Assay membrane and method of use thereof

A method of detecting a target analyte comprising:

• a) providing a microtiter plate having a plurality of wells, each well having a microporous membrane, each microporous membrane comprising an array of capture elements printed on the membrane surface, each capture element corresponding to and being able to bind a target analyte, the array further comprising at least one fiduciary marker and two or more control elements selected from the group consisting of:
• i) at least one negative control to monitor background signal,
• ii) at least one negative control to monitor assay specificity,
• iii) at least one positive colourimetric control, and
• iv) at least one positive control to monitor assay performance;
• and
• b) contacting a microporous membrane of the microtiter plate with a sample such that a target analyte selectively binds a capture element and generates a detectable signal when the target analyte is present in the sample;
• c) processing the microtiter plate using an automated system to detect binding of the target analyte to the capture element, wherein processing comprises:
• i) orienting and gridding the array using the at least one fiduciary marker,
• ii) detecting the at least one positive colourimetric control,
• iii) monitoring assay performance using the at least one positive control, and
• iv) detecting the target analyte by detecting intensity of the detectable signal, thereby detecting the target analyte.