Diagnostic
membranes are at the center of any lateral flow test
used for the immunochromatographic detection of different
analytes. 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 unitised element. Most commonly, the application
of an unknown sample rehydrates dried reagents on the
test strip and initiates the immunoreactions needed
for the detection of the analyte. The most common examples
being 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 lateral flow tests. We offer
our UniSart cellulose nitrate family on an OEM basis.
