Patent ID: 8685753

Claim:
A method of detecting multiple analytes, which comprises: providing a first sample comprising at least one analyte from a first group of two or more analytes; providing a second sample comprising at least one analyte from a second group of two or more analytes; providing a first population of particles comprising two or more subsets of particles, wherein each subset of particles comprises a capture molecule that specifically binds directly or indirectly to one of the analytes of the first group, which capture molecule is different than that on all other subsets of particles in the first population, wherein a different capture molecule and subset of particles is provided for each different analyte in the first group; providing a second population of particles comprising two or more subsets of particles, wherein each subset of particles comprises a capture molecule that specifically binds directly or indirectly to one of the analytes of the second group, which capture molecule is different than that on all other subsets of particles in the second population, wherein a different capture molecule and subset of particles is provided for each different analyte in the second group; wherein each subset of particles is distinguishable from all other subsets of particles; contacting the first sample with the first population of particles, and separately contacting the second sample with the second population of particles; combining the first and second populations of particles after contacting them with the samples; and after combining the populations of particles, detecting which subsets of particles have an analyte captured on the particles by detecting a label bound to the analyte, thereby indicating which analytes were present in the samples.