The present invention relates to a sintered porous polymeric material useful as membrane in an analyte detection device, such as a lateral flow device, flow through device, or a dipstick device. The invention encompasses an analyte detection device that comprises such a sintered porous polymeric material and method of analyte detection using such a device. Specific sintered porous polymeric materials encompassed by the invention are surface activated and further coated with one or more layers of a variety of materials.