We present here microwave-based modifications of standard protein assays that dramatically reduce the time required to determine protein concentrations. Typical protein determinations involve incubation times ranging from 15-60 min. Microwave irradiation of specimens reduces this time requirement to 10-20 s without compromising accuracy or reliability. The remarkable speed with which protein determinations may be carried out using microwave enhancement greatly simplifies general laboratory procedures that depend on the estimation of protein concentrations.