Development of a test strip reader for a lateral flow membrane-based immunochromatographic assay

A low-cost, simple strip reader system using a linear movement mechanism of CD-ROM deck has been developed to characterize a lateral flow membrane-based immunochromatographic assay. The test strip reader was assembled by a CD-ROM deck and home-made optical head especially designed for immunoassays. The optical head for detecting reflected light from the test strip surface consists of green light-emitting diode, large area silicon photodiode, and anodized aluminum mounting block providing a slit structure for cutting light from the LED. The stepping motor of the deck was operated in the full step mode, whose distance of each reading point is about 0.15 mm. The performance of the strip reader was tested by analysis of HBV (hepatitis B virus) antigen test kit. This strip reader can be useful for inexpensive, disposable, and membrane-based assays that provide visual evidence of the presence of an analyte in a liquid sample.