Patent ID: 8097862

Claim:
A fluorescence detecting method, comprising the steps of: preparing a dielectric plate, and a metal film which is provided at a predetermined region on one surface of the dielectric plate, onto which a sample that includes a detection target substance and fluorescent labels is supplied; irradiating an excitation light beam through the dielectric plate such that it enters the interface between the dielectric plate and the metal film, to cause an electric field enhancing field to be generated on the surface of the metal film; detecting fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent labels due to excitation by the electric field enhancing field with a first photodetector; detecting the amount of the detection target substance based on the intensity of fluorescence detected by the first photodetector; detecting scattered light of the electric field enhancing field, which is substantially proportionate to the intensity of the electric field enhancing field, with a second photodetector; and normalizing and correcting the intensity of fluorescence with respect to the intensity of the electric field enhancing field, employing the intensity of the scattered light detected by the second photodetector.