Lateral flow assay with controlled conjugate time and controlled flow time

A lateral flow assay device, comprising:

• a conjugate pad configured to receive a quantity of fluid after a start of a test, the conjugate pad configured to move the fluid by capillary action;
• a membrane comprising a test line for determining whether the fluid comprises a target analyte, the membrane configured to move the fluid by capillary action;
• a backing connected to the membrane;
• a first magnet fixedly attached to the backing of the membrane;
• a shaft;
• a wheel;
• an actuator connected to the wheel by the shaft, the actuator configured to receive one or more signals to rotate the shaft and the wheel;
• second and third magnets connected to opposite tips of a face of the wheel,
• wherein each of the first, second, and third magnets comprises a first pole and a second pole, wherein the first pole is one of a north pole and a south pole, and wherein the second pole is another one of the north pole and the south pole,
• wherein the actuator, the shaft, the wheel, and the backing are positioned such that at a first point during a rotation of the wheel, the first pole of the second magnet attracts the second pole of the first magnet to open a gap between the membrane and the conjugate pad,
• wherein the actuator, the shaft, the wheel, and the backing are positioned such that at a second point during the rotation of the wheel, the second pole of the third magnet repels the second pole of the first magnet to close the gap between the membrane and the conjugate pad;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• send one or more signals after the start of the test to the actuator to rotate the shaft and the wheel between the first and second positions to open and close the gap between the membrane and the conjugate pad a plurality of times to control an amount of time that the fluid travels across the membrane.