Patent ID: 8008067

Claim:
A method for measuring a target molecule in a test sample, the method comprising: immobilizing metallic structures on a surface substrate, wherein the metallic structures are in a patterned shape and the patterned shape is a triangle with an apex and wherein the apexes of two triangles are arranged in alignment and adjacent to a reactive zone formed between the apexes, wherein the reactive zone has a diameter from about 1 mm to about 5 mm; positioning a capture molecule having affinity for the target molecule on the metallic structures or adjacent to the metallic structures; contacting the capture molecule with the test sample suspected of comprising the target molecules, wherein the target molecule will bind to the capture molecule to form a complex; contacting the complex with a detector molecule having affinity for the target molecule, wherein the detector molecule comprises a chemiluminescent label; exposing the chemiluminescent label to a trigger molecule that will chemically react with the chemiluminescent label to induce a chemical reaction that produces a chemically electronically excited state; and exposing the chemical reaction to microwave energy in an amount to enhance emissions; and measuring the intensity of emissions.