BIOCHEMICAL ASSAY DETECTION USING A FIBER OPTIC EXCITER

Biochemical assays that utilize excitation and light emission as labels f or detection are enhanced by an illumination and detection system that suppl ies excitation light through an optical fiber that transmits excitation ligh t from an excitation light source to the sample Emission light produced by t he excitation is then collected by a lens and converted to a signal that is compiled by conventional softwar for analysis The optical fiber transfixes ( passes through) the lens via a slot or other opening and is preferably offse t from the center of the lens The optical fiber and the light collecting len s are arranged such that the direction of travel of the excitation light and the direction along which the emission light is collected are not coaxial, and preferably both are at an acute angle to the axis normal to the mouth of the receptacle.