Rapid identification of organisms in bodily fluids

A lateral flow assay for detecting the presence or quantity of bacteria within a sample, the lateral flow assay comprising:

• an assay device;
• and
• a test strip inserted into said assay device, said test strip having capture antibodies and detection antibodies, said detection antibodies immobilized in a specific zone on a proximal end of said test strip, said capture antibodies immobilized in a detection zone separate from and distal to the detection antibodies;
• said test strip further comprising a conjugate pad disposed to receive a test sample, said detection antibodies immobilized on said conjugate pad;
• said assay device further comprising a well disposed above said conjugate pad so as to prevent a large release of the sample from initially flooding the conjugate pad and a plurality of spaced-apart ribs disposed above and axially along said conjugate pad downstream of the well;
• said ribs pressed onto an upper surface of said conjugate pad.