Abstract: A monobeam system for determining concentration changes of chromophore substance in a sample includes a flash lamp for passing a light beam through a sample containing the analyte. The values of absorbance by the sample at multiple wavelengths are measured and the optimum linear combination of absorbance values is determined to obtain a measure of chromophore concentration. Extinction coefficients for a chromophore is measured employing Deming's method and eigenvector transformations. A matrix reflecting the noise pattern of the system is determined. This matrix and the extinction coefficients are used in determining the coefficients for the optimum linear combination. An electronic module converts analog intensity data into digital data for five wavelengths. This is processed into absorbance values and concentration determinations.