This guide to lateral flow assay development explains how to improve assay sensitivity and reproducibility through antibody screening, membrane selection, conjugate optimisation, strip design and process control.

In this article, we explore how sample type and matrix effects influence lateral flow assay (LFA) performance, going beyond initial antibody selection and detector optimisation. Real-world samples such as whole blood, saliva, urine, swab extracts, and environmental matrices introduce variability, chemical interference, and flow challenges that can significantly impact sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility.