the present invention is generally directed to a fluidized bed detector for continuous detection of biological and chemical materials comprising a fluidized bed of detecting elements suspended in a continuous flow system wherein the detecting elements remain in the system when a first force trying to move the detecting elements to the bottom of the system is balanced with a second opposing force of a flowing gas or liquid trying to move detecting elements to the top of the system and wherein the presence of a target molecule in the flowing gas or liquid disrupts the balance of the first and second forces causing the detecting element to exit the system . the release of the detecting element indicates the presence of the target molecule and may be captured , concentrated , or both for further evaluation by other assays or other means . also disclosed is the related method of detecting biological and chemical materials using a fluidized bed detector .