Paper capillary lateral flow fluid filter for bacterial and nanometer sized particle contamination

A method of fluid filtration comprising:

• providing a lateral flow fluid filtration system comprising:
• a fluid chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, a top plate located at the distal end of the fluid chamber and comprising an opening configured to allow fluid from the fluid chamber to pass through, a bottom plate and a plurality of filters spaced relative to each other and positioned between top plate and bottom plate, wherein the plurality of filters comprises a first end, a second end, and a length therebetween, and lateral pores along the length of the plurality of filters, such that the fluid is filtered while flowing laterally along the length of the plurality of filters through the lateral pores, and wherein the top plate and bottom plate are arranged in parallel, a compression mechanism removably attached to the top and bottom plate, wherein compressing the plurality of filters between the plates changes the pore size of the lateral pores;
• adjusting the space between the plurality of filters using the compression mechanism, thereby changing the pore size of the lateral pores;
• adding fluid to the fluid chamber and
• collecting filtered fluid.