Abstract: A lateral flow test strip reader for reading an output of a lateral flow assay to determine a presence or absence of a target in a sample includes: a housing having a lateral flow test strip receptacle for receiving a lateral flow test strip therein, the lateral flow test strip receptacle defining a test region and a control region for a lateral flow test strip; a light source that generates an excitation light beam; at least one lens for optically expanding the excitation light beam in a direction across the test region and the control region such that the excitation light beam is configured to simultaneously impinge and excite both the test region and the control region; and an optical detector configured to simultaneously detect an image comprising emission signals from the test region and the control region, wherein the detected emission signals indicate a presence or absence of a target in the sample.