Method and kit for detecting a target analyte

A kit for detecting a target analyte comprising:

• a suspension comprising a plurality of metal nanoparticles and a volatile organic solvent;
• a porous membrane, wherein the metal nanoparticles are capable of being embedded in a defined portion of the porous membrane;
• and
• a detection module configured to retain the porous membrane.

A method of detecting a target analyte, the method comprising:

• providing a kit comprising
• a suspension comprising a plurality of metal nanoparticles and a volatile organic solvent;
• a porous membrane, wherein the metal nanoparticles are capable of being embedded in a defined portion of the porous membrane;
• and
• a detection module configured to retain the porous membrane;
• retaining the porous membrane in the detection module;
• pressing the suspension comprising the plurality of metal nanoparticles and the volatile organic solvent into a defined portion of the porous membrane via the pipette guide of the detection module to embed the plurality of metal nanoparticles in the porous membrane to form a SERS sensing region;
• pressing the sample into the SERS sensing region via the pipette guide;
• and
• analyzing the SERS sensing region using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.