount luminescent emissions detected over at least one portion of the pre-determined temporal interval.

13. The luminometer in accordance with claim 6, wherein the housing further houses an internal power supply and at least one rechargeable battery.

14. The luminometer in accordance with claim 10, wherein the luminescent emissions detected and quantified are produced by a bioluminescent assaying reaction, with the level of luminescent emissions compared to a pre-determined threshold level established to determine if a quantity of analyte associated with the bioluminescent assaying reaction is greater than a pre-determined quantitative limit.

15. The luminometer in accordance with claim 14, further including a user interface operatively coupled to the computer and configured to enable the quantified result to be delivered to a user.

16. The luminometer in accordance with claim 6, further including a detector cap assembly, the detector cap assembly comprising:

a) a first portion having a wall structure providing an internal cavity, and a first opening and a second opening, the first opening and wall structure of the first portion structured to enable the first portion to be removably fixed over the photodiode detector head assembly in a light tight manner such that at least a portion of the photodiode detector head assembly substantially fills the internal cavity and so that only emissions entering the second opening of the first portion are incident upon and pass through the transparent window of the photodiode detector head assembly;

b) a substantially flattened and pre-wetted swabbing surface that is fixed to the first portion and arranged to cover the second opening thereof, the swabbing surface positioned to be superposed over the transparent window of the photodiode detector head assembly when the first portion is removably fixed over the photodiode detector head assembly in the light tight manner, and available to swab a surface to collect analyte;

c) a second portion having a wall structure providing an internal chamber and an opening, the opening configured to enable the second portion to be removably installed onto the first portion to cap the swabbing surface in a light tight manner so as to substantially prevent ambient light from being incident upon the swabbing surface while the second portion is so installed thereover;

d) the second portion housing a movable structure within the internal chamber having a flat surface that is oriented parallel to the plane of the swabbing surface, the movable structure configured to be moved between a first retracted position spaced from the opening of the second portion and a second deployed position more proximate to the opening;

e) a porous pad that is fixed to and substantially covering the flat surface of the movable structure, the porous pad being impregnated with suitable dried reagents that may be activated by wetting when brought into pressure contact with the pre-wetted swabbing surface; and

f) a first barrier, which is thin and frangible, and arranged to cover the opening of the second portion in a recessed fashion to hermetically seal a portion of the internal chamber having the porous pad and the movable structure contained therein while the movable structure is in the first retracted position, the hermetically sealed portion of the chamber enabling the porous pad to remain dry until the first barrier is ruptured;

g) the first barrier structured to be appropriately ruptured when the movable structure is moved from the first retracted position to the second deployed position causing the porous pad to be brought into pressure contact with the swabbing surface causing the dried reagents to be drawn to and activated by the wetness of the swabbing surface, possibly resulting in at least one of a bioluminescent reaction and a chemiluminescent assaying reaction producing the luminescent emissions that are detectable by the photodiode detector head assembly.

17. The luminometer in accordance with claim 16, further including a transparent fluid impervious second barrier provided under the swabbing surface and over the second opening of the first portion to seal the second opening to prevent the transport of moisture therethrough.

18. The luminometer in accordance with claim 17, wherein the swabbing surface is pre-wetted with a volume of wetting agents comprising:

a) sterile water;

b) a nucleotide releasing reagent; and optionally

c) buffering agents.

19. The luminometer in accordance with claim 18, wherein the swabbing surface includes at least one of:

a) a cotton pad; and

b) a polymer pad.

20. The luminometer in accordance with claim 19, wherein the porous pad is comprised of a plurality of layers.

21. The luminometer in accordance with claim 16, wherein the second portion is comprised of:

a) an outer cap-like portion having a cylindrical wall structure, with an interior surface of the cylindrical wall structure having formed therein a spiral groove, the cap-like portion coaxially and coextensively disposed over a cylindrical wall structure of the second portion and rotatably fixed thereto to enable rotation around a center axis of each of the outer cap-like portion and the wall structure of the second portion;

b) the cylindrical wall structure of the second portion having at least one slot formed therein extending parallel to the center axis thereof;

c) the movable structure of the detector cap assembly structured with a substantially cylindrical shape having at least one raised block with an angled follower tab extending radially therefrom, the raised block structured to fit into and slide up and down the slot while the angled follower tab is arranged to extend through the slot and mate to and follow the spiral groove of the cap-like portion;

d) the movable structure configured to be movable from the first retracted position to the second deployed position by rotating the outer cap-like portion with respect to the second portion.

22. The luminometer in accordance with claim 16, wherein the second portion comprises:

a) an outer cap-like portion having a cylindrical wall structure closed by a top surface at a first end and open at a second end, the cylindrical wall structure of the outer cap-like portion having a threaded portion provided on an inner surface thereof, the outer cap-like portion configured to be initially at least partially coextensively disposed over a cylindrical wall structure of the second portion and coaxially aligned therewith;

b) the cylindrical wall structure of the second portion having a first end proximate to the opening and a second end, wherein an outer surface of the cylindrical wall structure of the second portion is configured with a treaded portion situated proximate to the second end that is structured to mate and engage the threaded portion of the outer cap-like portion, the engaged respective threaded portions enabling the outer cap-like portion to move along a common center axis of each of the second portion and the outer cap-like portion when the outer cap-like portion is rotated around the center axis with respect to the second portion, said rotation causing the outer cap-like portion to be screwed coextensively and coaxially down and over the second portion;

c) the outer cap-like portion further having the movable structure fixed to the top surface and substantially axially aligned with the outer cap-like portion, the movable structure extending down into the second portion with the movable structure movable from the first retracted position to the second deployed position when the outer cap-like portion is rotated and screwed down over the second portion, thereby causing the frangible first barrier to be ruptured and to place the porous material in pressure contact with the pre-wetted swabbing surface.

23. The luminometer in accordance with claim 22, wherein the cap-like portion is secured from rotating with respect to the second portion by a safety locking means that is removed after swabbing activities have occurred to enable the movable structure to be moved from the first retracted position to the second deployed position by the rotating of the outer cap-like portion around the center axis with respect to the second portion.

24. A self-contained low level luminometer for use in detecting and quantifying low levels of visible light emissions produced by one of either of a bioluminescent and a chemiluminescent assaying reaction, the luminometer comprising:

a) a photodiode detector head assembly configured with a transparent window which forms a portion of a detector head housing of the luminometer, the detector head assembly structured to enable the detection of the light emissions that pass through the transparent window by photodiode detection means located behind the transparent window within the detector head housing to provide at least one electrical signal representative thereof;

b) signal conditioning means operatively coupled to the photodiode detection means of the photodiode detector head assembly to receive, condition, and process the electrical signals to produce a sequence of digital values representative of the electrical signals over a predetermined temporal interval; and

c) computing means coupled to the signal conditioning means and structured to collect and process the sequence of digital values to enable a quantified result to be delivered to a user that is associated with the level of visible light emissions produced by the assaying reaction;

d) the signal conditioning means and the computing means suitably mounted within the housing, with the housing structured to enable a detector cap assembly to be fixed thereto to form a light tight environment wherein the light emissions to be detected may be generated in the absence of ambient light.

25. The low level luminometer in accordance with claim 24, wherein the level of visible light emissions detected and quantified is produced by a bioluminescent assaying reaction, with said level of visible light emissions compared to a pre-determined threshold level established to determine if a quantity of analyte associated with the bioluminescent assaying reaction is in excess of a pre-determined quantitative limit.

26. The low level luminometer in accordance with claim 25, further including a user interface operatively coupled to the computing means and configured to enable the quantified result to be delivered to a user, the result including an indication of at least one of:

a) if the level of visible light detected is in excess of the pre-determined threshold level; and

b) if a quantity of analyte associated with the bioluminescent assaying reaction is in excess of the pre-determined quantitative limit.

27. The low level luminometer in accordance with claim 24, wherein the photodiode detector head assembly comprises:

a) at least one semiconductor photodetector that is arranged to detect the level of the visible light emissions and produce at least one signal proportional thereto; and

b) a pre-amplifier coupled to each semiconductor photodetector to receive the respective signals therefrom and produce each respective electrical signal that is coupled to the signal conditioning means.

28. The low level luminometer in accordance with claim 27, wherein each semiconductor photodetector is provided by a PIN photodiode.

29. The low level luminometer in accordance with claim 28, wherein the photodiode detector head assembly further includes at least one electronic shutter that is responsive to the computer means, each electronic shutter suitably positioned and configured to be set to one of either a darkened state thereby significantly restricting the level of visible light emissions incident upon a respective PIN photodiode and a nearly transparent state enabling visible light emissions to be incident upon the respective PIN photodiode.

30. The low level luminometer in accordance with claim 28, wherein the signal conditioning means includes:

a) a filter and amplification module structured with an input and an output, the input suitably coupled to the pre-amplifier to receive therefrom the electrical signal; and

b) an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the output of the filter and amplification module and configured to produce the sequence of digital values over the predetermined temporal interval.

31. The low level luminometer in accordance with claim 28, wherein the signal conditioning means includes:

a) a filter and amplification module structured with an input and an output, the input coupled to the pre-amplifier to receive therefrom the electrical signal;

b) an integrator coupled to the output of the filter and amplification module and structured to integrate a filtered and amplified signal, which is proportional to the electrical signal provided from the pre-amplifier, the integrator producing an integrated output signal indicative of a total amount of visible light emissions detected over the pre-determined temporal interval; and

c) an analog-to-digital converter operatively coupled to the integrated output signal to produce at least one digital value representative of the integrated output signal.

32. The low level luminometer in accordance with claim 28, wherein the signal conditioning means provides a multi-channel signal conditioning means comprising:

a) an analog integrator for each respective PIN photodiode, each analog integrator structured with an input and an output, with each input coupled to a respective pre-amplifier to receive therefrom the electrical signal, and each output producing an integrated output signal indicative of a total amount of visible light emissions measured over a pre-determined temporal interval by an associated PIN photodiode;

b) an analog multiplexer for receiving each integrated output signal of the analog integrators and enabling a selected output of the analog integrators to be coupled to a high resolution analog-to-digital converter;

c) the analog-to-digital converter activated to produce at least one digital value for each integrated output signal provided to the analog multiplexer.

33. The low level luminometer in accordance with claim 32, wherein at least two channels provided by the analog multiplexer are employed to alternately sample associated integrated output signals, the associated output signals produced by alternate measurements conducted with the electronic shutter first in the darkened state and subsequently in the transparent state, wherein the measurements made in the darkened state are indicative of a dark current noise level of the PIN photodiode, while measurements made in the transparent state are indicative of the level of visible light emissions detected.

34. The low level luminometer in accordance with claim 24, wherein the housing further contains an internal power supply that includes at least one rechargeable battery.

35. The low level luminometer in accordance with claim 24, further including a user interface operatively coupled to the computing means and configured to enable information to be exchanged with the user, the information exchanged enabling the user to accomplish at least one of the following:

a) input gain settings to the luminometer;

b) calibrate the luminometer to perform a measurement of the level of visible light emissions associated with an assaying reaction;

c) reset the luminometer after one measurement of the level of visible light emissions has been made and before another is to begin;

d) establish a duration of the pre-determined temporal interval during which visible light emissions produced by the bioluminescent or the chemiluminescent assaying reaction are to be detected;

e) select one of a plurality of specific pre-determined threshold levels associated with a level of visible light emissions to be determined during the predetermined temporal interval;

f) determine the power level of at least one internal rechargeable battery included within the housing; and

g) power on and off the luminometer.

36. A detector cap assembly structured for use with a low level luminometer including a photodiode detector head assembly, the detector cap assembly comprising:

a) a first portion including a wall structure providing an internal cavity and having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening and wall structure of the first portion structured to enable the first portion to be removably fixed over the photodiode detector head assembly in a light tight manner such that a portion of the photodiode detector head assembly substantially fills the internal cavity so as to place photo detection means thereof in a position proximate to the second opening so that only luminescent emissions entering the second opening of the first portion are incident upon the photo detection means of the photodiode detector head assembly;

b) a substantially flattened and pre-wetted bibulous swabbing surface that is fixed to the first portion and arranged to cover the second opening thereof, the swabbing surface, which is positioned so as to be superposed over the photo detection means when the first portion is removably fixed over the photodiode detector head assembly in the light tight manner, available to swab a surface to collect analyte;

c) a second portion having a wall structure providing an internal chamber and an opening, the opening configured to enable the second portion to be removably installed onto the first portion to cap the first portion in a light tight manner so as to prevent any ambient light from being incident upon the swabbing surface while the second portion is installed thereover;

d) the second portion housing a movable structure within the chamber having a flat surface that is oriented substantially parallel to the plane of the swabbing surface, the movable structure configured to be movable between a first retracted position away from the opening of the second portion and a second deployed position more proximate to the opening;

e) a porous pad fixed to and substantially covering the flat surface of the movable structure, the porous pad being impregnated with suitable dried reagents that may be activated by wetting when brought into pressure contact with the pre-wetted swabbing surface; and

f) a barrier means, which is thin and frangible, and arranged to cover the opening of the second portion in a recessed fashion to hermetically seal a portion of the internal chamber having the porous pad and the movable structure contained therein while the movable structure is in the first retracted position, the hermetically sealed portion of the chamber enabling the porous pad to remain dry until the barrier means is ruptured;

g) the barrier means structured to be appropriately ruptured when the movable structure is moved from the first retracted position to the second deployed position wherein the porous pad is brought into pressure contact with the swabbing surface causing the dried reagents to be drawn to and activated by the wetness of the swabbing surface, possibly resulting in at least one of a bioluminescent and a chemiluminescent assaying reaction producing the luminescent emissions that are detectable by the photo detection means of the photodiode detector head assembly.

37. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 36, further including a transparent fluid impervious barrier interposed under the swabbing surface and over the second opening of the first portion to seal the second opening to prevent the transport of moisture therethrough.

38. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 37, wherein the swabbing surface is pre-wetted with a volume of wetting agent comprising:

a) sterile water;

b) a nucleotide releasing reagent; and optionally

c) buffering agents.

39. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 38, wherein the swabbing surface is comprised of at least one of:

a) a cotton pad; and

b) a polymer pad.

40. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 38, wherein the porous pad is provided by a porous polymer sheet material.

41. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 36, wherein the second portion is comprised of:

a) an outer cap-like portion having a cylindrical wall structure with an interior surface of the cylindrical wall structure having formed therein a spiral groove, the cap-like portion coaxially and coextensively disposed over a cylindrical wall structure of the second portion and structured to be rotatably fixed thereto to enable rotation around a center axis of each of the outer cap-like portion and the cylindrical wall structure of the second portion;

b) the cylindrical wall structure of the second portion having at least one slot formed therein extending parallel to the center axis;

c) the movable structure of the detector cap assembly structured with a substantially cylindrical shape having at least one raised block with an angled follower tab extending radially therefrom, the raised block structured to fit into and slide up and down the slot while the angled follower tab is arranged to extend through the slot and mate to and follow the spiral groove of the cap-like portion;

d) the movable structure configured to be movable from the first retracted position to the second deployed position by rotating the outer cap-like portion with respect to the second portion.

42. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 36, wherein the second portion is comprised of:

a) an outer cap-like portion having a cylindrical wall structure closed by a top surface at a first end and open at a second end, the cylindrical wall structure having a threaded portion provided on an inner surface thereof, the outer cap-like portion configured to be initially at least partially coextensively disposed over a cylindrical wall structure of the second portion and coaxially aligned therewith;

b) the cylindrical wall structure of the second portion having a first end proximate to the open end and a second end, wherein an outer surface of the cylindrical wall structure of the second portion is configured with a treaded portion situated proximate to the second end that is structured to mate and engage the threaded portion of the outer cap-like portion, the respective engaged threaded portions enabling the outer cap-like portion to move along a common center axis of each of the second portion and the outer cap-like portion when the outer cap-like portion is rotated (around the center axis) with respect to the second portion, said rotation causing the outer cap-like portion to be screwed coaxially and coextensively down and over the second portion;

c) the outer cap-like portion further having the movable structure fixed to the top surface and substantially axially aligned with the outer cap-like portion, the movable structure extending down into the second portion with the movable structure movable from the first retracted position to the second deployed position when the outer cap-like portion is rotated and screwed down over the cylindrical wall structure of the second portion, thereby causing the frangible first barrier to be ruptured and to place the porous material in pressure contact with the swabbing surface.

43. A detector cap assembly structured for use with a hand holdable self-contained luminometer having a photodiode detector head assembly configured to detect low level luminescent emissions, the detector cap assembly comprising:

a) a first portion including a wall structure providing an internal cavity and including a first opening and a second opening, the first opening and wall structure of the first portion structured to enable the first portion to be removably fixed over the photodiode detector head assembly in a light tight manner such that the photodiode detector head assembly substantially fills a portion of the cavity so as to place photo detection means thereof in a suitable position proximate to the second opening so that only luminescent emissions entering the second opening of the first portion are incident upon the photo detection means of the photodiode detector head assembly;

b) a substantially flattened swabbing surface, which is available to swab a surface to collect analyte, is fixed to the first portion and arranged to cover the second opening thereof, the swabbing surface positioned so as to be superposed over the photo detection means when the first portion is removably fixed over the photodiode detector head assembly in the light tight manner,

c) a second portion having an outer wall structure, a top end and a bottom end, the second portion configured with a top opening at the top end and a bottom opening at the bottom end, the bottom opening arranged to enable the second portion to be removably installed onto the first portion to cap the first portion and the swabbing surface in a light tight manner so as to prevent any ambient light from being incident upon the swabbing surface while the second portion so installed thereover;

d) a first partition wall oriented substantially traverse to the bottom opening and within the wall structure of the second portion so as to form a cavity proximate to the bottom opening, the first partition wall having at least one hole located therein;

e) a second partition wall oriented substantially traverse to the top opening and within the wall structure of the second portion so as to form a chamber that is situated above the cavity proximate to the bottom opening, the second partition wall having a hole provided therein;

f) a sealed fluid holding envelope situated in the chamber, the fluid holding envelope filled with a suitable volume of wetting agent;

g) perforation means structured to be actuated from a location proximate to the top opening, above the second partition wall, the perforation means substantially housed within the chamber and arranged to perforate the fluid holding envelope in order to release the volume of wetting agent into the chamber; and

h) at least one pellet of dried reagent that is situated between the fluid holding envelope and a top surface of the first partition wall, the pellets sized having a diameter greater than each hole provided in the first partition wall so that the pellets will not easily move through the respective holes;

i) the activation of the perforation means causing a release of the volume of wetting agent contained in the fluid holding envelope, thereby wetting and at least partially dissolving the pellets to cause the dried reagent provided thereby to be carried thorough the holes in the first partition wall to wet the swabbing surface, possibly resulting in at least one of a bioluminescent and a chemiluminescent assaying reaction producing the low level luminescent emissions that are detectable by the photo detection means of the photodiode detector head assembly.

44. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 43, wherein in the first partition wall is configured with a substantially concaved shape.

45. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 44, further including a transparent fluid impervious barrier interposed under the swabbing surface and over the second opening of the first portion to seal the second opening to prevent the transport of moisture therethrough.

46. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 43 wherein the perforation means comprises:

a) a perforation disk located in the chamber above the fluid holding envelope and structured with a first surface and a second surface, the first surface having with a plurality of piercing points extending therefrom, the first surface oriented parallel to and spaced from the fluid holding envelope when the perforation means is not actuated; and

b) a shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end fixed to the second surface of the perforation disk and configured so that the shaft passes through the hole in the second partition wall with the second end of the shaft situated at the location proximate to the top opening above the second partition wall and available to actuate the perforation means by moving the perforation disk from a first position with the perforation disk spaced from the fluid holding envelope to a second position with the perforation disk perforating the fluid holding envelope thereby releasing the volume of wetting agent.

47. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 46, further including a button fixed to second end of the shaft to assist in activating the perforation means.

48. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 46, further including a lid to prevent the accidental actuation of the perforation means.

49. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 43, wherein the swabbing surface is provided by a polymer pad.

50. The detector cap assembly in accordance with claim 49, wherein the fluid contained within the fluid holding envelope includes:

a) sterile water;

b) a nucleotide releasing reagent; and optionally

c) buffering agents.

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