lateral flow test
Quick home screening
A lateral flow test is a simple diagnostic device that detects substances—typically proteins or genetic material—by drawing a liquid sample across a reactive strip.
The technology became widely familiar during the COVID-19 pandemic as rapid at-home tests: I took a lateral flow test before visiting my grandmother.
Results appear within minutes as visible lines, similar to pregnancy tests.
Absorbent cleaning implement
- nasopharyngealRelating to nose-throat junction
- salivaMouth's digestive secretion
- nasalOf the nose
- mucusProtective bodily secretion
sample · buffer · extraction · throat swab · urine · blood · serum · fluid
Protein targeting foreign substances
- antigenImmune response inducer
- capillary actionFluid movement through narrow channels
- nitrocelluloseAcid-treated cellulose compound
- membraneThin tissue sheet
Systematic observation of subjects
- public healthCommunity-level disease prevention
- asymptomaticDiseased without outward signs
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- contact tracingTracking disease spread connections
WHO-named 2019 coronavirus
- pregnancyCarrying developing offspring
- HIVAIDS-causing retrovirus
- influenzaAcute viral respiratory infection
- strepThroat infection, informally
malaria · hCG · drug screening · RSV · hepatitis · food safety · veterinary · fertility
Affirming or certain
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
- invalidWithout legal force
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- specificityExactness of detail
false positive · false negative · accuracy · reading · interpretation · window · threshold · viral load
Magnetic audio cartridge
- stripNarrow elongated piece
- cartridgeSealed container for supplies
- disposableMade for one use
- single-useFor one application only
kit · handheld · compact · portable · self-contained · point-of-care · pocket-sized · reader
swab
Absorbent cleaning implement
- nasopharyngealRelating to nose-throat junction
- salivaMouth's digestive secretion
- nasalOf the nose
mucus · sample · buffer · extraction · throat swab · urine · blood · serum · fluid
antibody
Protein targeting foreign substances
- antigenImmune response inducer
- capillary actionFluid movement through narrow channels
- nitrocelluloseAcid-treated cellulose compound
membrane · conjugate · wicking · binding · reagent · analyte
surveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
- public healthCommunity-level disease prevention
- asymptomaticDiseased without outward signs
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
contact tracing · prevalence · incidence · epidemiology · early detection
COVID-19
WHO-named 2019 coronavirus
- pregnancyCarrying developing offspring
- HIVAIDS-causing retrovirus
- influenzaAcute viral respiratory infection
strep · malaria · hCG · drug screening · RSV · hepatitis · food safety · veterinary · fertility · ovulation
positive
Affirming or certain
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
- invalidWithout legal force
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
specificity · false positive · false negative · accuracy · reading · interpretation · window · threshold · viral load
cassette
Magnetic audio cartridge
- stripNarrow elongated piece
- cartridgeSealed container for supplies
- disposableMade for one use
single-use · kit · handheld · compact · portable · self-contained · point-of-care · pocket-sized · reader · dipstick
- medical testsCT scan, X-ray, MRI, CBC, blood work
- diagnostic testsurine culture, blood culture, diagnostic kit, bacterial culture, throat swab
- immunoassaysEIA, neutralization, agglutination, serology, titer
- saliva testssaliva sample, oral swab, cheek swab, cotton swab, swab
- immunologyimmune system, immune response, antibodies, antigens, immunity
- Biosensorsbiosensor, glucose monitor, biochip, lab-on-a-chip, microarray
lateral flow testPCR test
DNA amplification diagnostic method
blood culture · genetic sequencing · sequencing · mass spectrometry
lateral, laterally, bilateral, bilaterally, unilateral, unilaterally, collateral, equilateral, flow