Abstract: An IR transparent substrate for enabling the analysis of a biological sample is provided. The IR transparent substrate includes the IR transparent substrate which has an active surface and a backside surface. The active surface of the IR transparent substrate has a recessed region defined therein. The recessed region has a probe region on one side of the recessed region, a complimentary probe region on an opposite side of the recessed region, and a sample receiving region between the probe region and the complimentary probe region. The sample receiving region is capable of receiving the biological sample for analysis.