A probe and method for detecting magnetic particles. In one embodiment, the probe includes a probe core having a first end and a second end, the probe core defining two regions for containing coils of wire, one of the regions being adjacent the first end of the cylindrical probe core; two sense coils, one each of the sense coils being located in a respective one of the regions; and two drive coils, one each of the drive coils being located in a respective one of the regions, wherein the regions are separated by a distance equal to or greater than the diameter of one of the coils and a source of a secondary magnetic drive field. In another embodiment, the frequency of the drive signal of the secondary magnetic drive field is less than the frequency of the drive signal of the primary drive coils.