Apparatus and method for detecting and identifying infectious agents

A kit comprising a diagnostic system for detecting infectious agents, comprising:

• (a) a microelectronic device comprising:
• a substrate;
• a plurality of micro-locations defined on the substrate, wherein each micro-location is for linking a macromolecule;
• an independent photodetector integrated at each micro-location and optically coupled to each micro-location, each photodetector being configured to generate a sensed signal responsive to the photons of light emitted at the corresponding micro-location when a light-emitting chemical reaction occurs at that micro-location, each photodetector being independent from the photodetectors optically coupled to the other micro-locations;
• and
• an electronic circuit coupled to each photodetector and configured to read the sensed signal generated by each photodector and to generate output data signals therefrom that are indicative of the light emitted at each micro-location by the light-emitting chemical reactions, whereby the device detects photons of light emitted by light-emitting chemical reactions, wherein each micro-location is defined by a portion of the surface of the device;
• (b) an anti-ligand;
• (c) a first composition comprising a conjugate that comprises a component of a bioluminescence generating system, and an anti-ligand, wherein the anti-ligand specifically binds to an epitope on a surface of the infectious agent;
• and
• (d) a second composition, comprising a second component of the bioluminescence generating system.