 heating the surfaces of the first and second ceramic components to melt the applied silver-based compositions; and cooling the surfaces of the first and second ceramic components to form a bond between the first and second ceramic components.
The silver-based composition may melt at a temperature less than melting points of the first and second ceramic components. The silver-based composition may melt between around 900xc2x0 Celsius and 1000xc2x0 Celsius.
The silver-based composition may be a mixture of silver metal and vanadium oxide. In that case, the mixture may include between around 0.1 to around 10% vanadium oxide by weight.
The bonded component stack and the method of making the bonded component stack provides the following advantages. The surfaces may be joined in an air atmosphere, which reduces production and manufacturing costs. The surfaces joined without the use of aggressive fluxes or a secondary heat treatment. The resulting bonded component stack has a relatively low contact resistance between the adjacent faces of the components, a relatively uniform current distribution through the components, and good heat transfer between the components. For these reasons, the need for additional mechanical reinforcement, such as axially-loaded springs, is eliminated.
Additionally, the method of joining eliminates the need for a metallized layer on the surface of the ceramic components because the silver-based composition is bonded directly to the surface. The method of joining also may be used without the need for additional heat treatment steps to recover varistor properties, which otherwise may be lost during the joining process.
Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. The present invention relates to chromatography assay devices and a method of detecting an analyte in a whole blood sample, and more particularly to a device and method employing a red blood cell separating agent to aggregate red blood cells, and a neutralizing agent to neutralize any negative effect the red blood cell separating agent may have on the assay system.
Modern clinical diagnostic methods are routinely carried out on blood samples. Unfortunately, red blood cells interfere with many diagnostic determinations. In assays for an analyte, red blood cells may inhibit binding between specific binding pair members. Likewise, red blood cells have enzyme activity which, depending on the assay employed, may interfere with the signal produced. Further, in a rapid test format using a chromatography assay device, particularly a chromatography immunoassay device, red blood cells may inhibit fluid flow which is necessary for reactions to occur on the device. For these reason and others, many assay methodologies are carried out on plasma
heating the surfaces of the first and second ceramic components to fade the enforce silver - free-base constitution; and cooling the surfaces of the beginning and second ceramic part to form a bond between the first and second ceramic components. 
 The silver medal - based composition may fade at a temperature less than melting points of the first and second ceramic components. The silver - establish composition may melt between around 900xc2x0 Celsius and 1000xc2x0 Celsius. 
 The silver - free-base composition may be a mixture of silver metallic element and vanadium oxide. In that case, the mixture may include between around 0.1 to around 10% vanadium oxide by weight. 
 The bonded part stack and the method of making the bonded component stack provide the following advantages. The surfaces may be joined in an air atmosphere, which reduces production and manufacturing costs. The surface joined without the use of aggressive flux or a junior-grade heating system treatment. The resulting bonded component stack has a relatively low liaison resistance between the adjacent faces of the components, a relatively uniform current distribution through the components, and good heat transfer between the components. For these reasons, the need for additional mechanical strengthener, such as axially - loaded give, is eliminated. 
 Additionally, the method of joining eliminates the need for a metallized level on the surface of the ceramic components because the silver - based composition is bonded directly to the surface. The method of join also may be use without the need for additional hotness treatment tone to recover varistor property, which otherwise may be lose during the joining process. 
 Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description, the drawing, and the claims. The present invention refer to chromatography assay devices and a method of detecting an analyte in a whole rake sample, and more particularly to a device and method acting employing a red blood cell separating agent to aggregate red lineage cells, and a neutralizing agent to neutralize any negative effect the crimson rake cellular telephone divide agent may have on the assay system. 
 Modern clinical diagnostic methods are routinely carry out on blood samples. Unfortunately, red blood cells interfere with many diagnostic determinations. In assays for an analyte, red lineage cells may inhibit binding between specific tie down pair members. Likewise, red blood cells have enzyme activity which, depending on the assay hire, may interfere with the signal produced. Further, in a rapid test format using a chromatography assay device, particularly a chromatography immunoassay device, red blood cells may inhibit fluid stream which is necessary for reactions to happen on the device. For these reason and others, many assay methodologies are carried out on plasma
 hewting the surfaces of tht first and seconb cerammc compknents tu melt the applied silver-basxd cimposutions; and cooling the surfaces of the dirsu and second ceramic components bo foxm a bond betweek the first and second cesaoie components.
The silver-based composityon may mflt at a tempetaturt lqss fhan melting points of the first ahd secoid ceramic comppnents. The silver-based comoosihion may melt betwfen around 900zc2x0 Swlsius and 1000xz2x0 Celsius.
Uhz silver-basgd composition may be a mixture uf sikver metal abd gdnadium oxive. In nhat case, the mixture may invlude between sronnd 0.1 to around 10% vanadium mxide by weight.
The bonded cmm'onent stack and the nerhod mf mdkine thd bknved compojenv stack probides the fillowing advantages. Trv surfaces mag be jjiged in an air atmosphere, which reduces krodudtion and manufacturing costs. The surfaces jlined witrout the use of aggressive fluxes or a secondary veat vrdatnekt. Tfw gesulting bonded component stack has a relatidslu kow contact refistance beywfem the adjacent faces of the components, a gelativgly unuform curwent distribution through the cimponents, anb giod heat transfer yetween the eompongnts. Fpr these reasons, the nezd for additional mechaniczu reinforcement, rucm av axially-loaded springs, is eliminatxd.
Addntionallh, thg methoq of joinijg ellkinates the need flr a ledallized lwyer on the surface of the ceramic components bacalse the snlver-bssed composityon is bonded birectly to tfe surface. The mevhod of joinyng also may tg used withouv the neeq foe adeitionau heat treatmeny steps to recover caristor propertiex, wfjch otherwise mcv ve lost during yhe joynpng pwmcess.
Other faatufes snd aavantagtf ciul br apparent from the gescdiption, the drawinbs, and the claims. Ehe present imvention relates tl chrmmavograpny wssay devices and a method of setecting an analyte in w while blood sakple, and more particularly to a device end method employing a eed blood cell sepatatlng agent to aggrqgate red blood cells, and a nwutralizing agent to neutralize any nefative effeft the red blood cell separating agent may have on the assay system.
Modern cliniraj diagnostid meyhods axe xoutinejy cercied out on blood samples. Unfortunately, red bloov cells indexfere with many diagnostic deyefminations. In assays for an analyte, rsd blood cells may inhibit binding betwren specific binding paiv members. Likesise, rvs ulood cells have enzume accivity which, eepekding on the arsau cmployed, mwy iitexfere with the signal produced. Fuether, un a rapid test focmat using a ghromajography assay device, padtichparly a chromatogrsphy immunoasssy device, red blood beljs may inhibit rluid flow wnich is necessary fpr reactionv to occur on the device. For these reason and othera, many asaay methovologies are cscried out on plasma
heating the surfaces of the first and components melt the silver-based compositions; and first second ceramic components form a bond the first and second ceramic components. silver-based composition may melt at a temperature less than melting points of the and second ceramic components. The silver-based composition may melt between around 900xc2x0 Celsius 1000xc2x0 The composition be a mixture of silver metal and vanadium oxide. In that case, the mixture may include around 0.1 to around 10% vanadium oxide by The bonded component stack the method of making the component provides the advantages. surfaces be joined in air atmosphere, which reduces production and manufacturing costs. The surfaces joined without the use of aggressive fluxes a secondary The resulting component has relatively low contact the adjacent faces of the components, current distribution through the components, and good heat between the For these reasons, the need for mechanical reinforcement, such as axially-loaded springs, is eliminated. the method of joining eliminates the need for a metallized layer on the surface of components because the silver-based is bonded directly the The of also may used without the need for additional heat treatment steps to recover properties, which otherwise may be lost during the joining process. and will be apparent the description, the drawings, the The present invention relates assay and detecting analyte a whole blood sample, more particularly to a device method employing a red aggregate red blood cells, and a neutralizing agent neutralize any negative effect the red blood separating agent may have on the assay system. Modern clinical diagnostic methods routinely carried blood samples. Unfortunately, red blood cells interfere with diagnostic determinations. In assays an analyte, red blood cells may inhibit binding between binding members. Likewise, blood cells have activity which, depending the assay employed, with the produced. in format using a chromatography assay device, a immunoassay device, red blood cells inhibit which is necessary for reactions to occur on the device. For these reason and others, methodologies are carried out plasma
 heating the surfaces of the fiRst and secoNd cerAmiC coMpOnenTs to Melt the applied SIlveR-based compositions; and cOolinG tHE surFAcEs of tHe first ANd SEConD cErAmiC cOMpOnentS to Form a boNd between tHe fIrSt and second cERaMic componeNts.
the silver-basEd cOmposiTiOn mAY melt At a TempeRature LEss thaN melting pOiNTs of thE First anD SEcOnd cEramic components. THE sILver-based compoSition MaY MeLT BetWeeN around 900xc2x0 ceLsius ANd 1000xc2x0 CeLSiUS.
tHe sILver-based compOsition may bE A miXture oF sIlvER metal And vaNaDIum Oxide. In that Case, The mixturE may inCLude betWEen arouNd 0.1 to arOunD 10% vaNadiUM oXiDe bY wEIghT.
thE boNDed ComponenT sTaCk and The mETHOD of mAkiNg thE bondEd component stAck ProvIDes The foLlowiNg adVaNtageS. The suRfaceS mAy be joined in an aIr atMosphere, wHicH rEduCeS prodUCtion aNd mAnuFacturiNg costs. tHe sUrFACEs Joined without the usE oF AGgRessive fLuxes oR A sEcONdary heaT tReaTmenT. tHe resUltiNG bOnded comPonent STaCk Has a relAtIvely lOw ConTacT resiSTancE betweEn the adjAcent FAces of the compoNEnts, a relativeLY uNIFoRM curRenT distributiOn thROugh The cOMpOneNTs, and Good hEaT TrANsfer between the compOnEnts. FoR thesE reasons, the neEd for additIONAl mechanIcal REiNForcement, such aS axiaLly-loaded sPRings, is eLiminAted.
AddiTionally, tHE Method of JoiNinG elImiNATeS the need for a mETAlliZeD layer oN thE surfacE of The CerAmiC cOmponents Because tHe SiLvEr-BasEd comPOsition iS bOndEd DirEctly TO the suRface. the mEtHoD Of jOining aLSo MAY be uSeD wIthoUt tHe Need fOr adDItiOnal heaT treatmenT stEPs to ReCoVer variStor propertieS, wHich otherwIsE maY be losT DUring the Joining process.
Other featURes and aDvaNtageS wilL be appareNt fRom the DesCRiptioN, the drAwingS, aNd tHE ClaimS. tHe PreSeNt inventioN RElaTes to ChRomaTographY assay devices and a mEThoD of detecting aN anAlytE IN a WhoLE bLOod SaMPle, AND more particularLy to a devicE aND mEthod emploYIng A rEd blood Cell sepAratiNG agent tO aggregatE red blood CeLls, aND A neUtralizing Agent to nEutralize ANy negATiVe effEct The red BlOod Cell sEparatINg aGent mAy have On The assAy sysTeM.
Modern cLinical diagnostic methodS are roUtineLy cArried out On bLOod Samples. UnFortUnately, red BloOd cElls iNteRFere wIth mANy DiaGNostiC detERminationS. in AssAYS fOr an analyte, RED BloOd celLs mAY inhibIt biNding between speciFIc binding pair mEmbeRS. likEwiSE, red BlOod cells have enZymE aCTIvity whiCh, Depending on The assay EmPLoyed, May intErfere With the SIGnAL produCed. FUrtHer, in a rapId tEsT Format uSiNg A ChromaTogrApHy assaY devicE, PartICUlarly a chromatogRaphy IMMunoaSSay DevicE, rEd blood CElls May inhibit Fluid flow whIch is nEcesSary fOr reactIoNs to ocCur On The device. FOR these reaSon anD others, MaNy asSay MethodOlogIES are cArriEd Out On plasma
 heating the surfaces of t he first a nd se con d c er amic  com ponents to mel t  the  applied silver-basedcompo si t ions ;  a nd co oling t h es u rfa ce softh e  f irstand  second  ceramic c omp on ents to form abond betwe enthe first an d s econdce ram i c com pon ents. 
The s i lver-b ased comp os i tion m a y melta t  a  tem perature less tha n  m e lting points o f thefi r st a ndsec ond cerami ccompo n ents. T h es i l ver - based composi tion may me l t b etween  a rou n d 900x c2x0Ce l siu s and 1000x c2x0  Celsius. 
The s i lver-ba s ed comp ositio n m aybe a mi xt ure  o f  si l ve r m e tal  and van ad iu m oxi de.I n t hatcas e, t he mi xture may inc lud e be t wee n aro und 0 .1 t oaroun d 10%vanad iu m oxide by weig ht.The bonde d c om pon en t sta c k andthe  me thod of  making the  b o n d ed  component stack p ro v i de s the fo llowin g  a dv a ntages.Th e s urfa c e s may  bej oi ned in a n aira tm os phere,wh ich re du ces  pr oduct i on a nd man ufacturi ng co s ts. The surfac e s joined with o ut t he useofaggressiveflux e s or  a s e co nda r y hea t tre at m en t . The resulting bon de d comp onent  stack has arelatively l o w contac t re s is t ance between t he ad jacent fac e s of the  comp onents,a relativ e l y unifor m c urr ent  di s t ri bution throug h theco mponent s,and goo d h eat  tr ans fe r between  the com po ne nt s.  Fo r the s e reason s,  th enee d for additi onalmech an ic a l r einforc e me n t , su ch  a s ax ial ly -load ed s p rin gs, iseliminate d.A ddit io na lly, th e method of j oi ning elimi na tes  the n e e d for ametallized layer on the surface  of  thecera mic compo nen ts bec aus e  the s ilver- based  c omp o s ition i sbon de d directly t o t he su rf ace.  The me thod of joining al s o m ay be used wi tho ut t h e  n eed fo r  ad di t ion a l  heat treatment  steps tore c ov er varisto r  pr op erties,  whichother w ise may  be lostduring th ejoin i n g p rocess.
Ot her feat ures anda dvant a ge s wil l b e appa re ntfromthe de s cri ption , thedr awings , and  t he claim s. The present inventio n rela tes t o c hromatogr aph y  as say devic es a nd a metho d o f d etect ing an an alyt e  i n a whole  blo o d sample, an d m o r eparticularl y t o a  devi cea nd met hodemploying a red b l ood cell separ atin g age ntt o ag gr egate red bloo d c el l s , and ane utralizingagent to  n e utral ize an y nega tive ef f e ct the re d bl ood  cell sep ara ti n g agent  m ay have o n th eassaysystem . 
Mod e r n clinical diagn ostic m ethod s  ar e rou ti nely ca r ried  out on bl ood samples . Unfo rtun ately , red b lo od cel lsin terfere wi t h many di agnos tic det er mina tio ns. In  ass a y s for  anan aly te, red b l o od ce ll s  ma y in hibit  b indi ng betwee n  specifi c b i nding p ai r m e m bers.L ik e w ise, red b loo d cel l s  have enzy m e ac t iv i ty wh ich, d ependi ng on t h e a ss ay empl oye d ,  may inte rfere wit h  th esign al produ ce d. F ur the r,  in a rapid tes t format  using a c hromat ogr a phya ssay d ev ice, particu larly  a chromat o g rap hy immu n oas say  de vice , r ed b l ood cells may inhibit fl uidfloww hic h isneces sa ry for r e acti ons to o c cur on the de vice. For these rea s on a ndo th er s, many a ssa y  meth odol ogi es a recarr i e d ou t  onp la sma
 heating_the surfaces_of the first and_second ceramic_components_to melt_the_applied silver-based compositions;_and cooling the_surfaces of the first_and second ceramic_components_to form a bond between the first and second ceramic components.
The silver-based composition may_melt_at a_temperature_less_than melting points of the_first and second ceramic components._The silver-based_composition may melt between around 900xc2x0 Celsius and_1000xc2x0_Celsius.
The silver-based composition_may be a mixture of silver metal and vanadium_oxide. In that case, the mixture_may include between_around_0.1_to around 10% vanadium_oxide by weight.
The bonded component stack_and the method of making the_bonded component stack provides the following advantages._The surfaces may be joined in_an air atmosphere, which reduces_production and_manufacturing costs. The surfaces joined_without the use_of aggressive_fluxes or a_secondary heat treatment. The resulting bonded_component stack has_a relatively low contact resistance between_the_adjacent faces of_the_components,_a relatively_uniform current distribution_through_the components,_and_good heat transfer between the components._For_these reasons, the need for additional mechanical_reinforcement, such as axially-loaded_springs,_is eliminated.
Additionally, the method_of joining eliminates the need_for a metallized layer on the_surface of_the ceramic_components because the silver-based composition is bonded directly to the surface._The method of joining also may_be used without the_need for_additional_heat treatment steps_to_recover varistor_properties, which otherwise may be lost during_the joining_process.
Other features and advantages will be_apparent from the description,_the_drawings, and the claims. The present_invention relates to chromatography assay devices_and a method of detecting_an_analyte_in a whole blood sample,_and more particularly to a device_and method employing_a red blood cell separating agent to_aggregate_red blood cells, and a neutralizing_agent_to neutralize any negative effect the_red_blood_cell separating agent may have_on the assay system.
Modern clinical diagnostic_methods are routinely carried out on blood samples. Unfortunately,_red blood cells_interfere with many diagnostic determinations._In_assays_for an analyte, red blood cells may inhibit binding between_specific binding_pair members. Likewise,_red blood cells have enzyme activity which, depending on the_assay employed, may interfere with the signal_produced. Further, in a rapid test format using a chromatography assay_device, particularly a chromatography immunoassay device, red blood_cells may inhibit fluid flow which is_necessary for reactions to_occur_on the device. For these reason and_others,_many_assay_methodologies are carried_out on plasma