Patent ID: 8310231

Claim:
A device for the detection of one or more analytes in a liquid sample, the device comprising: (a) a reader configured to receive a signal from the liquid sample, the reader comprising (i) one or more permanent magnets defining a magnetic field, (ii) an RF excitation coil for transmitting an RF excitation to the liquid sample, (iii) an RF coil configured to detect an NMR relaxation response produced by exposing the liquid sample to the magnetic field and the RF excitation, (iv) an electrical element in communication with the RF coil, the electrical element configured to amplify, rectify, transmit, and/or digitize the signal corresponding to the NMR relaxation response, and (v) a display for indicating the presence or concentration of the one or more analytes; and (b) a support defining a well holding the liquid sample comprising magnetic particles and the one or more analytes and having the RF coil disposed about the well, the RF coil configured to detect an echo response produced by exposing the liquid sample to a bias magnetic field created using the one or more permanent magnets and the RF excitation, wherein the magnetic particles have binding moieties on their surfaces, the binding moieties operative to alter an aggregation of the magnetic particles in the presence of the one or more analytes.