A system for processing a plurality of lateral flow assay devices, comprising: a plurality of lateral flow assay devices, each of said lateral flow assay devices comprising a support and at least one sample addition area, at least one reaction area downstream of the at least one sample addition area, at least one detection area downstream of the at least one reaction area, and at least one wicking area downstream of the at least one detection area, each of said areas being disposed upon said support and fluidly interconnected along at least one lateral fluid flow path, wherein each of the plurality of lateral flow assay devices further comprises projections extending from the support, and having a height, diameter and reciprocal spacing capable of creating lateral capillary flow of a sample in the lateral fluid flow path; and an automated clinical analyzer, that is configured to receive and process dry-slide test elements, for processing said plurality of lateral flow devices, said automated clinical analyzer comprising: a metering mechanism for dispensing the sample onto the sample addition area of at least one lateral flow assay device, wherein the dispensed sample is caused to move along the lateral fluid flow path under the capillary flow created by the projections, and the reaction area includes a reagent which reacts with the sample to form a detectable signal; an incubator assembly having means for retaining a plurality of said lateral flow assay devices loaded from the metering mechanism after the sample has been dispensed onto the sample addition area of each lateral flow assay device; and at least one detection device, comprising a fluorimeter, disposed in a housing of the incubator assembly aligned to linearly scan a portion of the lateral fluid flow path of a retained lateral flow assay device, for detecting results of at least one lateral flow assay device, wherein each of the plurality of lateral flow assay devices has a form factor that enables interchangeability with a dry-slide test element in the clinical analyzer. a plurality of lateral flow assay devices, each of said lateral flow assay devices comprising a support and at least one sample addition area, at least one reaction area downstream of the at least one sample addition area, at least one detection area downstream of the at least one reaction area, and at least one wicking area downstream of the at least one detection area, each of said areas being disposed upon said support and fluidly interconnected along at least one lateral fluid flow path, wherein each of the plurality of lateral flow assay devices further comprises projections extending from the support, and having a height, diameter and reciprocal spacing capable of creating lateral capillary flow of a sample in the lateral fluid flow path; and an automated clinical analyzer, that is configured to receive and process dry-slide test elements, for processing said plurality of lateral flow devices, said automated clinical analyzer comprising: a metering mechanism for dispensing the sample onto the sample addition area of at least one lateral flow assay device, wherein the dispensed sample is caused to move along the lateral fluid flow path under the capillary flow created by the projections, and the reaction area includes a reagent which reacts with the sample to form a detectable signal; an incubator assembly having means for retaining a plurality of said lateral flow assay devices loaded from the metering mechanism after the sample has been dispensed onto the sample addition area of each lateral flow assay device; and at least one detection device, comprising a fluorimeter, disposed in a housing of the incubator assembly aligned to linearly scan a portion of the lateral fluid flow path of a retained lateral flow assay device, for detecting results of at least one lateral flow assay device, a metering mechanism for dispensing the sample onto the sample addition area of at least one lateral flow assay device, wherein the dispensed sample is caused to move along the lateral fluid flow path under the capillary flow created by the projections, and the reaction area includes a reagent which reacts with the sample to form a detectable signal; an incubator assembly having means for retaining a plurality of said lateral flow assay devices loaded from the metering mechanism after the sample has been dispensed onto the sample addition area of each lateral flow assay device; and at least one detection device, comprising a fluorimeter, disposed in a housing of the incubator assembly aligned to linearly scan a portion of the lateral fluid flow path of a retained lateral flow assay device, for detecting results of at least one lateral flow assay device, wherein each of the plurality of lateral flow assay devices has a form factor that enables interchangeability with a dry-slide test element in the clinical analyzer.