A lateral flow device (400; 500; 800; 900; 1000) comprising: a substrate (40; 1002) having a surface (44; 1005); a sample addition zone (448; 1008) at a first end of a defined fluid flow path (474; 1028); an absorbing zone (480; 1032) disposed at an opposite end of the fluid flow path (474; 1028), the sample addition zone (448; 1008), the defined fluid flow path (474; 1028), and the absorbing zone (480; 1032) having a plurality of projections (490; 711; 1035; 1052) extending from the substrate surface that are configured to enable capillary flow of an introduced fluid along the fluid flow path (474; 1028); a hydrophilic foil or tape cover (240; 1040) disposed over the absorbing zone (480; 1032), said cover having a peripheral edge extending across the entrance of the absorbing zone across a flow channel entering the absorbing zone; and, at least one flow bridging structure which is located at the entrance of the absorbing zone (480; 1032) in the fluid flow path and which promotes the flow of fluid into the absorbing zone as the fluid advances past the peripheral edge of the hydrophilic foil or tape cover; wherein the at least one flow bridging structure comprises at least one of a groove or a bar formed in the substrate in a direction that is parallel to the direction of flow of the fluid and extending perpendicular and across the outer edge of the cover; wherein the at least one flow bridging structure is surrounded by a plurality of projections (490; 711; 1035; 1052), and wherein the at least one flow bridging structure begins upstream from the peripheral edge of the hydrophilic foil or tape cover (240; 1040) and extends downstream of the peripheral edge and within the absorbing zone (480; 1032) beneath the hydrophilic foil or tape cover (240; 1040). a substrate (40; 1002) having a surface (44; 1005); a sample addition zone (448; 1008) at a first end of a defined fluid flow path (474; 1028); an absorbing zone (480; 1032) disposed at an opposite end of the fluid flow path (474; 1028), the sample addition zone (448; 1008), the defined fluid flow path (474; 1028), and the absorbing zone (480; 1032) having a plurality of projections (490; 711; 1035; 1052) extending from the substrate surface that are configured to enable capillary flow of an introduced fluid along the fluid flow path (474; 1028); a hydrophilic foil or tape cover (240; 1040) disposed over the absorbing zone (480; 1032), said cover having a peripheral edge extending across the entrance of the absorbing zone across a flow channel entering the absorbing zone; and, at least one flow bridging structure which is located at the entrance of the absorbing zone (480; 1032) in the fluid flow path and which promotes the flow of fluid into the absorbing zone as the fluid advances past the peripheral edge of the hydrophilic foil or tape cover; wherein the at least one flow bridging structure comprises at least one of a groove or a bar formed in the substrate in a direction that is parallel to the direction of flow of the fluid and extending perpendicular and across the outer edge of the cover; wherein the at least one flow bridging structure is surrounded by a plurality of projections (490; 711; 1035; 1052), and wherein the at least one flow bridging structure begins upstream from the peripheral edge of the hydrophilic foil or tape cover (240; 1040) and extends downstream of the peripheral edge and within the absorbing zone (480; 1032) beneath the hydrophilic foil or tape cover (240; 1040).