Introduction
Diagnostic membranes are at the center of any lateral flow test used for the immunochromatographic detection of different analyte. Lateral flow tests are generally intended for the specific detection of a single molecular species, often called a biomarker. Lateral flow tests are immunoassays by definition and thus rely on highly specific antigen-antibody reactions as the basis of their detection mechanism.
The term lateral flow test, in-vitro diagnostic test or rapid test refers to devices that readily contain all reagents required to carry out a single immunoassay in a thin unitized element. We will further use the acronym LFIA for Lateral flow Immunoassay. Most commonly a unknown sample rehydrates dried reagents contained on the strip and initiates the immunoreactions needed for the detection of the analyte. The most popular example is the pregnancy test, of which several hundred million individual test strips are produced every year.
The ideal device should be simple to use in a variety of environments, require minimal to no sample preparation, produce a rapid result, have a long shelf life, and should encompass quality control measures that confirm the viability of the system (e.g. a control line).
Membranes manufactured from cellulose nitrate are the material of choice for LFIAs. We offer our UniSart Cellulose Nitrate membrane family on an OEM basis.
See more on our UniSart membrane family and the new fast CN95 membrane in products and ordering information
