Abstract: A system and method for capturing a target analyte in advance of performing spectroscopic analysis to determine the existence of the target analyte from a source contacted with a collection substrate. The collection substrate is fabricated of a material selected to have an affinity for the target analyte, sufficiently transparent in a spectral region of interest and capable of immobilizing the target analyte thereon in a manner that limits scattering sufficient to obscure spectral analysis. The collection substrate may be coated with a material selected to react with, bind to, or absorb the target analyte. The method optionally includes the step of transferring the captured target analyte to a second substrate, which may be an optical substrate. The target analyte may be captured to the collection substrate by one or more of wiping, dabbing or swabbing a target analyte carrier with the collection substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing a target analyte in advance of performing spectroscopic analysis to determine the existence of the target analyte from a source contacted with a collection substrate. The collection substrate is fabricated of a material selected to have an affinity for the target analyte, sufficiently transparent in a spectral region of interest and capable of immobilizing the target analyte thereon in a manner that limits scattering sufficient to obscure spectral analysis. The collection substrate may be coated with a material selected to react with, bind to, or absorb the target analyte. The method optionally includes the step of transferring the captured target analyte to a second substrate, which may be an optical substrate. The target analyte may be captured to the collection substrate by one or more of wiping, dabbing or swabbing a target analyte carrier with the collection substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing a target analyte in advance of performing spectroscopic analysis to determine the existence of the target analyte from a source contacted with a collection substrate. The collection substrate is fabricated of a material selected to have an affinity for the target analyte, sufficiently transparent in a spectral region of interest and capable of immobilizing the target analyte thereon in a manner that limits scattering sufficient to obscure spectral analysis. The collection substrate may be coated with a material selected to react with, bind to, or absorb the target analyte. The method optionally includes the step of transferring the captured target analyte to a second substrate, which may be an optical substrate. The target analyte may be captured to the collection substrate by one or more of wiping, dabbing or swabbing a target analyte carrier with the collection substrate.

Abstract: A detection system for detecting and measuring a metal ion in an aqueous medium includes a substrate that provides mechanical stability and is sized and shaped to intercept an optical beam (for example, a beam in the ultraviolet, visible or infraredregion). A reactive material is attached to the substrate, for example attached to the surface of the substrate or to a film that coats the substrate. The reactive material is capable of reacting with the metal ion and changing its optical spectrum upon reacting. For example, in one embodiment the reactive material includes a chelator that bonds to the metal ion to form a chelate complex. The detection system also includes an optical spectrometer producing the optical beam that passes through the reactive material to a detector of the spectrometer. For example, the spectrometer may be a Fourier transform, dispersive or filter based spectrometer.