Magnetic and/or electric label assisted detection system and method
A detection method ( 200 ) detects analytes in a fluid sample. The detection method includes transporting magnetic and/or electric labels ( 5 ) after interaction between the sample fluid and a reagent towards a detection receptacle ( 1 ). The detection receptacle ( 1 ) is initially substantially magnetic and/or electric label ( 5 ) free. By transporting the magnetic and/or electric labels ( 5 ) after reaction, interference between unreacted reagents and magnetic and/or electric label-assisted detection can be reduced.
1. A method for detecting at least one target molecule, the method comprising:
allowing interaction between a sample containing at least one target molecule and at least one primary magnetic and/or electric label to thereby obtain at least one labeled target molecule,
applying a first magnetic field having a first orientation to transport the at least one primary magnetic and/or electric labeled target molecule to a detection surface wherein the primary magnetic and/or electric labeled target molecule binds the detection surface,
applying a second magnetic field having a second orientation to transport at least one secondary magnetic and/or electric label to the detection surface,
allowing the at least one secondary magnetic and/or electric label to interact with the at least one primary magnetic or electric label to obtain at least one primary and secondary magnetic and/or electric labeled target module,
after said allowing of said interaction of the primary magnetic and/or electric labeled target molecule, detecting the at least one primary and secondary magnetic and/or electric label bound to the detection surface.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic and/or electric label is a magnetic label.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second orientations are substantially orthogonal to each other.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic field transports the primary magnetic and/or electric label along the first orientation without transporting the secondary magnetic and/or electric label, and
the second magnetic field transports the secondary magnetic and/or electric label along a second orientation without transporting the primary magnetic and/or electric label.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further including:
waiting until the primary magnetic and/or electric label is bound to the detector surface and then applying the first magnetic field again in a manner to transport unbound primary magnetic and/or electric labels out of the first receptacle.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection surface is disposed in a first receptacle, the primary magnetic and/or electric label is contained in a second receptacle, and the secondary magnetic and/or electric label is contained in a third receptacle.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sample interacts with the primary magnetic and/or electric label in the first receptacle, and after a predetermined time, the secondary magnetic and/or electric label is transported to the first receptacle to react with the primary magnetic and/or electric label.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sample interacts with a reagent and the secondary magnetic and/or electric label in the second receptacle.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising detecting a time of arrival in the first receptacle of a fluid containing the at least one target molecule.