Lateral Flow Immuno-Assay (LFIA or Rapid Test) is a simple diagnostic device intended to detect the presence or absence of a target substance in a liquid sample without the need for specialized and costly equipment.
A rapid test device for the Immunoassay sector is typically comprised of a test strip inside a plastic housing (cassette or kit). A typical test strip consists of the following materials (components) where 1 through 5 is fixed onto the plastic backing for support:
Among the wide spectrum of applications available on the market, some of the more common rapid test devices are as follows: For various diseases such as hepatitis A, B, and C, AIDS, malaria, etc., drug of abuse (DOA), pregnancy, ovulation, and various types of cancer.
Following charts describe a typical production procedure for automated and batch (scaled-down) production method. They have been outlined to give you a general understanding of how the process works and the applicable equipment at each of the production stage.
STAGE | AUTO PROCESS | PROCESS DETAILS | APPLICABLE EQUIPMENT (Click to View) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Reagent Treatment 1 | Dispensing reagent onto membraneto produce C/T lined MEMBRANE (NCM) roll | DAI-System |
2 | Reagent Treatment 2 | Impregnating pads by dipping & dryingto produce treated CONJUGATE / SAMPLE PAD roll | OASI-300OAI-300 |
3 | Lamination | Lamination of required materials onto support backingto produce master (finished) card | LAI-Series |
4 | Assembly | Assembly of test strips and cassettesto produce individually assembled test device | SAIA-210AIB-300 |
5 | Packaging | Packaging the test device and other accessories to produce a final product in a sealed pouch | Custom Equipment |
STAGE | BATCH PROCESS | PROCESS DETAILS | APPLICABLE EQUIPMENT (Click to View) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Lamination 1 | Lamination of MEMBRANE (NCM) onto support backing card*Absorbent pad can also be laminated | LCC-100 LCI-Series |
2 | Reagent Treatment 1 | Dispensing reagent onto membraneto produce C/T lined MEMBRANE (NCM) | DCI-SystemDMI-System |
3 | Reagent Treatment 2 | Impregnating pads (manually)to produce treated CONJUGATE / SAMPLE PAD sheets | NA |
4 | Drying | Drying of treated membrane and pad materials | NA |
5 | Slitting | Slitting of sheets into narrow width (CONJUGATE / SAMPLE / ABSORBENT PAD)to produce laminatable pre-cut strips | GSI-600RSI-400 |
6 | Lamination 2 | Lamination of pre-cut strips and other materials onto backing card (CONJUGATE / SAMPLE PAD / ABSORBENT PAD, TOP TAPE) to produce master (finished) card | LCC-100LCI-Series |
7 | Cutting | Cutting of master card to produce individual test strips | GCI-800RCI-300RAI-500 |
8 | Assembly | Manual assembly of test strips and cassettes to produce individually assembled test device | ACC & ACP-100 |
9 | Packaging | Packaging the test device and other accessories to produce a final product in a sealed pouch | OBS-115 |
*The listed order of process is of the more common procedure in most cases. The actual sequence, however, may vary depending on operator’s preference and other factors such as items produced, QC measures, and etc.