Quantitative Lateral Flow Assay for Meropenem Determination: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is essential for optimizing antibiotic dosing, particularly in critically ill patients. However, conventional methods, such as LC/MS, have long turnaround times, limiting timely dose adjustment. We developed a novel competitive lateral flow assay (LFA) format with dual test lines previously validated for vancomycin and adapted it for Meropenem quantification. Using BlaR-CTD, a beta-lactam receptor protein, in place of an antibody and biotinylated BSA-Meropenem conjugated to gold nanoparticles, the LFA produced a concentration-dependent change in test line intensities. A custom image analysis algorithm showed strong correlation with Meropenem concentrations (R ² = 0.9537). The platform demonstrates the potential for rapid, point-of-care antibiotic monitoring across diverse healthcare settings. While further optimization is needed for low-concentration accuracy, this proof-of-concept supports broader applicability to other beta-lactams.