A Good Read - Universal Digital Lateral Flow Readers

It’s about time that we started to look seriously at standardising some aspects of desktop digital reader technology.

The relentless pursuit for improvements has led to a proliferation of exceptionally good lateral flow readers in recent years. They have opened the door to greater levels of sensitivity, accuracy and quantitative measurements. Additional functionality is a hugely beneficial, but you don’t have to be a world-class visionary to see trouble ahead.

A cornerstone of LFTs perceived value is convenience and portability, but the absence of a co-ordinated approach to reader technology is eroding that convenience by introducing a degree of chaos into the user experience – especially those that require professional use.

A GP isn’t going to reach for a simple lateral flow test if they need to sort through a drawer of readers, find the right charger and work out which app or software it sync’s with. The same goes for medics, pharmacists, nurses, health workers and veterinarians. Many of this industry’s technological advances could end up in a sad box of unused kit, for no reason other than being inconvenient.

Obviously, there’s a limit to how much can be standardised. Many tests require something extraordinary to make them effective. The strip dimensions, the way it is housed, the positioning of the test and control lines, number of strips in a single test or the number of test lines on a single strip, they’ll all affect how it’s read.

If, through regulation or (preferably) co-operation, the aperture on readers was the same shape and depth to accommodate a universal device tray – that would be a start. Something similar to the way that SD memory cards work. They come in three sizes, but the mini and micro options usually have a standard SD card sized cassette to fit into, so that they can slot in a standard sized reader.

Apply this to lateral flow tests. Each test wouldn’t need a bespoke reader; it could work with an existing reader if it fits in a standard shaped cassette that fits into a universal tray. The cost of development is reduced and the popularity of the reader and device would increase.

I’m not a product designer or engineer, but the one’s I’ve worked with are strong on ingenuity. If there were some universal guidelines that directed the positioning of sensors for multiple device use, I’m fairly certain that they would be capable of rising to the challenge.

Standardisation removes points of difference between products and that’s not going to appeal to everyone, but the laissez-faire approach isn’t adding value for the user. There are better ways to create a point of difference. Accuracy, reliability, price, design, environmental friendliness are all more valuable than that cassette won’t fit in any other readers. A monopoly on a small market segment might seem attractive, but a share of a much bigger market is far better.

I’ve never liked the mantra “don’t come to me with problems, come with solutions”. It discourages people from highlighting weaknesses. I guess my solution starts with shining a light on an issue. I certainly don’t pretend to have all the answers, but if we’re really interested in progress, this needs to be addressed.

As ever, thoughts and comments welcome.

Richard

Image courtesy of Copilot:

Concept design render for a universal digital lateral flow reader — for illustration purposes only.