Portable reader module, portable reader, and method for quantitative analysis of an assay

A portable reader, comprising:

• a portable reader module comprising:
• a housing comprising an internal space, a first receptacle configured to removably receive a portable device comprising a lens, an imager, a central processing unit, and a display, the first receptacle comprising a first optical entrance for the imager to the internal space of the housing, and a second receptacle configured to removably receive a cartridge including at least one test zone, the second receptacle comprising a second optical entrance to the internal space of the housing so that the cartridge is visible to and from the internal space;
• a first optical reference element comprising at least one of a positional reference, intensity references and colour references, and configured to allow at least one of calibration and self-testing of the portable device, wherein the first optical reference element is arranged inside of the second receptacle separate to the cartridge or in the housing separate to the cartridge;
• a light-deflecting optical element arranged within the internal space of the housing to define an optical path between the first optical entrance and the second optical entrance;
• and an illuminating path for illuminating the cartridge defined in the housing;
• wherein the housing is configured to allow the internal space to be light-shielded,
• wherein the portable device can be received in the first receptacle of the housing, and
• wherein the portable device is operable to capture an image of the cartridge including the at least one test zone and of the first optical reference element when the cartridge is received in the second receptacle of the housing, to process the captured image, and to display a test result.