Abstract: A fluorimeter reference cell comprising a rare earth salt solution or other optically transparent solution with a well-defined and characteristic absorbance pattern which material emits an absorption spectrum when an excitation light is incident upon it. The absorption spectrum has a defined characteristic enabling wavelength calibration of the fluorimeter. The reference cell comprises a second material, a light scattering colloid such as colloidal silica.

Abstract: This invention relates to a PCR fluorescence reference standard and to a method for manufacturing a PCR fluorescence reference standard. The PCR fluorescence reference standard comprises a fluorophore suspended in a thermoplastic polymer matrix. The PCR fluorescence reference standard of the invention has a greater shelf life than fluorophores dissolved in a solution and can advantageously be used to validate a fluorescence signal obtained in a thermal cycler.

Abstract: This invention relates to a PCR fluorescence reference standard and to a method for manufacturing a PCR fluorescence reference standard. The PCR fluorescence reference standard comprises a fluorophore suspended in a thermoplastic polymer matrix. The PCR fluorescence reference standard of the invention has a greater shelf life than fluorophores dissolved in a solution and can advantageously be used to validate a fluorescence signal obtained in a thermal cycler.

Abstract: This invention relates to a PCR fluorescence reference standard and to a method for manufacturing a PCR fluorescence reference standard. The PCR fluorescence reference standard comprises a fluorophore suspended in a thermoplastic polymer matrix. The PCR fluorescence reference standard of the invention has a greater shelf life than fluorophores dissolved in a solution and can advantageously be used to validate a fluorescence signal obtained in a thermal cycler.

Abstract: A for traceably determining an unknown optical path length of a sample in an optical measuring device comprises the steps of: providing a drop analyzer connected to a standard spectrophotometer; providing a certified reference material contained in first and second closed high accuracy cuvettes; measuring absorbance of the certified reference material to obtain a first absorbance measurement for the first specified path length; measuring absorbance of the certified reference material for a second path length to obtain a second absorbance measurement; using a dropping device to drop a specified volume of the solvent on an optical surface so that the path length of the specified volume can be determined by reference to the first and second absorbance measurement; and using the dropping device to drop the same volume of sample as the specified volume of solvent on the optical measuring device.

Abstract: A for traceably determining an unknown optical path length of a sample in an optical measuring device comprises the steps of: providing a drop analyser connected to a standard spectrophotometer; providing a certified reference material contained in first and second closed high accuracy cuvettes; measuring absorbance of the certified reference material to obtain a first absorbance measurement for the first specified path length; measuring absorbance of the certified reference material for a second path length to obtain a second absorbance measurement; using a dropping device to drop a specified volume of the solvent on an optical surface so that the path length of the specified volume can be determined by reference to the first and second absorbance measurement; and using the dropping device to drop the same volume of sample as the specified volume of solvent on the optical measuring device.