Patent ID: 7129096

Claim:
A method of detecting the presence and/or quantifying the amount of a substance in a biological, biochemical, chemical or environmental sample, which comprises the steps of: (i) measuring absorbance of uv, visible and/or infrared light by at least one sensor comprising: (a) an optically transparent substrate having a first surface and a second surface; (b) optionally, a layer of a first functionalized material disposed over at least a portion of said first surface of said substrate; (c) a monolayer or sub-monolayer of a metallic material disposed over at least a portion of said first surface of said substrate or, when present, said layer of a first functionalized material, said monolayer being optically transparent and exhibiting colloidal surface plasmon resonance; (d) optionally, a layer of a second functionalized material disposed over at least a portion of said monolayer or sub-monolayer of metallic material; and (e) a reactive substance disposed over at least a portion of said monolayer or sub-monolayer of a metallic material or, when present, said layer of a second functionalized material, wherein said reactive substance interacts with a predetermined substance present in said biological, biochemical, chemical or environmental sample; (ii) contacting a biological, biochemical, chemical or environmental sample with said sensor; (iii) measuring absorbance of uv infrared and/or visible light of said sensor following contact with said biological, biochemical, chemical or environmental sample; and (iv) determining the difference in absorbance of uv, visible and/or infrared light of said sensor before and after contacting said biological, biochemical, chemical or environmental sample, wherein a difference in absorbance indicates the presence and/or amount of said substance in, said biological, biochemical, chemical or environmental sample.