Plug and Play USB Electronic Reader for Mobile Multianalyte Quantitative Lateral Flow Immunoassays

Lateral flow strip immunoassay technology is one of the easiest to use for mobile applications because much of the sample preparation and fluid handling stages are built in. These assays are widely used, easy to read, and generally accepted. There are also many analytes that can be detected using immunological and ligand-based techniques. The sensitivity (limit of detection) of these assays, however, is not good. Furthermore, they are not very quantitative, usually providing just a YES ¿ NO result. The proposed mobile assay development will improve the quantitativeness, precision, and multiplicity of the flow strip technology by using integrated magnetic detectors to detect and quantify giardia and cryptosporidium parvum. These detectors offer all of the features that are needed for mobile assays including: 1) low power, 2) rugged, 3) disposable microchip, 4) capability for detecting many spots, 5) highly quantitative, 6) and low background sensitivity. The associated reader will operate using the available USB power (< 5 Volts) and be a little larger than a ¿thumb drive¿. This platform offers the fastest way to get high performance assay technology into a Plug and Play mobile format while opening opportunities for continued improvements in sensitivity, precision, and multianalyte capability.