Patent ID: 7815854

Claim:
An optical detection system for detecting the presence or quantity of an analyte within a test sample, said system comprising: a lateral flow assay device that includes a porous membrane and a conjugate pad that is in fluid communication with said porous membrane, wherein said conjugate pad contains detection probes conjugated with an immunoreactive specific binding member, said detection probes being capable of producing a detection signal, wherein a receptive material is immobilized within a detection zone defined by said porous membrane and located downstream from said conjugate pad, said receptive material being configured to bind to said immunoreactive specific binding member or to the analyte; an electroluminescent illumination source capable of providing electromagnetic radiation that causes said detection probes to produce said detection signal within said detection zone, wherein said electroluminescent illumination source is laminated to said porous membrane; and a detector capable of registering said detection signal produced by said detection probes within said detection zone.