Patent ID: 8012763

Claim:
A method for the analysis of a sample solution, effected with the rapid separation and subsequent detection of at least one analyte chemical, the steps comprising: providing a sample solution containing a plurality of chemicals, including at least one analyte chemical; providing containment means that is sufficiently transparent to excitation radiation, at least at a plurality of locations, to permit transmission of excitation radiation effective for generating measurable amounts of surface-enhanced Raman scattered radiation, and that is sufficiently transparent to such scattered Raman radiation, at least at said plurality of locations, to permit transmission of measurable amounts of such scattered Raman radiation, said containment means containing a stationary medium that is comprised of at least one separation material and at least one metal having surface-enhanced Raman activity wherein the at least metal is of particulate form, and that is functional to separate at least said one analyte chemical and to exhibit surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity, said stationary medium comprising or defining an elongate path for said sample solution, and said plurality of locations being along said elongate path; introducing into said containment means a quantity of said sample solution, undiluted by any carrier fluid, at a location adjacent one end of said elongate path; applying a driving force to promote flow of said sample solution away from said location of introduction and to effect distribution of said sample solution through said stationary medium, along said elongate path and in sufficiently intimate contact with said stationary medium to thereby effect separation of said at least one analyte chemical from said sample solution, distribution of said sample solution and consequential separation of said at least one analyte chemical being effected in a period that does not exceed five minutes and that commences at the time said quantity of sample solution has been introduced into said containment means; thereafter irradiating, with excitation radiation, said medium and said sample solution distributed thereon, at least at said plurality of locations along said path, to generate surface-enhanced Raman scattered radiation, and detecting at least a portion of said surface-enhanced Raman scattered radiation at each of said plurality of locations; and ultimately analyzing said detected radiation to determine the presence of said at least one analyte chemical in said sample solution.