Patent ID: 8021848

Claim:
A method for detecting individual target cells or viruses in a liquid sample, wherein said sample is added to a container comprising a detection surface and said targets measure less than 50 microns in at least two orthogonal dimensions, wherein said method comprises the steps of: a. contacting said individual targets with one or more signaling moieties that specifically bind to the targets, b. depositing said targets on said detection surface so that they are randomly dispersed in a detection zone comprising a detection area at a density of less than 100 target cells per mm 2 , c. illuminating said individual targets to generate a detectable signal from said one or more signaling moieties, and d. simultaneously detecting said individual targets by detecting said signal in a section of said detection area using a photoelectric detector, wherein the longest linear dimension of said section is greater than 1 mm, using magnification of less than or equal to 5 times, wherein said one or more signaling moieties that do not bind to said targets are not removed from said container prior to said detecting.