Development and application of a novel and compact long-wavelength fluorescence spectrometer

Long wavelength (>600nm) fluorescence offers many advantages when applied to analysis, including minimal autofluorescence and scattered light from biological samples and the possibility of compact, robust, yet sensitive instruments. Modern clinical analysis has a number of specific requirements, namely specificity, sensitivity and speed, whilst the ability to monitor samples away from the laboratory is increasingly in demand. Immunoassays possess all these attributes and can be used in the following: environmental monitoring; clinical analysis; therapeutic drug monitoring. This research work describes a novel portable fluorescence spectrophotometer using long wavelength detection which can be used in all environments.