Patent ID: 6982147

Claim:
An apparatus for assaying specific binding of a probe to a target, said apparatus comprising: a sample support for supporting a sample containing the probe and the target; a light source for irradiating the sample; an optical train for conveying light from the light source to the sample; a light detector for detecting light emitted from the sample; an electricity source for providing an electric charge through the sample; an electrical property detector for detecting an electrical property of the sample; and a data analysis device in communication with the light detector and the electrical property detector, wherein the data analysis device is adapted to: (a) (1) produce an optical determination of probe-target binding as a function of light emitted from the sample, (2) produce an electrical determination of probe-target binding as a function of the electrical property, and (3) compare the optical determination with the electrical determination to assay specific binding of the probe to the target; or (b) (1) produce a pre-electrification determination of probe-target binding as a function of light emitted from the sample prior to providing the electric charge through the sample, (2) produce a post-electrification determination of probe-target binding as a function of light emitted from the sample concurrent with and/or subsequent to providing the electric charge through the sample, and (3) compare the pre-electrification determination with the post-electrification determination to assay specific binding of the probe to the target.