In an FTIR 1, a beam splitter 12, fixed mirror 13 and movable mirror 14 are shared by a main interferometer 10 including a multiwavelength infrared light source 11 and a control interferometer 20 including a semiconductor laser 21. A first detector 16 detects infrared interference light generated by the main interferometer 10 and transmitted through or reflected by a sample. A second detector 26 detects monochromatic interference light generated by the control interferometer 20. A spectrum creator 32 determines an optical path difference between an optical path via the fixed mirror 13 and an optical path via the movable mirror 14, based on the intensity and uncalibrated oscillation wavelength of the monochromatic interference light detected by the second detector 26, and creates a spectrum by performing fast Fourier transform on an interferogram which shows a distribution of the intensity of the infrared interference light detected by the first detector 16 with respect to the optical path difference. An oscillation wavelength calibrator 34 locates an absorption peak of carbon dioxide from the peaks in the spectrum created by the spectrum creator 32, and compares a wavenumber or wavelength of the absorption peak with a true absorption wavenumber or wavelength of carbon dioxide to determine a calibrated oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser 21.

Disclosed herein is a method for improving the precision of a test result from an instrument with an optical system that detects a signal. The method comprises including in the instrument a normalization target disposed directly or indirectly in the optical path of the optical system. Also disclosed are instruments comprising a normalization target, and systems comprising such an instrument and a test device that receives a sample suspected of containing an analyte.

Sensor and Measurement Method A turbidity sensor and method of measuring turbidity is provided. The turbidity sensor (100) comprises first and second optical detectors for detecting a respective optical response of each optical signal. The first optical detector (20) may be arranged in direct view of the emitter (10) and the second optical detector (30) may be arranged in indirect view of the emitter (10). The two detectors collect light emitted from the emitter (10) when directed through a fluid sample during two optical tests run in very close succession. Firstly, a control sample is illuminated to determine a calibration factor for the control sample with known turbidity. Then, the calibration factor is used to determine the turbidity of a fluid sample with unknown turbidity. Advantageously, background radiation during the data collection process is ignored because the transient behaviour during each optical test is negligible. The approach is more convenient over known turbidity sensors and measurement methods, particularly in light of the calibration step.

A method for determining a degree of damage to hair is provided in the form of various embodiments. Said method can comprise the following steps: during the exposure of a hair sample to UV light (for example by employing a UV-LED), detecting fluorescence light emitted by the hair sample, determining a fluorescence intensity by employing the detected light, and determining the degree of damage to the hair using said fluorescence intensity.

A method of analyzing a selected refinery chemical at a low concentration comprises contacting a sample with functionalized metallic nanoparticles that contain metallic nanoparticles functionalized with a functional group comprising a cyano group, a thiol group, a carboxyl group, an amino group, a boronic acid group, an aza group, an ether group, a hydroxyl group, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; radiating the sample contacted with the functionalized metallic nanoparticles with electromagnetic radiation at a selected energy level; measuring a Raman spectrum emitted from the sample; and determining the presence or a concentration of a selected refinery chemical in the sample from the Raman spectrum.

An apparatus for updating a bio-information estimation model according to an aspect of the invention includes: a data obtainer, which in response to a bio-information estimation model not being valid, is configured to obtain in vivo updating spectra measured during a predetermined period of time from a time when it is determined that the bio-information estimation model is not valid; and a processor configured to determine validity of the bio-information estimation model, and to update the bio-information estimation model using the obtained in vivo updating spectra and in vivo spectra used for generating the bio-information estimation model.

A calibration data acquisition unit (a) acquires Q optical spectra and S evaluation spectra, (b) extracts R subsets from a set of the Q optical spectra, (c) performs independent component analysis in which component amounts in each sample treated as independent components on each of R subsets so as to acquire RN component calibration spectra, (d) obtains an inner product value between the RN component calibration spectrum and an evaluation spectrum, (e) selects a component calibration spectrum for which a correlation degree between a component amount for the target component and the inner product value is the maximum as the target component calibration spectrum from among the RN component calibration spectra, and (f) creates a calibration curve by using the target component calibration spectrum.

A method to correct signal light intensities measured by a detector of a detection unit in a laboratory instrument is presented. The detection unit comprises a light source, a sample plane comprising a sample holder configured to hold at least one sample vessel comprising a test sample to be illuminated, a reference light sensor, and the detector. Based on a basic light intensity of a newly manufactured light source and an initial light intensity measured by the reference light sensor the sensitivity of the reference light sensor can be determined. And signal light intensities measured by the detector can be corrected based on the determined sensitivity and subsequently measured reference light intensities of the reference light sensor in order to generate comparable test results.

Disclosed herein is a method for improving the precision of a test result from an instrument with an optical system that detects a signal. The method comprises including in the instrument a normalization target disposed directly or indirectly in the optical path of the optical system. Also disclosed are instruments comprising a normalization target, and systems comprising such an instrument and a test device that receives a sample suspected of containing an analyte.

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.