Recent progress in dual/multi-modal detection modes for improving sensitivity and specificity of lateral flow immunoassays applied for point-of-care diagnostics

During the COVID-19 pandemic, lateral flow assay (LFA) based diagnostics witnessed an unprecedented expansion, enabling testing access beyond the conventional healthcare system. Their appeal lies in their user-friendly nature, affordability, and swift results. However, their impact on disease control is limited by factors like sensitivity and specificity. To address these issues and achieve high accuracy, affordability, PCR-level sensitivity, and rapid detection, significant progress has been made in the development of next-generation lateral flow test strips. This review primarily focuses on dual/multi-modal immunoassay techniques, extensively employed to enhance LFA diagnostic sensitivity. Additionally, we delve into the separate roles of dual and multi-modal readers in ensuring specificity and amplifying signal sensitivity. Finally, the challenges and potential future outlook are thoroughly explored for advancing diagnostic methods.