What is the purpose of a lateral flow immunoassay?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Lateral Flow Immunoassays
2. Mechanism of Lateral Flow Immunoassay
3. Purpose and Applications
4. Specific Parameters and Numerical Analysis
5. Hysen Company Solutions
6. References

Introduction to Lateral Flow Immunoassays

Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIs) are a class of simple, rapid, and cost-effective diagnostic devices used to detect the presence of a specific biomarker in a sample. These assays operate using principles of immunochromatography, allowing for quick results outside of laboratory settings.

Mechanism of Lateral Flow Immunoassay

LFIs rely on the capillary action to transport a sample along a strip containing various components such as a sample pad, a conjugate pad, a nitrocellulose membrane, and an absorbent pad. Antibodies or antigens are typically bound to colored particles in the conjugate pad, which capture target analytes as the sample migrates through the strip.

Purpose and Applications

The primary purpose of lateral flow immunoassays is to provide a rapid and convenient means of testing for various substances. LFIs are widely used in medical diagnostics, environmental testing, food safety assessments, and veterinary medicine.

• Medical Diagnostics: Used for pregnancy tests, infectious disease detection (like HIV or COVID-19), and drug testing.
• Environmental Testing: Detection of contaminants such as mycotoxins in agricultural products.
• Food Safety: Utilized for identifying pathogens like Salmonella in food products.

Specific Parameters and Numerical Analysis

Key parameters include sensitivity, specificity, detection limits, and time to result. Typical sensitivities for LFIs range from 90% to 99%, while specificity is commonly between 95% to 99%. Detection limits can vary based on the analyte and conditions but often fall in the 10 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL range. The average time to result is generally between 5 to 30 minutes.

Hysen Company Solutions

Hysen, a leader in the production of lateral flow immunoassay kits, provides solutions tailored for clinical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. Hysen offers customizable assay development services with an emphasis on increasing sensitivity and reducing false positives. Their comprehensive product line includes kits for infectious diseases, toxin detection, and fertility testing.

References

1. Huang, X., et al. (2020). Recent Advances in Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Rapid Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases. Biosensors, 10(7), 589.
2. Wong, R., and Tse, H. Y. (2009). Lateral Flow Immunoassay: A Practical Guide. Humana Press.
3. Hysen Corporation (2023). Product Catalog and Specifications. Hysen Official Website.