Final answer:
Immunochromatographic assays, known as lateral flow tests, are the simplest and fastest method for POC testing, commonly used in drug discovery and clinical monitoring. These assays include technologies like 'lab-on-a-chip' and are crucial for rapid and cost-effective diagnosis and monitoring of diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The simplest and fastest method for determining the concentration of drugs that are not binding to plasma proteins during activities such as drug discovery, clinical therapeutic drug monitoring, and clinical pharmacokinetic studies is the use of immunochromatographic assays. These assays, commonly known as lateral flow tests or strip tests, are favored for point-of-care (POC) testing due to their rapid and user-friendly nature.
Examples of lateral flow tests include the TORCH test for screening infections in pregnant women or newborns, and in-home pregnancy tests. Furthermore, these tests have become increasingly accessible through the development of technologies such as "lab-on-a-chip," which can test a single drop of blood for various diseases in minutes. This technological advancement, combined with the cost-effectiveness and ease of use of lateral flow tests, contributes to their common application in POC testing environments.
Laboratory equipment has evolved to include immunofiltration technology for disease diagnosis by capturing flowing, color-labeled antigen-antibody complexes. Additionally, commercial kits like Staphaurex have been developed for rapid disease detection. These advancements highlight the significance of lateral flow tests and similar methods in the rapid diagnosis and monitoring of diseases.