Patent ID: 7229763

Claim:
An assay method for a target ligand comprising the steps of: a) providing a solid support having a plurality of capture oligonucleotides immobilized on the solid support; b) adding to the solid support a plurality of capture ligands attached to complementary oligonucleotides, wherein at least a portion of the complementary oligonucleotides have first detectable labels directly attached thereto and the capture ligands are antibodies or antigens; c) providing conditions suitable for hybridization of the capture oligonucleotides and the complementary oligonucleotides to form double stranded nucleic acid duplexes; d) bringing the target ligand in contact with the solid support under conditions whereby the target ligand binds to the capture ligand to form a first complex; e) adding a plurality of detector ligands having second detectable labels to the solid support under conditions whereby the one or more than one detector ligand binds to the target ligand to form a second complex; f) detecting the first detectable labels; and g) detecting the second detectable labels in the second complex, thereby detecting the target ligand.