The present invention is drawn to devices and systems for allergen detection in a sample. The allergen detection system includes a sampler, a disposable analysis cartridge and a detection device with an optimized optical system. In some embodiments, the allergen detection utilizes aptamer nucleic acid molecules as detection agents. In some embodiments, the nucleic acids are conjugated to magnetic beads or solid surfaces such as glasses, microwells and microchips.

A multi-mode illumination system, including: a first illumination module; a second illumination module; and a third illumination module, as disclosed herein.

Apparatus include divergence optics removably coupled to receive a probe beam in a first imaging mode to cause the probe beam to diverge before impinging on a first area of a target surface, and to not receive the probe beam in a second imaging mode to cause the probe beam to impinge on a second area of the target surface smaller than the first area, collection optics configured to receive, in response to the probe beam, luminescence light emitted from the first area and spectral light emitted from the second area, and an optical detector coupled to the collection optics, wherein the optical detector includes a luminescence imaging detector portion and a spectral imaging detector portion adjacent to the luminescence imaging detector portion, wherein the luminescence imaging detector portion is configured to receive the luminescence light emitted from the first area and the spectral imaging detector portion is configured to receive the spectral light from the second area.

The invention relates to a method for determining positions of mutually spaced molecules (M) in a sample (20), having the steps of generating (101) a plurality of light distributions, each light distribution having a local intensity minimum (110, 310) and adjacent regions (120, 320) of increasing intensity, comprising an excitation light distribution (100) and a deactivation light distribution (300); illuminating (102) the sample (20) with the excitation light distribution (100) and the deactivation light distribution (300); detecting (103) photons emitted by the molecule (M) for different positions of the excitation light distribution (100); and deriving (104) the position of the molecule (M) on the basis of the photons detected for the different positions of the excitation light distribution (100), wherein the local minimum (110) of the excitation light distribution (100) is arranged at a plurality of scanning positions (201) one after the other within a scanning region (200), and the light intensity of the deactivation light in a catching region (210), which is paired with the scanning region (200) and in which the position of the molecule (M) can be unambiguously derived from the scanning positions (201) and the paired detected photons, corresponds maximally to three times the saturation intensity of the deactivation light. The invention further relates to a device for carrying out said method.

Disclosed is apparatus (1) for measuring fluorescence and absorbance of a substance in a sample, said apparatus (1) comprising: a flow cell (2) for containing a sample, a first light source (3), a first conductor (5) for transmitting light from the first light source (3) to the flow cell (2) for irradiating a sample contained therein, a second conductor (7) for transmitting light from the flow cell (2) to a sample detector (9) arranged to detect an electromagnetic radiation that has passed through said cell (2), and a processing unit (16) arranged to receive a first signal (31) from a reference detector (15) and a second signal (32) from the sample detector (9) and to determine an absorbance based on said first and second signals (31,32), said apparatus (1) further comprising a second light source (4), a third conductor (6) for transmitting light from the second light source (4) to the cell (2) and wherein the sample detector (9) is further arranged to also detect fluorescence signals in the light that has passed through the flow cell (2). The invention also relates to a method for measuring the absorbance and the fluorescence of a substance in a sample.

A device for spectral analysis including a seat for holding therein a compound specimen; a light source for illuminating the compound specimen with a spectrum of light; and a detector configured for detecting light transmitted through or reflected from the biological sample, the detector including a pixel array having a plurality of pixels each of which being configured to detect intensity of one wavelength within the spectrum such that the pixel array obtains a spectral signature of the biological sample including intensities of wavelengths within the spectrum.

In an optical-based sample analysis, for example fluorescence-based or absorbance-based measurement, a selection is made between a first excitation light path and a second excitation light path. The first excitation light path directs excitation light from a light source, through an excitation monochromator, through an excitation filter, and to a sample. The second excitation light path directs excitation light from the light source, through the excitation filter, and to the sample while bypassing the excitation monochromator. Excitation light generated by the light source is transmitted along either the first excitation light path or the second excitation light path in accordance with the selection made, thereby irradiating the sample. In response the sample produces emission light (transmitted light in the case of absorbance measurements), which is transmitted to and measured by a light detector.

Systems and methods for analyzing blood samples, and more specifically for performing a white blood cell (WBC) differential analysis. The systems and methods screen WBCs by means of fluorescence staining and a fluorescence triggering strategy. As such, interference from unlyzed red blood cells (RBCs) and fragments of lysed RBCs is substantially eliminated. The systems and methods also enable development of relatively milder WBC reagent(s), suitable for assays of samples containing fragile WBCs. In one embodiment, the systems and methods include: (a) staining a blood sample with an exclusive cell membrane permeable fluorescent dye, which corresponds in emission spectrum to an excitation source of a hematology instrument; (b) using a fluorescence trigger to screen the blood sample for WBCs; and (c) using measurements of (1) axial light loss, (2) intermediate angle scatter, (3) 90° polarized side scatter, (4) 90° depolarized side scatter, and (5) fluorescence emission to perform a differentiation analysis.

A multi-mode illumination system, including: a first illumination module; a second illumination module; and a third illumination module, as disclosed herein.

The flow cell of the present application simultaneously monitors and measures light absorbance and fluorescence of particles in a flowing liquid. The flow cell comprises a housing having a light input face, an absorbance output face and first and second emission output faces; a fluid flow section within the housing that comprises a bottom funnel through which fluid enters the flow cell, a core chamber into which fluid flows from the bottom funnel, and a top funnel into which fluid flows from the core chamber, wherein the bottom and top funnels each comprise a first end which extends at an angle to a second end that is wider in diameter than the first end, and said second end of each is adjacent to and aligned with the core chamber; and a center section within the housing center having a recess formed therein which houses the core chamber of the fluid flow section, wherein said center section comprises a first pair of opposing channels formed in the light input face and the absorbance output face, respectively, and a second pair of opposing channels formed in the first emission output face and the second emission output face and which are perpendicular to the first pair of opposing channels, and wherein the first pair of opposing channels and second pair of opposing channels are in communication with the core chamber. An apparatus comprising the flow cell is also provided.