Lateral flow assay – replacing antibodies with non-animal derived protein binders

Dr. Creamer describes the use of antibody alternatives for lateral flow immunoassays (LFAs) such as affinity proteins such as Ankyrons®, affibodies and others as a more stable, ethical, and cost-effective diagnostic tool. Unlike conventional antibodies, affinity proteins are synthetic, animal-free, and highly stable under challenging storage conditions, making them promising for mass-deployable diagnostics. The study demonstrated that affinity proteins could directly replace antibodies in LFAs without loss of performance, achieving an entirely antibody-free test for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with comparable sensitivity and specificity.