Method and device for the manipulation of microcarriers for an identification purpose

Method for the manipulation for an identification purpose of a microcarrier, comprising the steps of

• (a) providing a microcarrier, wherein the microcarrier is encoded by a code written thereon;
• (b) allowing a target-analyte reaction on or in said microcarrier;
• (c) identifying said microcarrier by manipulating for an identification purpose of said microcarrier comprising the steps of:
• (c1) an identification purpose step of the microcarrier for the detection of an encoded microcarrier wherein the encoded microcarrier comprises a code written on the microcarrier;
• and (c2) a positioning and orientation step prior to or during the identification purpose step wherein said positioning and orientation step comprises:
• (c2.1) the distribution of the population of microcarriers in a one-layer system;
• and
• (c2.2) restricting the rotational movement of the microcarriers, wherein the microcarrier has an anisotropy in its shape and —an electric dipole moment or being magnetic or having a magnetic dipole moment so that rotational movement is restricted upon application of an electrical or magnetic field, and wherein the orientation is done with reference to all three axes unless the code is a known arrangement that is symmetric around one or more axes.

Method for performing a target analyte assay comprising the steps of :

• (a) an identification purpose step of the microcarrier for the detection of an encoded microcarrier having a diameter of 0.5 to 300 m, wherein the encoded microcarrier comprises a code written on the microcarrier;
• and
• (b) a positioning and orientation step prior to or during the identification purpose step wherein said positioning and orientation step comprises:
• (b1) the distribution of the population of microcarriers in a one-layer system;
• and
• (b2) restricting the rotational movement of the microcarriers, wherein the microcarrier has an anisotropy in its shape and an electric dipole moment or being magnetic or having a magnetic dipole moment so that rotational movement is restricted upon application of an electrical or magnetic field, and wherein the orientation is done with reference to all three axes unless the code is a known arrangement that is symmetric around one or more axes;
• (c) allowing a target-analyte reaction on or in said microcarrier;
• and
• (d) identifying said microcarrier.