Capture ligand controls, blocking probes, masking probes and methods of using the same

1. A method for detecting an analyte, comprising:

providing a solid support comprising an immobilized first capture binding ligand and a dummy binding ligand comprising a second detectable label;

contacting said immobilized first capture binding ligand with a sample suspected of containing an analyte; and

analyzing said solid support for the presence of a first detectable label, wherein said solid support comprises an electrode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first capture binding ligand is covalently bound to said first detectable label.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

forming a complex comprising said analyte with said immobilized first capture binding ligand and a signal probe, said signal probe comprising said first detectable label.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said analyzing determines one or more electronic properties.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first detectable label comprises a redox active label.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said redox active label comprises a ferrocene or a ferrocene derivative.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said solid support comprises a plurality of detection electrodes.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said immobilized first capture binding ligand is different as between different detection electrodes.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said solid support with one or more of a blocking probe and/or a masking probe.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein detection of the analyte is indicative of an infectious disease.

11. A composition for electrochemically detecting one or more analytes, comprising:

a solid support comprising a plurality of electrodes comprising:

an immobilized first capture binding ligand bound to an analyte and a first detectable label and a dummy binding ligand comprising a second detectable label.

12. The composition of claim 11 , further comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a blocking probe, and a masking probe.

13. The composition of claim 11 , wherein the electrodes further comprise a second capture binding ligand comprising a third detectable label.

14. The composition of claim 11 , wherein said first and second labels comprise redox active labels.

15. The composition of claim 14 , wherein said redox active labels comprise ferrocenes or ferrocene derivatives.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising analyzing said solid support for the presence of the dummy binding ligand.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second detectable label has a different potential than the first detectable label.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dummy binding ligand cannot bind the analyte.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the analyte is a nucleic acid.

20. The composition of claim 11 , wherein the analyte is a nucleic acid.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein when the dummy binding ligand is detected the electrode is operational.

22. A method for detecting a target nucleic acid comprising:

a) providing a solid support comprising a plurality of electrodes, comprising:

i) an immobilized first capture nucleic acid; and

ii) a dummy capture nucleic acid;

b) contacting said a plurality of electrodes with:

i) a target nucleic acid;

ii) a first signal probe with a first detectable label; and

iii) a second signal probe with a second detectable label, wherein said second signal probe hybridizes to said dummy capture nucleic acid;

c) detecting the presence or absence of said first detectable label to detect the presence or absence of said target nucleic acid and detecting the presence of said second detectable label to confirm the electrode is operational.

23. The composition of claim 22 , wherein the second detectable label has a different potential than the first detectable label.

24. The composition of claim 22 , wherein the dummy binding ligand is non-homologous to target sequence.