Abstract: A spectroscopic method and system detects the amount of one or more substances or contaminants in or on a product, such as fecal contamination on meat samples.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection of bacteria on a sample, utilizes spectroscopic analysis of the sample and the fluorescent properties of bacteria or other substance(s) or matter associated with the bacteria to identify the presence of bacteria on the sample. A detector analyses light emitted from the sample in response to illumination. The detector 5 is arranged to analyze the emission spectra across two wavebands, a first waveband containing the wavelengths associated with the fluorescent properties of the bacterial species or other substance or matter to be detected, and a second waveband excluding these wavelengths but also having an overlapping region with the first waveband.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of glycated proteins or peptides (GPs) includes the steps of assessing the sample for fluorescence, subjecting the sample to UV radiation, and reassessing the sample for an increase in fluorescence. An increase in fluorescence at the reassessing step indicates the presence of GPs. The method may be useful for detecting disease such as diabetes.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of bacterial spores in a sample comprises non-destructively to the spores carrying out the steps of assessing the absorption, reflectance, and/or index of refraction (IOR) of the sample, subjecting the sample to UV radiation, and reassessing the absorption, reflectance, and/or index of refraction (IOR) of the sample to determine the presence or absence of spores. A detector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting bacteria and bacterial spores are disclosed in which a sample is assessed for the presence of bacteria and/or bacterial spores by reference to horizontally polarized fluorescent light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting bacteria and bacterial spores are disclosed in which a sample is assessed for the presence of bacteria and/or bacterial spores by reference to horizontally polarized fluorescent light.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of bacterial spores in a sample comprises non-destructively to the spores carrying out the steps of assessing the fluorescence of the sample, subjecting the sample to UV radiation, and reassessing the fluorescence of the sample to determine the presence of spores. An increase in fluorescence indicates the presence of spores.