A multiparameter standard solution for verifying and calibrating water quality sensors containing an aqueous pH buffer, a xanthene dye, and distyryl biphenyl (DSBP) is provided. The standard solution provides a safe, quick, easy, and stable field standard to simultaneously conduct calibration analysis for several sensors at once. The standard solution is stable when stored and can be safely disposed of in the field. Methods of calibrating sensors used in water quality analysis using the multiparameter standard solution are also provided.

A reader for a lateral flow test device includes a tray or drawer, extendable from the reader, which receives the test device. The tray includes a calibration test pattern affixed or printed thereon placed proximate to the test device and in alignment with the axis of the test device. As the tray is closed and the test device is inserted to the reader, the calibration test pattern is first read by an optics unit including a photodiode. The resulting photodiode output provides a calibration curve S that the reader then uses to correct for any non-linear response of the reader's optical or electronic systems, thus insuring that every reader will yield the same readout for a given test cartridge, despite reader-to-reader variations or reader degradation with time. One use of the reader is for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A method for harmonizing the responses of a plurality of Raman analyzers includes steps of calibrating an intensity axis response of a spectrometer to a reference light source and measuring a laser wavelength of a laser using the spectrometer. The method also includes steps of measuring a fluorescence spectrum induced by the laser at the laser wavelength of a plurality of standard reference material samples using the spectrometer, measuring a temperature of each standard reference material sample while measuring the fluorescence spectrum, and correcting the fluorescence spectrum of each standard reference material sample based on the respective temperature. The method further includes steps of deploying each standard reference material sample in one of a plurality of field calibrator devices and calibrating the intensity axis of one of the Raman analyzers using one of the field calibrator devices and the corrected fluorescence spectrum of the respective standard reference material sample.

Disclosed are a dry calibration device for calibrating fluorescent detectors and methods of making and using such a device to obtain accurate calibration of single site and multiplexed fluorescent detectors. The device comprises slides that use phosphorescent material with neural density filters to replicate varying fluorophore concentrations.

In a heating appliance comprising a substrate for receiving an item of cookware, a method of measuring reflectivity comprises emitting a time-varying electromagnetic signal from a first side of the substrate, a portion of the time-varying electromagnetic signal propagating through the substrate. Electromagnetic radiation is then received at the first side of the substrate, the received electromagnetic radiation comprising a background ambient component received and a component reflected by the substrate. A gain factor is applied to translate the received electromagnetic radiation to a receive electrical signal. An offset signal component is then identified from the receive electrical signal, the offset signal component arising from the background ambient component of the received electromagnetic radiation. The gain factor from the offset signal component is then estimated using a characterisation of the offset signal component, and the reflectivity is calculated using the receive electrical signal and the estimated gain factor.

The present invention provides fluidic devices and systems that allow detection of analytes from a biological fluid. The methods and devices are particularly useful for providing point-of-care testing for a variety of medical applications.

A method for quantifying a crude oil in water is provided. The method includes selecting an ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) wavelength to perform a measurement, preparing calibration solutions in xylene, and preparing a calibration curve from the calibration solutions. A sample is prepared including extracting the crude oil from the water in a two-phase separation with xylene. An absorbance of the sample in the xylene is measured at the UV/Vis wavelength. A concentration of the crude oil in the water is calculated from the absorbance.

A method for characterizing compounds of interest, introduced into a measuring chamber of an electronic nose, includes injecting a first gas sample formed from a carrier gas without the compounds of interest forming a second gas sample from the carrier gas with the compounds of interest; determining a measurement signal (S.sub.k(t.sub.i)); measuring values φ1, φ2 of the relative humidity; determining corrective parameter ({tilde over (S)}.sub.k.sup.ref|.sub.φ2; ΔS.sub.k.sup.ref|.sub.Δφ); and determining a useful signal (Su.sub.k(t.sub.iϵP2)) by correcting the measurement signal associated with the second gas sample using the determined corrective parameter, and characterizing the compounds of interest based on the useful signal.

A method for calibrating scientific instrumentation or light utilizing instrumentation utilizing one or more small-molecule, ionic isolation lattice (“SMILES”) composites for use as calibration targets for a scientific instrument, such as a fluorescent microscope. The SMILES composite can include a dye element, a couterion element, and a receptor element. In some exemplary embodiments, the SMILES composite can include the following formula: a (dye.sup.m+).sub.x.(counterion.sup.n−).sub.y.(receptor).sub.z, wherein values of m, n, x and y may be integers greater than or equal to 1. The materials derived from these SMILES elements may be prepared as crystals (about >1000 nm diameter), microparticles (between about 1000-300 nm diameter), nanoparticles (between about 300-1 nm diameter), and dispersions in polymers or solution (dyes are monomolecular or ion-paired) or neat films of any thickness (no added polymer).

Techniques for colorimetric based test strip analysis and reader system are provided. In one aspect, a method of test strip analysis includes: illuminating a test strip wetted with a sample with select spectrums of light, wherein the test strip includes test pads that are configured to change color in the presence of an analyte in the sample; obtaining at least one digital image of the test strip; and analyzing color intensity from the at least one digital image against calibration curves to determine an analyte concentration in the sample with correction for one or more interference substances in the sample that affect the color intensity. A calibration method and a reader device are also provided.