Methods and apparatus for simultaneously detecting a large range of protein concentrations

A method, comprising:

• separating a plurality of populations of proteins to a plurality of locations along a length of a capillary via electrophoresis;
• loading the capillary with a detection agent that is capable of causing a signal indicative of a quantity of protein at each location from the plurality of locations along the length of the capillary, the signal changing with time;
• capturing a first image of the capillary containing the proteins and the detection agent, the first image captured over a first duration, the first duration being associated with a first rate of change of the signal at the first location from the plurality of locations during the first duration;
• capturing a second image of the capillary containing the proteins and the detection agent, the second image captured over a second duration different than the first duration, the second duration being associated with a second rate of change of the signal at a second location from the plurality of locations during the second duration;
• determining a quantity of a first population of proteins at the first location using the first image, the first population of proteins being from the plurality of populations of proteins;
• and
• determining a quantity of a second population of proteins at the second location using the second image, the second population of proteins being from the plurality of populations of proteins.