This invention this invention is a device and method for validating the identity of a liquid in a container that is transparent to light, while the liquid is in the container, without physically invading container. The liquid is particularly suited for validating vaccines such as the vaccine for COVID-19. The invention uses light from a refractometer and/or nephelometer, passing into and reflected out of the transparent wall of the container, to characterize the liquid.

A method for monitoring surface phenomena includes measuring a first surface plasmon resonance angle value (.sub.SPR,REF) of a sample region (REG1), measuring a first critical angle value (.sub.TIR,REF) of the sample region (REG1), causing a change of surface concentration (c.sub.M1,SRF) of an analyte (M1) at the sample region (REG1), changing the bulk composition at the sample region (REG1), measuring a second surface plasmon resonance angle value (.sub.SPR(t)) of the sample region (REG1), measuring a second critical angle value (.sub.TIR(t)) of the sample region (REG1), and determining an indicator value (.sub.AUX(t)) indicative of the change of the surface concentration (c.sub.M1,SRF), wherein the indicator value (.sub.AUX(t)) is determined from the second surface plasmon resonance angle value (.sub.SPR(t)) by compensating an effect of the bulk composition, and wherein the magnitude (.sub.COMP) of said effect is determined by using the second critical angle value (.sub.TIR(t)).

Provided is an advantageous technique for determining a positive threshold value for use in analyzing a stained specimen fluorescence spectrum.

An information processing apparatus includes a threshold value determination unit configured to determine a positive threshold value that is to be compared with image data of a plurality of image sections included in a stained fluorescence component image, in which the positive threshold value is a criterion for determining whether or not each of the plurality of image sections corresponds to a positive cell image. The threshold value determination unit determines the positive threshold value on the basis of an unstained fluorescence component image.

A method for monitoring surface phenomena includes measuring a first surface plasmon resonance angle value (.sub.SPR,REF) of a sample region (REG1), measuring a first critical angle value (.sub.TIR,REF) of the sample region (REG1), causing a change of surface concentration (c.sub.M1,SRF) of an analyte (M1) at the sample region (REG1), changing the bulk composition at the sample region (REG1), measuring a second surface plasmon resonance angle value (.sub.SPR(t)) of the sample region (REG1), measuring a second critical angle value (.sub.TIR(t)) of the sample region (REG1), and determining an indicator value (.sub.AUX(t)) indicative of the change of the surface concentration (c.sub.M1,SRF), wherein the indicator value (.sub.AUX(t)) is determined from the second surface plasmon resonance angle value (.sub.SPR(t)) by compensating an effect of the bulk composition, and wherein the magnitude (.sub.COMP) of said effect is determined by using the second critical angle value (.sub.TIR(t)).