Method for quantifying a plurality of target molecules in a sample, comprising a) providing (i) the plurality of target molecules, wherein the target molecules are immobilized on a solid substrate, and (ii) a plurality of detection conjugates each comprising a binding molecule binding specifically to the target molecule and a nucleic acid marker, wherein the binding molecule and the nucleic acid marker are non-covalently linked, b) contacting the plurality of target molecules and the plurality of detection conjugates under conditions that allow specific binding of the binding molecules to the target molecules to form detection conjugate:target molecule complexes, c) contacting the detection conjugate:target molecule complexes formed in step (b) with (i) a release agent that allows release of the nucleic acid markers from the plurality of detection conjugate:target molecule complexes, wherein the release is facilitated by competitive binding of the release agent to at least one member of the non-covalently linked detection conjugate, and (ii) optionally nucleic acid amplification agents, d) separating the released nucleic acid markers from the binding molecule:target molecule complexes, e) diluting the released nucleic acid markers to obtain a plurality of amplification mixtures that are spatially separated, each comprising amplification agents and none or at least one nucleic acid marker molecule, f) subjecting the plurality of amplification mixtures of step e) to conditions that allow amplification of the nucleic acid marker, g) detecting the presence or absence of a signal indicating the amplification of the nucleic acid marker in each of the plurality of amplification mixtures individually and determining the amount of amplification mixtures having a positive signal, and h) comparing the amount determined in step g) with a reference, thereby quantifying the amount of the target molecule in the sample. a) providing (i) the plurality of target molecules, wherein the target molecules are immobilized on a solid substrate, and (ii) a plurality of detection conjugates each comprising a binding molecule binding specifically to the target molecule and a nucleic acid marker, wherein the binding molecule and the nucleic acid marker are non-covalently linked, (i) the plurality of target molecules, wherein the target molecules are immobilized on a solid substrate, and (ii) a plurality of detection conjugates each comprising a binding molecule binding specifically to the target molecule and a nucleic acid marker, wherein the binding molecule and the nucleic acid marker are non-covalently linked, b) contacting the plurality of target molecules and the plurality of detection conjugates under conditions that allow specific binding of the binding molecules to the target molecules to form detection conjugate:target molecule complexes, c) contacting the detection conjugate:target molecule complexes formed in step (b) with (i) a release agent that allows release of the nucleic acid markers from the plurality of detection conjugate:target molecule complexes, wherein the release is facilitated by competitive binding of the release agent to at least one member of the non-covalently linked detection conjugate, and (ii) optionally nucleic acid amplification agents, (i) a release agent that allows release of the nucleic acid markers from the plurality of detection conjugate:target molecule complexes, wherein the release is facilitated by competitive binding of the release agent to at least one member of the non-covalently linked detection conjugate, and (ii) optionally nucleic acid amplification agents, d) separating the released nucleic acid markers from the binding molecule:target molecule complexes, e) diluting the released nucleic acid markers to obtain a plurality of amplification mixtures that are spatially separated, each comprising amplification agents and none or at least one nucleic acid marker molecule, f) subjecting the plurality of amplification mixtures of step e) to conditions that allow amplification of the nucleic acid marker, g) detecting the presence or absence of a signal indicating the amplification of the nucleic acid marker in each of the plurality of amplification mixtures individually and determining the amount of amplification mixtures having a positive signal, and h) comparing the amount determined in step g) with a reference, thereby quantifying the amount of the target molecule in the sample.