1. A method for detecting an analyte comprising: providing a substrate surface comprising a microarray comprising multiple positive array elements arranged on the substrate surface in a periodic pattern of array elements, said positive array elements comprising a sensing molecule that targets the analyte; flowing a sample comprising the analyte over the substrate surface such that the sample sequentially contacts positive array elements in the microarray under conditions to cause the analyte to interact with the sensing molecules; detecting interactions between the analyte and the sensing molecule; determining whether the arrangement of the detected interactions on the substrate surface forms a periodic pattern; calculating the periodicity of the pattern of detected interactions; and comparing the periodicity of the pattern of detected interactions with the periodicity of the pattern of positive array elements, to determine whether the periodicities are essentially the same; wherein a determination that the periodicities are essentially the same is indicative of the presence of analyte in the sample.