Patent ID: 8547552

Claim:
A method of detecting a target analyte in a plurality of samples in a sample group using monochromatic light, the method comprising: treating at least some of the samples of the sample group with nano-sized particles associated with the target analyte by molecular binding as a signal enhancement agent-containing a detection label, wherein each sample potentially contains the target analyte; illuminating the samples of the sample group with monochromatic light; detecting intensity of light reflected from each sample of the sample group when illuminated with the monochromatic light; recording groups of values associated with the intensity of the light reflected from each sample of the sample group and detected, with the groups of values, or each of the groups of values associated with the light reflected, or emitted from the sample group and detected; comparing the groups of values associated with the intensities of the light detected; selecting the one of the groups of values with highest intensity; and determining presence or absence of the target analyte based on the group of values selected.