Patent ID: 8697029
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting an analyte, the method comprising: a) providing b) contacting a sample with said magnetic probes under conditions such that analyte objects comprising non-adherent prokaryotic cells or non-adherent eukaryotic cells in the sample are able to bind to said magnetic probes; (c) applying a rotating magnetic field at a driving rotation rate to rotate the magnetic probes so that the non-adherent prokaryotic cells or non-adherent eukaryotic cells bound to the magnetic probes have a net rotation rate that is slower than the driving rotation rate, the magnetic probes and the bound non-adherent prokaryotic cells or the bound non-adherent eukaryotic cells are directionally free to rotate in response to the rotating magnetic field; and (d) while applying the rotating magnetic field, detecting said different fluxes of light with said device to generate a modulated probe signal over time, as non-adherent prokaryotic cells or non-adherent eukaryotic cells bind or swell on the magnetic probes.