Patent ID: 8354280

Claim:
A method comprising: introducing a sample including a plurality of magnetic particles and an analyte into a fluid chamber including a detection surface comprising an acoustic device having a vibrating membrane and a first capture agent linked to the detection surface, wherein the sample includes at least one magnetic particle, of the plurality of magnetic particles, functionalized with a second capture agent capable of binding the analyte bound to a third capture agent coupled to at least one non-analyte tag molecule; binding the non-analyte tag molecule to the first capture agent and binding the second capture agent to the analyte; monitoring, using the detection surface, a first signal output generated by interaction of the vibrating membrane and the plurality of magnetic particles; and generating a flow transient over the detection surface for removing the non-analyte tag molecule from the first capture agent; removing the non-analyte tag molecule from the first capture agent while the first capture agent remains linked to the detection surface so that the first capture agent is reusable.