Having been on the market for over 25 years, lateral flow test strips are widely accepted as a format for the development of diagnostic assays. Devices range from simple test strips dipped into a sample to long format tests used with quantitative readers.

Lateral flow test strips are easy to run, often requiring no more than application of a liquid sample, but reliability of performance depends on how consistently the strips are constructed. This involves the materials, the chemistries, the overall design, and the assembly processes.