Patent ID: 7718388

Claim:
A method for detecting or quantifying an analyte in a test sample comprising: providing at least one test mixture comprising: a test sample, wherein the test sample potentially contains an analyte; a marker complex, wherein the marker complex comprises a particle, a marker, and a first member of a first coupling group; a first binding material, wherein the first binding material is selected to bind with a portion of the analyte and wherein the first binding material comprises a second member of the first coupling group; and a second binding material, wherein the second binding material is selected to bind with a portion of the analyte other than the portion of the analyte for which the first binding material is selected and wherein the second binding material comprises a first member of a second coupling group; contacting the at least one test mixture with a surface having a second member of the second coupling group immobilized thereto; permitting reaction to occur between any analyte present and the first and second binding materials, between the first and second members of the first coupling group, and between the first and second members of the second coupling group; detecting the presence or amount of the marker on the surface using a detection assembly; and correlating the presence or amount of the marker on the surface with the presence or amount, respectively, of the analyte in the test sample; wherein the first and second members of the first coupling group and the first and second members of the second coupling group are capable of recognizing a particular spatial and polar organization of the other member of its respective coupling group.