Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the concentration of cholesterol in a sample (e.g. a blood sample). The method comprising the steps of adding to the sample reagents which cause the Liebermann-Burchard (L-B) reaction; and then determining the total cholesterol concentration in the sample using fluorescence analysis. The invention also relates to apparatus, and particularly apparatus in the form of a reader and cartridge, for conducting the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the concentration of total lipoprotein in sample solution. The method comprising the steps of adding to an aliquot of the sample a probe substance, K-37 which binds to lipoproteins in the sample, and which when so bound fluoresces under appropriate excitation. The total lipoprotein concentration in the sample is then determined using fluorescence analysis. The method may employ a second probe substance that is specific to a class or sub-class of lipoproteins in order that the user may distinguish between lipoproteins. The invention further relates to apparatus which may be used to perform the methods of the invention.

Abstract: An imaging device comprising an array of pixels fabricated using a microelectronic technology such as CMOS is disclosed. The imaging device provides information regarding rapid increases in incident radiation. The sensor is sensitive to a variable quantity to be imaged, such as visible or non-visible radiation, and a signal representative of the quantity is output. The quantity is measured over a monitoring period, and the timing of the incidence may also be output.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining, in-vivo, characteristics of sub-surface tissues or fluids in the human or animal body are disclosed. Incident radiation is supplied at one or more entry regions on a surface, and light is collected from one or more collection regions spaced from the entry regions. Raman features are detected in the collected light and depth related information derived therefrom.