Scanning multifunctional particles

A method for detecting multiple analytes in a sample comprising:

• (a) mixing a plurality of multifunctional particles with a sample containing one or more target analytes, wherein each individual particle comprises one or more interrogation regions detectable as a sequence of events and one or more probes specific for the one or more target analytes;
• (b) interrogating the plurality of multifunctional particles;
• (c) recording multiple events wherein each individual event corresponds to each individual interrogation region detectable above a pre-determined triggering threshold, and wherein the binding between a probe and its corresponding target analyte alters corresponding event associated with the interrogation region containing the probe;
• (d) grouping the events for each particle;
• (e) detecting the presence of the one or more target analytes by detecting altered events based on the grouping result from step (d) as compared to a control.

A method for characterizing multifunctional objects comprising:

• (a) interrogating a plurality of objects, wherein each individual object comprises one or more interrogation regions, each interrogation region characterized with a detectable signal pattern once interrogated;
• (b) recording detectable signals;
• (c) grouping the recorded detectable signals, and
• (d) characterizing the plurality of objects based on the grouping results from step (c).

A method for detecting multiple analytes in a sample comprising:

• (a) mixing a plurality of multifunctional particles with a sample containing one or more target analytes, wherein each individual particle comprises one or more interrogation regions, each interrogation region characterized with a detectable signal pattern once interrogated, and one or more probes specific for the one or more target analytes;
• (b) interrogating the plurality of multifunctional particles;
• (c) recording detectable signals wherein the binding between a probe and its corresponding target analyte alters corresponding detectable signal pattern associated with the interrogation region containing the probe;
• (d) grouping the detectable signals for each particle;
• (e) detecting the presence of the one or more target analytes by detecting altered signal pattern based on the grouping result from step (d) as compared to a control.