SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A MEASURE OF PHOTOBLEACHING OF A FLUORESCENCE TARGET

A fluorescence imaging control system may direct an imaging system to detect, over a period of time, first fluorescence emitted from a first fluorescing region illuminated with fluorescence excitation illumination. The first fluorescing region includes a first population of fluorophores that emit the first fluorescence. The fluorescence imaging control system may also direct the imaging system to detect, over the period of time, second fluorescence emitted from a second fluorescing region illuminated with the fluorescence excitation illumination. The second fluorescing region includes a second population of fluorophores that emit the second fluorescence. The first fluorescing region photobleaches at a first photobleaching rate and the second fluorescing region photobleaches at a second photobleaching rate that is different than the first photobleaching rate. The fluorescence imaging control system may determine, based on the detected first fluorescence and second fluorescence, a measure of photobleaching of the first fluorescing region.