A method for assessing the presence of a pathogenic microorganism in a sample. A sample is illuminated to thereby produce a first plurality of interacted photons which may be scattered, emitted, reflected and/or absorbed by the sample. The first plurality of interacted photons are assessed to thereby generate a Raman data set representative of the sample. This Raman data set is analyzed to thereby determine at least one of: the presence of a pathogenic microorganism in said sample and the absence of a pathogenic microorganism in said sample. The Raman data set may comprise at least one of a Raman spectrum and/or a Raman chemical image representative of the sample. The analysis may comprise comparing said Raman data set to at least one reference Raman data set representative of a known sample. This may be achieved using a chemometric technique.