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Abstract

Disclosed is a method of detecting the presence of an oligomer analyte in a liquid sample, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a sample comprising the oligomer or aggregate with an oscillating sensor surface, which surface may optionally be coated with a receptor that binds directly or indirectly to at least one component of the oligomer or aggregate, so as to cause direct or indirect binding of the oligomer or aggregate to the surface; (b) using a detection circuit to measure or calculate at least two of the following parameters: series resonance frequency (f.sub.0), and hence the series resonance frequency shift (.DELTA.F); motional resistance (R.sub.M), and hence the motional resistance shift .DELTA.R; motional inductance (L.sub.M); motional capacitance (C.sub.M); parallel capacitance (C.sub.0); frequency half-band half-width (.GAMMA.); Q-factor (=f/(2.GAMMA.); dissipative factor (1/Q); impedance or admittance phase (.phi.) and hence phase shift (.DELTA..phi.); and impedance or admittance amplitude (Z, or Y) and hence amplitude change (.DELTA.Z, or .DELTA.Y); (c) and analysing the calculated values to derive data which vary according to the presence and/or amount of oligomer in the sample; (d) and, optionally, repeating the measurements continuously or intermittently to derive data which vary according to the presence and/or amount of oligomer or aggregate in the sample to be calculated as a function of elapsed time.

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