The present invention includes a method and apparatus for the detection of a
target material. The method and apparatus includes providing a substrate with a
surface and forming a domains of deposited materials thereon. The deposited material
can be placed on the surface and bound directly and non-specifically to the surface,
or it may be specifically or non-specifically bound to the surface. The deposited
material has an affinity for a specific target material. The domains thus created
are termed affinity domains or deposition domains. Multiple affinity domains of
deposited materials can be deposited on a single surface, creating a plurality
of specific binding affinity domains for a plurality of target materials. Target
materials may include, for example, pathogens or pathogenic markers such as viruses,
bacteria, bacterial spores, parasites, prions, fungi, mold or pollen spores. The
device thus created is incubated with a test solution, gas or other supporting
environment suspected of containing one or more of the target materials. Specific
binding interactions between the target materials and a particular affinity domain
occurs and is detected by various methods.
