Lateral flow test

Lateral flow test is a simple device intended to detect the presence (or absence) of a target analyte in a liquid sample without the need for specialized and costly equipment. These tests are widely used in medical diagnostics for home testing, point of care testing, or laboratory use.

Overview

A lateral flow test, also known as a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay, is a simple device intended to detect the presence (or absence) of a target analyte in a liquid sample without the need for specialized and costly equipment. The tests are widely used in medical diagnostics for home testing, point of care testing, or laboratory use.

Principle

The underlying principle of all lateral flow tests is the same. The sample is applied to one end of the test. If the target analyte is present in sufficient concentration in the sample, it will bind to specific antibodies fixed to a colored reagent, causing the reagent to change color. This change is then visually read to determine the presence or absence of the target analyte.

Applications

Lateral flow tests are used for a wide range of applications, most commonly in medical diagnostics, to test for a variety of conditions and substances. These include pregnancy tests, infectious disease tests, cholesterol tests, and drug tests.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantages of lateral flow tests are their simplicity, speed, and cost-effectiveness. They can be performed and interpreted by untrained users and give results in a short time. However, they are less accurate than laboratory tests and can give false positives or negatives.

See Also

• Immunoassay
• Point of care testing
• Medical diagnostics

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