Abstract: An apparatus for a lateral flow nucleic acid assay with an integrated pore-based detector, which has the potential to detect pathogens, both microbial and viral, in aqueous samples in approximately 5 minutes or less without nucleic acid amplification or optical components. The detector is based on an electromechanical signal transduction mechanism that enables low-cost detection of DNA/RNA at ultralow concentrations (down to about 10 M to about 19 M). The scheme relies on the use of charge-neutral peptide nucleic acid (PNA) capture probe conjugated to polystyrene beads. The PNA-beads acquire substantial negative charge upon capture of target pathogenic DNA/RNA and become mobile in an electric field. Upon application of a bias voltage of around 1 V to 2 V, the PNA-beads with hybridized target are directed electrophoretically to a smaller diameter pore. Subsequent pore blockage results in a strong, sustained drop in measured ionic current through the pore.