Patent ID: 8106368

Claim:
A fluorescence detecting method, comprising the steps of: supplying a sample that includes a detection target substance labeled with fluorescent labels to a detecting portion that includes a metal film formed on a surface of a dielectric prism; causing an excitation light beam of a wavelength that causes the fluorescent labels to emit light to enter the interface between the dielectric prism and the metal film through the dielectric prism such that an electric field enhancing field is generated on the surface of the metal film; and detecting fluorescence emitted by fluorescent labels, which are attached to the detection target substance, generated due to an excitation effect of the electric field enhancing field, with a photodetector to detect the amount of the detection target substance which is present in the sample, based on the amount of detected fluorescence; the detection of the fluorescence being performed with a plurality of fine metallic particles dispersed on the detecting portion.