Abstract: Method and apparatus for acquiring a sample of viable biological particles from ambient air, and maintaining the collected viable biological particles at temperature and humidity conditions selected to maintain the viability of the collected viable biological particles. In at least one embodiment, spent collection surfaces are stored in a magazine, and the temperature and humidity conditions in the magazine are controlled. In at least one embodiment, viable biological particles are extracted from ambient air using a particle collector contained in a housing, and the temperature and humidity conditions in the housing are controlled. In at least one embodiment, the temperature and humidity of ambient air entering a particle collector are manipulated to levels selected to maintain the viability of collected particles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing and/or maintaining the prediction capability over time of a multivariate calibration model designed for quantitative optical spectroscopic measurement of attributes or analytes in bodily tissues, bodily fluids or other biological samples, which are particularly useful when the spectral absorbance of the attribute or analyte is small relative to the background. The present invention provides an optically similar reference sample to capture the characteristics of instrument and environmental variation and to reduce the effect of such variation on the measurement capability of the model. The optically similar reference is preferably stable over time and is designed such that its optical properties are sufficiently matched to the sample of interest that instrument and environmental variations are captured in the same manner in both the test sample of interest and the optically similar reference sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing and/or maintaining the prediction capability over time of a multivariate calibration model designed for quantitative optical spectroscopic measurement of attributes or analytes in bodily tissues, bodily fluids or other biological samples, which are particularly useful when the spectral absorbance of the attribute or analyte is small relative to the background. The present invention provides an optically similar reference sample to capture the characteristics of instrument and environmental variation and to reduce the effect of such variation on the measurement capability of the model. The optically similar reference is preferably stable over time and is designed such that its optical properties are sufficiently matched to the sample of interest that instrument and environmental variations are captured in the same manner in both the test sample of interest and the optically similar reference sample.