Patent ID: 7517660

Claim:
A method for detecting the presence of two or more antigens, comprising: a) providing a sample suspected of comprising two or more antigens; b) introducing the sample into a device, wherein the device comprises: i) an array comprising a plurality of sectors, each sector comprising a cell having antibodies which are expressed on the surface of the cell and are specific for an antigen to be detected, wherein binding of the antigen to the antibodies results in an increase in calcium concentration in the cytosol of the cell, the cell further having an emitter molecule which, in response to the increased calcium concentration in the cytosol, emits a photon; ii) liquid media in which the cell of each sector is immersed; and iii) an optical detector arranged for receiving a photon emitted from the cell; wherein at least two sectors comprise cells having antibodies specific to at least two antigens, whereby a first sector comprises a cell having antibodies specific for a first antigen and a second sector comprises a cell having antibodies specific for a second antigen; and c) monitoring photon emission from the at least two sectors comprising cells having antibodies specific to at least two antigens as an indication of whether two or more antigens are present.