1. A method for detecting a ligand in a sample comprising: (a) contacting a sample having a ligand with an affinity substrate, wherein the affinity substrate comprises a receptor capable of specifically binding said ligand, the receptor binding the ligand upon contact with the sample; (b) contacting the affinity substrate with a detection surface comprising a hydrophilic, amine-terminated self-assembled monolayer comprising an aminoalkanethiol or aminosilane, wherein the ligand which is bound to the receptor is thereby transferred to the detection surface, and wherein the detection surface is capable of both uniformly anchoring liquid crystal in the absence of the ligand and binding non-specifically to the ligand; and (c) detecting the presence of the ligand on the detection surface by contacting the detection surface with a liquid crystal, wherein the presence of the ligand on the detection surface is detected by a change in the orientation of the liquid crystal contacted with the detection surface.