Lateral flow device

Abstract

A lateral flow device comprising a body part and a removable swab, wherein the swab comprises a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, with an absorbent head at the distal end, and the body part comprises: an inlet region for holding the swab prior to use, and for receiving the swab in use, during the execution of a lateral flow test; a fluid chamber containing a quantity of extraction solution; an outlet conduit; and a lateral flow assay strip; wherein the fluid chamber is arranged to open upon forcible insertion of the absorbent head into the body part, through the inlet region, in use, to cause the absorbent head to be treated with the extraction solution, and to cause the extraction solution to enter the outlet conduit; and wherein the outlet conduit includes, or is in fluid communication with, a proximal end of the lateral flow assay strip, such that, in use, extraction solution that enters the outlet conduit is able to reach the proximal end of the lateral flow assay strip, and thence flow along the lateral flow assay strip to execute a lateral flow test. Also provided is a method of performing a lateral flow test using such a lateral flow device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.