Colorimetric hand-held sensors and biosensors with a small digital camera as signal recorder, a review

Sensors, biosensors, lateral flow immunoassays, portable thin-layer chromatography and similar devices for hand-held assay are tools suitable for field or out of laboratories assays of various analytes. The assays frequently exert a limit of detection and sensitivity close to more expensive and elaborative analytical methods. In recent years, huge progress has been made in the field of optical instruments where digital cameras or light sensitive chips serve for the measurement of color density. General availability of cameras, a decrease of prices and their integration into wide spectrum phones, tablets and computers give the promise of easy application of analytical methods where such cameras will be employed. This review summarizes research on hand-held assays where small cameras like the ones integrated into smartphones are used. Discussion about such assays, their practical applicability and relevant specifications are also written here.