Method for analyzing a biological sample or a chemical compound or a chemical element

6:

• The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
• providing the plurality of affinity reagents;
• and
• providing the first plurality of combinations of dyes.

7:

• The method according to claim 6, further comprising:
• providing the sample;
• and
• one of:
• attaching the plurality of affinity reagents to the first plurality of combinations of dyes to form a plurality of markers;
• and introducing the plurality of markers to the sample to allow attachment to analytes in the sample;
• or
• introducing the plurality of affinity reagents to the sample to allow attachment to analytes in the sample;
• and attaching the plurality of affinity reagents to the first plurality of combinations of dyes, to form a plurality of markers attached to the analytes.

8:

• The method according to claim 7, wherein attaching the plurality of affinity reagents to the first plurality of combinations of dyes comprises:
• providing a plurality of linkers, each linker comprising a plurality of binding sites, each respective binding site configured to bind to a respective dye;
• and
• for each affinity reagent, attaching a respective linker to the affinity reagent, and binding a respective combination of dyes to the respective linker, each dye from the respective combination of dyes being bound to a respective binding site.

9:

• The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
• performing at least one of:
• deactivating at least one of the dyes in the first plurality of combinations of dyes;
• removing the attachment between at least one affinity reagent and at least one of the combinations of dyes;
• removing the attachment between the at least one affinity reagent and analyte;
• or
• waiting longer than a fluorescence lifetime of at least one of the dyes in the first plurality of combinations of dyes;
• and
• repeating steps (i), (ii), and (iii) for a second, different, plurality of combinations of dyes or for the first plurality of combinations of dyes according to a second, different, mapping.

12:

• The method according to claim 9, wherein the determining, by the at least one computer processor, of the at least one affinity reagent present in the sample, comprises:
• comparing at least two readouts from:
• the at least one first readout, at least one second readout, and any further readouts generated in step (ii);
• and
• determining the presence of the at least one affinity reagent based, at least in part, on the comparison.

15:

• The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining, by the at least one computer processor, of the at least one affinity reagent present in the sample based on the at last one first readout comprises:
• converting the at least one first readout into a fully determined or overdetermined set of linear equations;
• and
• solving the set of linear equations.

18:

• A reporter, comprising:
• a linker according to claim 17;
• and
• a combination of dyes, each dye bound to one of the plurality of binding sites, wherein at least two of the dyes have different characteristics for at least one of:
• excitation or emission.

19:

• A marker, comprising:
• an affinity reagent;
• configured to attach to an analyte;
• and
• a reporter according to claim 18, the reporter being attached to the affinity reagent.