Device and method for pathogen detection

A lateral flow assay (LFA) device for pathogen detection, comprising

• a sample pad at a first end of the device for receiving a sample;
• a conjugate pad containing gold nanoparticles conjugated to heavy chain antibodies (HcAbs), wherein the conjugate pad partially overlaps the sample pad;
• a porous membrane containing a test region and a control region;
• and
• an absorbent pad at a second end of the device,
• wherein the porous membrane partially overlaps the conjugate pad and the absorbent pad,
• wherein each of the sample pad, conjugate pad, porous membrane, and absorbent pad are at least partially mounted on a solid support, and
• wherein the HcAbs comprise three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) having a sequence at least 90% identical to CDR sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 5, SEQ ID NO:
• 7, SEQ ID NO:
• 9, or SEQ ID NO:
• 11.