In general lateral flow immunoassays - often called rapid tests - are simple one-step or two-step assays for the qualitative determination of analytes directly out of patient's samples. However quantitative interpretation of the results of rapid tests is also possible which is becoming more and more important in the field of point-of-care (syn.: bedside) testing. Beside its fast performance the detection of analytes (small molecules like antibodies or other soluble analytes and antigens) directly from whole blood, urine or other body fluids without any further treatment is one of the major advantages of rapid tests. more...