Methods for detecting estradiol and metabolites thereof in a sample are
provided. A plurality of particles, each of which is coated with a
capture agent having an affinity for estradiol, is combined with the
sample to form a plurality of estradiol-particle complexes. The system
also includes a transport arrangement for transporting the sample and/or
particles to the sensor surface, and optionally a magnetic field inducing
structure constructed and arranged to establish a magnetic field at and
adjacent to the sensor surface. The resonant sensor produces a signal
corresponding to an amount of estradiol-particle complexes that are bound
to the sensor surface.