Analyte detection and apparatus therefor

A method for detecting an analyte in a sample using surface enhanced (resonance) Raman scattering (SE(R)RS) detection, comprising the steps of:

• a) mixing the sample with a reagent such that any analyte present in the sample reacts with the reagent to thereby form a derivatised analyte, wherein the derivatised analyte comprises a chromophore and is susceptible to adhering to a SE(R)RS active substrate, wherein the reagent is selected from the group consisting of
• wherein X is bonded to one or more positions of the aromatic ring and is an amine, amide, aldehyde, thiol, diazo group, nitro, a vinyl group, nitroso, hydroxyl amine, haloalkyl, hydroxyl, or other active group and Y is an alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl group including derivatives of the preceding groups, or Y can be any atom that can provide two or more bonds to link the two groups together;
• b) mixing said derivatised analyte with a SE(R)RS active substrate so as to adhere at least a portion of the reagent to the substrate to thereby adhere the derivatised analyte thereto;
• and
• c) detecting the derivatised analyte by way of SE(R)RS detection whereby any derivatised analyte detected is correlatable with analyte present in the sample.