Segmentation by type of colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay distinguishes the functional architectures that underpin the POCT market. The primary lateral flow assay (LFA) format, encompassing sandwich and competitive sub‑types, commands the largest share due to its simplicity, low cost, and compatibility with mass production. Dipstick formats, typically single‑sample strip designs, represent a secondary tier, favored in low‑resource settings for their minimal handling steps. Microfluidic chip assays, integrating gold nanoparticles within sealed channels, capture emerging premium segments where multiplexing and quantitative read‑out are valued, albeit at higher unit costs. Within each type, sub‑type differentiation—such as dual‑label sandwich LFAs for simultaneous detection of two antigens—adds granularity to market sizing, as manufacturers allocate R&D spend proportionally to anticipated clinical uptake. Collectively, these type‑based categories delineate the technology roadmap, with LFAs driving bulk volume and microfluidic chips steering future value‑added growth.