Commentary & Perspectives

How Methodological Flaws Distorted a Decade of Serum SERS Studies

A cautionary tale about spectral interpretation, methodological rigor, and the pressure to publish

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  • 1

    SERS analysis of serum can provide rapid disease diagnosis.

  • 2

    Uric acid and hypoxanthine are dominant in serum SERS spectra.

  • 3

    Methodological flaws in spectral interpretation have led to widespread misinterpretations.

  • 4

    Importance of rigorous validation in SERS research.

  • 5

    Pressure to publish affects analytical science integrity.

Original Source(s)

How Methodological Flaws Distorted a Decade of Serum SERS Studies

A cautionary tale about spectral interpretation, methodological rigor, and the pressure to publish

  • by James Strachan

  • February 16, 2026

  • 10 min

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