Patent ID: 7393691

Claim:
A method for the analysis of saliva by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to enable determination of the presence and concentration therein of at least one drug species, comprising the steps: obtaining a small sample of saliva; treating said sample of saliva to effect mutual separation of said drug species and interfering chemicals present in said sample, to produce an analyte sample containing said at least one drug species, said sample treatment including a physical treatment utilizing separation means for removing molecules of 10,000 molecular weight or higher; thereafter combining said treated analyte sample with a SERS-active metal-containing material of porous structure and of different character from said separation means; subjecting said combined treated analyte sample and SERS-active metal-containing material to SERS to generate a SERS spectrum; and analyzing said SERS spectrum to determine the presence and concentration of said at least one drug species in said analyte sample, said steps of treating said saliva sample, combining said analyte sample and SERS-active material, and subjecting said combined analyte sample and SERS-active material to SERS, being carried out sequentially and without substantial interruption.