Reader Platforms and Customization
Lumos leverages its suite of established mature core optical technologies to customize reader platforms based on the unique needs of each client. This strategy effectively minimizes development costs and mitigates risks, resulting in a quicker time to market.
Contact us to learn more about Lumos Reader Platforms
Contact us
Customized Reader Solutions
Customized Reader Solutions Lumos understands that developing all the components needed for a successful POC device can be an expensive endeavor. We draw upon our extensive understanding of the POC market to develop our own POC reader platforms. With built-in flexibility, we can easily tailor the final product to meet clients' needs. We provide mixed and match features and functions to help develop the reader solution that best meets your target market requirements.
Disposable Readers
The Lumos Multi-use Disposable Reader provides ultimate portability for digitization of lateral flow test strips and Bluetooth connectivity to mobile devices for easy access to results.
- Portable, high throughput solution for point- of-care settings
- Reader device is supplied as a kit with up to 50 single use test strips
- Assay results displayed via on device LED indicators
- Optional Bluetooth connectivity to mobile devices for operation with a companion app
The Lumos disposable reader platform has been designed for easy drop-in of test strips and uploading of custom assay specific analysis algorithms. These readers can easily be customized to meet users’ needs, with optional colorimetric or fluorescent labels, on-device LED indicator or LCD numerical results outputs, qualitative and quantitative options, and Bluetooth connectivity for reporting of results via a smartphone or tablet.
Lumos also offers a Single-use Disposable Reader solution, with the test strip is fully integrated with the reader in a single-use, fully disposable system.
Reusable Readers
The Lumos Camera Reader provides high-performance detection technology in a cost-effective reader. Our handheld reader can be easily customized to serve a wide range of applications.
- Multi-assay support through integrated cassette barcode reading
- Bluetooth connectivity to mobile devices for operation with a companion app to guide the user, report and store results, and provide external connectivity
- High precision measurement for qualitative and quantitative applications and a variety of assay detector chemistries (i.e. visual, fluorescent labels)
- Available in an easy-to-use benchtop solution that integrates the reader, tablet and cradle.
The camera optics utilized in the reusable reader are also offered in the Lumos Leelu research-use-only benchtop Reader. This enables clients performing their own assay development to gather relevant data.
Off-the-Shelf Product Solutions
The Lumos RUO Leelu Reader is a highly flexible lateral flow reader, that was developed to support our assay development partners and assist in quality control for manufacture of lateral flow products. The Leelu Reader is RUO and not intended to be used for clinical diagnosis or patient management.
The Leelu reader allows our partners to utilize the same optical configuration during development as the final customized reader product. Likewise, when test strips are transferred into manufacturing, product quality can be examined in detail to facilitate troubleshooting and ensure consistent product is produced.
The Leelu Reader is suitable for use across a range of assay types and chemistries:
- Qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative applications
- Configurable across a range of visual and fluorescent detection labels
Leelu Reader product features include:
- Best in class optical sensitivity to detect low analyte detection levels
- Wide dynamic range to cover a broad range of analyte concentrations and enables identification of assay hook effect
- Wide field of view to enable imaging of the entire test strip, useful to identify sample flow and conjugate release issues and multiplexing
- High resolution imaging to view consistency of test and control lines, identify artefacts (i.e. streaking, bright spots, etc) and store a permanent visual record of the test strip
- Easy to use proprietary analysis software and tools to quantify test and control line intensities and background readings at multiple defined locations
- Full access to raw data (test strip images, CSV and Excel) to support data analysis and research needs
- Rapid 5 second read time
- Flexible sample tray to accommodate multiple strip and cartridge format
Development Capabilities
Lumos has a wide range of experience in POC reader development, from flexible laboratory systems through to portable disposable devices suitable for in-field use.
By using Lumos's existing reader optical technologies, the development timeline, cost and product risk are reduced, resulting in a faster time to market.
Lumos is able to tailor the final product to meet our partners' requirements for performance, cost and regulatory needs
How we do it
End-to-End Reader Customization Process
Lumos mature optical technologies and reader platforms provides a jump start to development of a digital diagnostic product. These can be customized to include partner branding, addition of application specific features and alternate form factors. Lumos readers can be leveraged throughout the development program, minimizing the risk of developing the optical platform and assays in parallel.
Phase 1 – Feasibility
The off-the-shelf Leelu R&D Reader is available from the start to support assay feasibility studies and generation of assay specific algorithms that are easily transferred to the Lumos disposable or handheld readers.
Phase 2 – Customization
Lumos disposable or handheld readers are employed during the development phase. If new features are needed, custom reader prototypes are generated using rapid prototyping techniques.
Phase 3 - Verification & Initiate Design Transfer
Our standard disposable and handheld readers have been verified and come supplied with the relevant design file documentation. Any customizations are reverified and transferred into production.
Phase 4 - Validation & Complete Design Transfer
Readers are manufactured to ISO 13485 ready for formal regulatory trials.
Throughout the development program, our experienced Project Management Office will ensure clear communication of project progress and tracking against timelines and budget.
Frequently asked questions
Why use a reader for a lateral flow assay?
A reader is appropriate when a lateral flow test needs quantitative or semi-quantitative output, tighter consistency near a critical decision threshold, fluorescent detection, multiplex interpretation, automated result capture, connectivity, or reduced dependence on subjective visual interpretation. When a reader is the right fit, Lumos Diagnostics offers customizable, market-ready reader platforms that can be adapted to a partner's specific assay and product requirements, helping accelerate development without starting from scratch.
What detection labels and optical chemistries do point-of-care readers support?
Lumos Diagnostics reader platforms support colorimetric detection labels (such as colloidal gold, latex microspheres and gold nanoshells) as well as fluorescent labels (like europium or fluorophores).
What types of readers are available for lateral flow diagnostics?
Lumos Diagnostics offers two mature, market-ready lateral flow reader platforms, both developed to ISO 13485 and highly customizable. The reusable Camera Reader supports high-precision qualitative or quantitative measurement across a variety of detection chemistries and has in-built cassette barcode reading for multi-assay use. The disposable reader line, available in multi-use and single-use configurations, is built for portability and is configurable for colorimetric or fluorescent labels, qualitative or quantitative reporting, and Bluetooth connectivity. Lumos Diagnostics also offers the research-use-only benchtop Leelu Reader, a flexible, high-performance option for assay developers to collect in-depth results before deciding on the optimal reader for their end-use case.
What connectivity and cloud integration options are available for point-of-care readers?
Lumos Diagnostics readers have Bluetooth built in to transmit test results to companion mobile apps. Our template apps give our partners a starting point that can be readily customized to their specific needs, along with cloud connectivity for storing and managing results and device data. These connectivity and software capabilities are covered in more depth on Lumos Diagnostics App and Cloud services page, since a Lumos Diagnostics reader is designed to work as part of a complete hardware and software solution rather than as a standalone device.
What is the typical process for transitioning an assay from an R&D reader to a high-volume commercial reader?
Assay optimization typically begins on a benchtop R&D reader, which offers greater flexibility and analytical capability during early development. As the assay matures, work moves to the commercial reader platform to generate full system performance data and build the initial algorithm. Alongside this, the reader, lateral flow cassette, and companion app are customized as needed to meet target market requirements. Any changes made to off-the-shelf readers are then reverified, and the design is transferred for ISO 13485 pilot manufacturing, preparing the reader for clinical trial use and formal product validation.
Why use an off-the-shelf point-of-care reader instead of developing custom hardware?
Lumos Diagnostics market-ready reader platforms give partners a major head start on their point-of-care product development and commercialization journey. Lumos Diagnostics readers have been developed to ISO standards and proven across a wide range of assays with Lumos Diagnostics, its partners and end users. As such, assay development can move at speed with confidence, without the added risk of developing reader and assay in parallel or discovering late that a design is not suitable for real-world use or manufacturable at scale. Lumos Diagnostics deep in-house assay and reader expertise further supports partners with algorithm development, calibration curve generation, and temperature compensation. The result is a faster, lower-risk path from feasibility to a manufactured, market-ready product.
Can Lumos Diagnostics manufacture both the reader and the lateral flow test strips?
Lumos Diagnostics provides end-to-end original equipment manufacturing (OEM) for complete diagnostic solutions, including test cartridges, reagents and customized reader hardware. Discover our capabilities on the Manufacturing Services page.