Detection method and detection apparatus

A detection apparatus comprising:

• a reaction section that causes first dielectric particles and second dielectric particles to react with a sample that contains a first target substance and a second target substance, the first dielectric particles being modified with first substances having a property of specifically binding to the first target substance, the second dielectric particles being modified with second substances having a property of specifically binding to the second target substance different from the first target substance and having a different dielectrophoretic property from the first dielectric particles;
• a separator that separates a first composite particle that is a first dielectric particle to which the first target substance is bound among the first dielectric particles from the other first dielectric particle and separates a second composite particle that is a second dielectric particle to which the second target substance is bound among the second dielectric particles from the other second dielectric particle by causing dielectrophoresis in the sample after the reaction;
• and
• a detector that detects each of the first target substance and the second target substance, the first target substance being contained in the separated first composite particle, the second target substance being contained in the separated second composite particle.

A detection method comprising:

• (a) accommodating a sample that contains first target substances and second target substances, first dielectric particles, and second dielectric particles in a first space, thereby the first space containing a first composite particle, a second composite particle, a third dielectric particle, and a fourth dielectric particle,
• each of the first dielectric particles contains a first base material and a first substance, which modifies the first base material,
• each of the second dielectric particles contains a second base material and a second substance, which modifies the second base material,
• the first dielectric particles contain the third dielectric particle and a fifth dielectric particle,
• the second dielectric particles contain the fourth dielectric particle and a sixth dielectric particle,
• the first composite particle contains the fifth dielectric particle and a third target substance, which is contained in the first target substances, and the fifth dielectric particle and the third target substance are bound to each other via the first substance,
• the second composite particle contains the sixth dielectric particle and a fourth target substance, which is contained in the second target substances, and the sixth dielectric particle and the fourth target substance are bound to each other via the second substance,
• the third dielectric particle is not bound to any of the first target substances,
• the third dielectric particle is not bound to any of the second target substances,
• the fourth dielectric particle is not bound to any of the first target substances,
• the fourth dielectric particle is not bound to any of the second target substances,
• the first substance is capable of being directly bound to one of the first target substances,
• the second substance is capable of being directly bound to one of the second target substances,
• the first substance is incapable of being directly bound to any of the second target substances,
• the second substance is incapable of being directly bound to any of the first target substances, and
• a particle diameter of the first base material is larger than a particle diameter of each second base material;
• and
• (b) applying, at different times, voltages having frequencies to a first region included in the first space, thereby the third dielectric particle, the fourth dielectric particle, the first composite particle, and the second composite particle being each detected, the frequencies being different from each other.