“…This allows for shorter integration times and increased sensitivity compared to standard Raman spectroscopy. SERS is advantageous due to its potential as a low cost, rapid, low volume, non-destructive, broad information content, high specificity and sensitivity diagnostic method [ 1 , 9 , 10 , 18 , 20 , 22 ], also in part because analysis is easily performed in aqueous environments without interface [ 4 , 25 ]. In bacteriology, the efficacy of SERS was demonstrated with purified cultures, mixed and even single cell samples [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 13 , 15 , 20 ].…”