Abstract: Individual viruses in any type of sample are identified quickly, unambiguously and reliably, and with the least possible preparation-related and technology-related expenditure, without necessitating immobilization using antibodies and without requiring an indication or at least a suspicion of potentially present viruses. This is accomplished by scanning the height profile of the sample, from which scanning sites suspected of containing viruses are selected, exposing those cites to monochromatic excitation light and spectroscopically analyzing the resulting Raman scattered light.