Variable sampling control for rendering pixelization of analysis results in a bio-disc assembly and apparatus relating thereto

An optical system for identifying an investigational feature, said system comprising:

• a rotateable disc capable of housing a laboratory sample containing at least one investigational feature;
• an optical disc drive including an incident beam of electromagnetic radiation that is directed at said investigational feature, said incident beam being allowed to interact with said investigational feature to thereby create a modified beam of electromagnetic radiation that includes characteristics related to said investigational feature so that a detector detects said modified beam of electromagnetic radiation after interaction with said investigational feature to form a return signal;
• and
• sampling means for sampling said return signal in a manner that reduces the number of samples used to sample said return signal to thereby generate the lowest possible number of signal points necessary to identify said investigational feature.

A method of identifying an investigational object associated with a rotatable disc, said method comprising the steps of:

• rotating a respective disc including at least one investigational object;
• directing an incident beam of electromagnetic radiation toward said respective disc;
• allowing said incident beam of electromagnetic radiation to interact with said investigational object to thereby create a modified beam of electromagnetic radiation that includes characteristics related to said investigational object;
• detecting said modified beam of electromagnetic radiation after interaction with said investigational object to form a return signal;
• and
• sampling said return signal in a predetermined manner to thereby identify said investigational object.