Lateral Flow Assays for Pathogen Detection: Reporting Mechanisms and Applications

Pathogens present significant risks to public health and typically require detection in a hospital or clinic setting. The advancement of lateral flow assay (LFA) cassettes has made detection accessible to all, allowing individuals to perform tests from nearly any location. The extensive use of antigen rapid test (ART) kits for self-screening of COVID has reinforced the critical role of LFAs in accelerating diagnostic processes and subsequent disease prevention measures. This study delves into the realm of lateral flow assays, encompassing their fundamental design principles, interpretation of results, and the cutting-edge research focused on enhancing reporter materials and signal amplification techniques. Additionally, it emphasizes recent progress in employing LFAs for the effective identification of a diverse array of pathogenic microorganisms. This comprehensive overview has the potential to serve as a valuable reference for researchers in related disciplines.