A method for detecting a plurality of target molecules in a sample comprising: a. contacting a sample with a composition comprising a plurality of target probes, wherein each target probe in the plurality comprises: i. a target-binding molecule that specifically binds to a distinct target molecule in the sample; ii. an identification nucleotide sequence that identifies the target-binding molecule; and iii. a cleavable linker between the target-binding molecule and the identification nucleotide sequence; b. separating unbound target probes from a plurality of complexes in the sample, each complex having a target molecule and a single target probe bound thereto, wherein the complex does not have a second target probe binding to a different region of the target molecule; c. releasing the identification nucleotide sequences from the plurality of complexes; d. coupling the released identification nucleotide sequences from the releasing step (c) to a detection composition comprising a plurality of reporter probes, wherein each reporter probe in the plurality comprises: a first target probe-specific region that is capable of binding a first portion of the identification nucleotide sequence: and a detectable label that identifies the reporter probe, wherein the label creates a unique distinguishable signal for each reporter probe; and e. detecting signals from the released identification nucleotide sequences based on a non-gel electrophoresis method without any amplification steps, wherein the signals are distinguishable for the identification nucleotide sequences, thereby identifying the corresponding target- binding molecules and detecting a plurality of different target molecules in the sample, and wherein the composition further comprises a plurality of control probes, wherein each control probe in the plurality comprises a control-binding molecule that specifically binds to one control molecule in the sample; an identification control sequence that identifies the control-binding molecule; and a cleavable linker between the control-binding molecule and the identification control sequence. a. contacting a sample with a composition comprising a plurality of target probes, wherein each target probe in the plurality comprises: i. a target-binding molecule that specifically binds to a distinct target molecule in the sample; ii. an identification nucleotide sequence that identifies the target-binding molecule; and iii. a cleavable linker between the target-binding molecule and the identification nucleotide sequence; i. a target-binding molecule that specifically binds to a distinct target molecule in the sample; ii. an identification nucleotide sequence that identifies the target-binding molecule; and iii. a cleavable linker between the target-binding molecule and the identification nucleotide sequence; b. separating unbound target probes from a plurality of complexes in the sample, each complex having a target molecule and a single target probe bound thereto, wherein the complex does not have a second target probe binding to a different region of the target molecule; c. releasing the identification nucleotide sequences from the plurality of complexes; d. coupling the released identification nucleotide sequences from the releasing step (c) to a detection composition comprising a plurality of reporter probes, wherein each reporter probe in the plurality comprises: a first target probe-specific region that is capable of binding a first portion of the identification nucleotide sequence: and a detectable label that identifies the reporter probe, wherein the label creates a unique distinguishable signal for each reporter probe; and e. detecting signals from the released identification nucleotide sequences based on a non-gel electrophoresis method without any amplification steps, wherein the signals are distinguishable for the identification nucleotide sequences, thereby identifying the corresponding target- binding molecules and detecting a plurality of different target molecules in the sample, and