Methods and equipment for detecting analytics in samples

Abstract

The method and apparatus described for detecting an analyte in a sample involve exposing a sample containing the target analyte to magnetizable particles. These particles are coated with molecules that bind to the target analyte, resulting in both bound and unbound complexes. The magnetizable particles, including both bound and unbound complexes, are located near a magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field is altered sufficiently to release at least a fraction of the magnetizable particles, including both bound and unbound composite materials, from their proximity to the magnetic field sensor, and changes in the magnetic signal detected from the net motion of the magnetizable particle relative to the magnetic sensor are measured as translational or rotational motion.