Abstract: A universal and standalone rapid diagnostics test reader is disclosed herein that includes: a set of control electronics, an illumination component, an imaging component, a housing component, a wireless communication component, a rapid diagnostics test component, a universal rapid diagnostics test tray, wherein the tray can hold at least one rapid diagnostics test component having a shape and a size in a fixed position relative to the imaging component and the illumination component, and wherein the reader can accommodate more than one different rapid diagnostics test component, while using the same universal rapid diagnostics test tray.