&NA;An immunochromatographic assay (ICA) system including test strip reader and related test strip device for the quantitative determination of alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) was developed. The desktop type test strip reader is composed of an optical sensor, photoelectrical converter device, single chip computer, and a coding chip fitted to the related lot of test strips. The main reagents of the test strip were a pair of monoclonal antibodies, one conjugated to colloidal gold, and the other immobilized on a nitrocellulose membrane. The test procedure is simple and rapid, producing a result after 5 minutes that is shown on the display window and printed out as AFP IU/ml. The measuring range of the system is 30 to 400IU/ml. Determination of AFP calibrators showed good accuracy. Coefficients of variation for within‐day and between‐day precision were 7.7% to 12% and 11% to 19%, respectively. Thirty‐seven serum samples from pregnant women and patients with suspected liver disease were determined simultaneously using the ICA system and the Roche Elecsys 2010 (Roche Diagnostics, Corp., Indianapolis, IN). The two assays showed a high correlation (r=0.9620; y=0.934x+3.599). The ICA system could be useful as a POCT procedure for the determination of AFP.