IDENTIFICATION OF PARTICLES AND MACROMOLECULAR SPECIES

摘要

A method of detection and/or identification of particles, the method comprising the steps of: (a) collecting the particles onto a surface; (b) allowing macromolecular species associated with the particles to diffuse from the particles; (c) immobilising any diffused macromolecular species in close proximity to the particles, wherein an immobilised macromolecular species is sufficiently close to a particle so as to be indicative as being diffused from the particle; (d) analysing the immobilised macromolecular species to determine one or more characteristics of macromolecular species; (e) comparing the determined one or more characteristics of macromolecular species characteristics with a reference base of known characteristics of macromolecular species associated with particles; and (f) using the comparison of the determined one or more macromolecular species characteristics to indirectly detect and/or identify at least one particle type present on the surface associated with the analysed macromolecular species immobilised in close proximity to the particle.