DIGITAL ANALYTE DETECTION SYSTEM

摘要

A system (10) and method for digitally detecting the presence of analyte particles within a sample (238) is disclosed herein. Each analyte particle is disposed to emit an optical response upon illumination in a known manner. The digital analyte detection system (10) includes optical apparatus (101) for illuminating a multiplicity of distinct pixel regions within the sample (238) so as to induce each of the analyte particles included therein to emit at least one optical response. The pixel regions (246) are dimensioned such that the number of analyte particles included within each region (246) is less than a maximum detection threshold proportional to variability of the optical responses. The digital detection system (10) further includes apparatus (101) for measuring the signal emitted from each pixel region. A data processing network (100) receives the measurements of the emitted signals and, based on the measurements, counts the number of analyte particles within each pixel region (246) so as to determine the number of analyte particles within the sample (238).