4. The test strip of claim 1, wherein said sample pad comprises: a fibrous cellulose layer; and a polyester membrane on either side of said fibrous cellulose layer.
5. The test strip of claim 1, and further comprising a protective membrane on top of said porous membrane and covering said at least one test line.
6. The test strip of claim 3, and further comprising an elongated base member to which said porous membrane and said fibrous cellulose layer are secured in adjacent planar relationship.
7. A process for making an assay test strip comprising: preparing a sample pad by impregnating therein a selective and appropriate mix of water, buffers, protectants, proteins, and surfactants to a condition of approximate saturation; freezing the thus prepared sample pad at about −80° C. or below for a first period of time; maintaining the sample pad at a temperature between about −80° C. and about −196° C.; then applying an aqueous conjugate solution to one surface of the sample pad so that it nucleates and forms a pellicle on that surface; lypholizing the sample pad and conjugate pellicle at about −80° C. or below to remove aqueous aspects in and on the sample pad; and increasing the temperature of the lypholized sample and conjugate pellicle pad to room temperature.
8. The process of claim 7, and comprising the further steps of: mounting the lypholized sample pad and conjugate pellicle on a hydrophilic layer having a macro channel opening into one end thereof; mounting the hydrophilic layer, sample pad, and conjugate pellicle on an elongated base member; and mounting an elongated analytical membrane on the base member adjacent to the open end of the macro channel, thereby forming the test strip.
 9. The process of claim 7, wherein the sample pad freeezing temperature is about −196° C.
10. The process of claim 8, and comprising the further step of mounting the test strip to a cassette in preparation for conducting an assay when sample material has been applied to the test strip.
11. An assay device comprising: a cassette having a body and two arms extending from opposite ends thereof to form a C-shaped opening therebetween; a test strip affixed to said arms and extending across the C-shaped opening, said test strip comprising: an elongated base member; an elongated porous membrane having a top surface and a bottom surface, having a proximal end and a distal end, and having at least one test line and at least one control line spaced in a downstream direction from the test line; a sample pad adjacent the proximal end of said porous membrane, said sample pad having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface being parallel with and oriented in the same direction as said bottom surface of said porous membrane; a conjugate pellicle on said first surface of said sample pad, said sample pad and said conjugate pellicle having been lypholized; and means for providing fluid communication between said conjugate pellicle and said porous membrane..
