Patent ID: 8409877

Claim:
A method of detecting an analyte, comprising providing a magnetic affinity complex and a signal affinity complex in a fluidic network comprising a plurality of fluidic zones, wherein the plurality of fluidic zones comprises a sample zone, a cleaning zone, and a detection zone, wherein the fluidic network is functionally coupled to a vibration element, and wherein the signal affinity complex comprises a signal particle comprising a SERS-active nanoparticle, introducing a sample suspected of comprising an analyte into the sample zone, wherein the analyte combines with the magnetic affinity complex and the signal affinity complex to form a sandwich binding complex, activating a microcoil array or a mechanically movable permanent magnet functionally coupled to the fluidic network to thereby move the sandwich binding complex to the detection zone without fluidic movement of a fluid in the plurality of the fluidic zones, wherein the microcoil array comprises a plurality of microcoils arranged in a non-overlapping relationship, and detecting the presence of the sandwich binding complex within the detection zone using a SERS detection element functionally coupled to the fluidic network.