DIGITAL ANALYTE ANALYSIS

1 . A method of detecting a target molecule, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of droplets, wherein one or more droplets comprise a target molecule;

flowing the plurality of droplets through a microfluidic channel, wherein the plurality of droplets are not single-file within a portion of the channel; and

flowing a plurality of droplets simultaneously past a detector, thereby detecting the target molecule in one or more of the droplets.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the target molecule is selected from the group consisting of: a nucleic acid, a protein, an antibody, an aptamer, a cell, and a microorganism.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein prior to the providing step, the method comprises forming the plurality of droplets.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of droplets are aqueous droplets in an immiscible fluid.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the immiscible fluid is oil.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the oil comprises a surfactant.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the surfactant is a fluorosurfactant.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the oil is a fluorinated oil.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the droplets comprise no more than a single target molecule.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more droplets are empty.

11 . A method for diagnosing a condition, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of droplets, wherein a subset of droplets comprise nucleic acid from a sample;

amplifying nucleic acid within the droplets;

detecting a signal above background for only droplets that comprise amplified nucleic acid; and

determining a ratio of a first type of nucleic acid to a second type of nucleic acid from the detected droplets, wherein the ratio is indicative of a condition.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein one or more droplets are empty.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein detecting comprising:

setting a threshold level on a detector that is above an optical signal emitted by the empty droplets; and

recording an optical signal above the threshold level emitted by droplets that comprise amplified nucleic acid.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a plurality of the droplets comprise no more than a single nucleic acid.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein prior to the providing step, the method comprises forming the plurality of droplets.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of droplets are aqueous droplets in an immiscible fluid.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the immiscible fluid is oil.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the oil comprises a surfactant.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the surfactant is a fluorosurfactant.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the oil is a fluorinated oil.