Patent ID: 8318087

Claim:
A system for shortening the time required to detect or measure the presence of a biomolecule in a sample, the system comprising: a) a metallic material, wherein the metallic material is shaped as particles, nanostructures, islands or colloids; b) a biomolecule in the sample that is capable of fluorescing, wherein the biomolecule is positioned from the metallic material at a distance to enhance fluorescence intensity of the biomolecule; c) a source of low power microwave energy that emits energy in the gigahertz frequency range in an amount sufficient to irradiate at least the metallic material and to increase the kinetics of a chemical reaction involving the biomolecule; (d) a source of excitation energy that emits energy in the UV to IR range to irradiate the biomolecules and in an amount sufficient to cause fluorescing of the biomolecule; and (e) a detection device to measure the emitted light from the system.