How can lateral flow rapid tests be included in your business activities?

Lateral flow rapid tests are one of the most established diagnostic solutions on the market and this growing market is projected to reach $10.2bn by 2025, a significant increase from pre-COVID pandemic growth expectations.

a test strip inside a lateral flow rapid test

The versatility of lateral flow technology is a major factor in its widespread adoption. For example, lateral flow tests can be used to provide qualitative results for single target or multiplex assays, or data can be captured via rapid test readers. This flexibility has led to lateral flow being used across a variety of sectors including the clinical, pharmaceutical, animal health, agriculture and environmental markets.

Why integrate lateral flow technology into your business?

First of all, it is important to understand the benefits of using lateral flow technology. Here are some of the reasons why our customers have incorporated lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) into their business activities.

  • Reduce costs for stakeholders and end-users
  • Results in minutes
  • Current diagnostic technology can’t cope with market demand
  • Alternative technology is too complex and requires specialist training
  • Provision of results in multiple locations and testing scenarios
  • Combine detection of multiple targets onto one device
  • The need for near-patient or in-the-field diagnosis

How to integrate lateral flow technology into your business?

In our experience companies require assay development and manufacture because the test they need is not on the market, is not available to them commercially or they want to transfer another diagnostic method, such as ELISA, to lateral flow.

Before actively engaging in assay development and manufacture it is worth carrying out a project assessment.

But, what do you need to do and consider before incorporating lateral flow technology into your business activities? The following tasks will help to guide you.

  • Determine the aims and goals of integrating LFIAs into current activities
  • Assess your market to see if lateral flow technology would be beneficial
  • Seek advice on using lateral flow technology and any applicable regulatory implications
  • If no tests are available on the market, speak with an LFIA development and manufacturing company
  • When devices become available, ensure the test meets market and regulatory requirements
  • Integrate LFIA into testing protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
  • Communicate with customers, end-users and stakeholders

Which areas can use lateral flow rapid tests?

The simple answer is, most! With the advancement in technology and development and manufacturing techniques, lateral flow tests can be used across both regulated and non-regulated markets.

  • Healthcare
  • Animal health
  • Food and feed testing
  • Allergen testing
  • Environmental testing
  • Contaminant testing
  • Plant disease testing

If you have any questions about lateral flow rapid tests and their usability please contact us. Alternatively, download one of our guides for more information.