Abstract: An apparatus for fluorescence of a biological sample includes a light illumination source, an ambient light-excluding optical chamber, a sample holder, a two-dimensional array charge coupled device ("CCD") sensor providing for on-chip signal integration of each pixel of the array, and an analog/digital converter for digitizing the CCD signal. Signal acquisition time from the array is varied so that the integrated signal from each pixel is below its saturation level. A darkfield value for each pixel is acquired and subtracted from the illuminated signal from that pixel so as to yield a darkfield corrected signal. The fluorescence value for each pixel can be compensated for variations in excitation energy reaching different sample areas. Image readout is through a single channel output.