A method of generating a covalent binding complex comprising a target molecule, said method comprising: combining in a reaction mixture a substrate surface, wherein said substrate surface comprises a plurality of target immobilization probes; a sample suspected of containing a target molecule; and a linking molecule, wherein said linking molecule comprises one or more target-specific binding moieties which specifically bind to said target molecule, when present, wherein when the linking molecule comprises multiple target-specific binding moieties, each of said target-specific binding moieties specifically binds to a different region of said target molecule when present; and one or more first members of a reactive pair, wherein said combining is under reaction conditions sufficient to provide for specific binding of said target molecule, if present, to one of said plurality of target-immobilization probes, and wherein said combining is under reaction conditions sufficient to provide for specific binding of said linking molecule to said target molecule, if present; performing a wash step to remove non-specifically bound linking molecules; contacting the reaction mixture with a detectable label, wherein said detectable label comprises a plurality of second members of said reactive pair; and subjecting said reaction mixture to conditions suitable for formation of covalent bonds between first members of said reactive pair and second members of said reactive pair, wherein, when said target molecule is present in said sample, one of said plurality of target-immobilization probes specifically binds to said target molecule, said linking molecule specifically binds to said target molecule and forms one or more covalent bonds via reaction of one or more of said plurality of second members with said one or more first members of said reactive pair, thereby forming a complex comprising said substrate surface, said one of said plurality of target-immobilization probes, said target molecule, said linking molecule and said detectable label. combining in a reaction mixture a substrate surface, wherein said substrate surface comprises a plurality of target immobilization probes; a sample suspected of containing a target molecule; and a linking molecule, wherein said linking molecule comprises one or more target-specific binding moieties which specifically bind to said target molecule, when present, wherein when the linking molecule comprises multiple target-specific binding moieties, each of said target-specific binding moieties specifically binds to a different region of said target molecule when present; and one or more first members of a reactive pair, wherein said combining is under reaction conditions sufficient to provide for specific binding of said target molecule, if present, to one of said plurality of target-immobilization probes, and wherein said combining is under reaction conditions sufficient to provide for specific binding of said linking molecule to said target molecule, if present; a substrate surface, wherein said substrate surface comprises a plurality of target immobilization probes; a sample suspected of containing a target molecule; and a linking molecule, wherein said linking molecule comprises one or more target-specific binding moieties which specifically bind to said target molecule, when present, wherein when the linking molecule comprises multiple target-specific binding moieties, each of said target-specific binding moieties specifically binds to a different region of said target molecule when present; and one or more first members of a reactive pair, wherein said combining is under reaction conditions sufficient to provide for specific binding of said target molecule, if present, to one of said plurality of target-immobilization probes, and one or more target-specific binding moieties which specifically bind to said target molecule, when present, wherein when the linking molecule comprises multiple target-specific binding moieties, each of said target-specific binding moieties specifically binds to a different region of said target molecule when present; and one or more first members of a reactive pair, wherein said combining is under reaction conditions sufficient to provide for specific binding of said target molecule, if present, to one of said plurality of target-immobilization probes, and performing a wash step to remove non-specifically bound linking molecules; contacting the reaction mixture with a detectable label, wherein said detectable label comprises a plurality of second members of said reactive pair; and subjecting said reaction mixture to conditions suitable for formation of covalent bonds between first members of said reactive pair and second members of said reactive pair, wherein, when said target molecule is present in said sample, one of said plurality of target-immobilization probes specifically binds to said target molecule, said linking molecule specifically binds to said target molecule and forms one or more covalent bonds via reaction of one or more of said plurality of second members with said one or more first members of said reactive pair, thereby forming a complex comprising said substrate surface, said one of said plurality of target-immobilization probes, said target molecule, said linking molecule and said detectable label.