IMPROVED IMAGING SYSTEM FOR LUMINESCENCE ASSAYS

摘要

Apparatus for detecting light emitted by an assay sample is provided, in which light emitted by the sample is collected for transmission to a photosensitive detector such as a charge coupled device (CCD) (74) by an optical fibre bundle. The cross-sectional area of the optical fibre bundle corresponds to the area of the sample, the end of which is located close to the sample for detecting any light emitted therefrom. Selected fibres (30) of those making up the bundle may be separated from the remainder and extend to a source of excitation radiation (76) to convey excitation radiation to the sample. The remaining fibres (32, 38) serve to collect emitted light and provide a light path to the photosensitive detector (74). A blocking filter and an interference filter are placed between the fibre bundle and the detector. The blocking filter may be between the bundle and the interference filter or between the latter and the detector. Two blocking filters may be provided one ahead of and the other downstream from the interference filter. The attenuation characteristic of the two filters may be different or the same.