Optimized Lateral Flow Immunoassay Reader for the Detection of Infectious Diseases in Developing Countries

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Diagnostics
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• Infectious disease detection and control are critical global health challenges, particularly in developing countries.
• Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA) are effective for disease detection but require electronic readers for result quantification.
• Existing electronic readers can be costly and complex, limiting their accessibility in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and optimize a low-cost, low-power, handheld electronic reader for quantifying LFIA results.
• To create a portable and accessible diagnostic tool for infectious diseases suitable for developing countries.
• To validate the reader's performance using influenza A nucleoprotein detection.

Main Methods:

• Designed a battery-operated, handheld electronic reader utilizing reflected light measurement from LFIA.
• Characterized LFIA surface properties to model light interaction and optimize sensor response.
• Employed ray trace simulations to position optical components for maximum sensitivity.
• Integrated a microcontroller for on-device signal processing and a Bluetooth module for wireless data transmission to a mobile app.

Main Results:

• The optimized reader successfully quantified influenza A nucleoprotein concentrations in LFIA from 0.5 ng/mL to 200 ng/mL.
• The device operates without additional optical accessories, simplifying its use.
• Signal processing and wireless data transmission capabilities were validated.

Conclusions:

• The developed handheld electronic reader is a promising, cost-effective solution for quantitative infectious disease diagnostics using LFIA.
• The device's portability, low power consumption, and wireless connectivity enhance its utility in resource-limited environments.
• This technology can significantly improve infectious disease surveillance and management in developing countries.