Luminescence based sensor

A method of detecting a sample comprising:

• providing a sensor comprising a substrate having an first surface and a second surface, the second surface comprising a Fresnel structure or a ring optical element, the first surface having at least one sensor site provided thereon, the substrate configured such that on excitation of a sample provided at the sensor site, luminescence originating from the sensor site propagates into the substrate, the Fresnel structure of ring optical element of the second surface of the substrate configured to selectively transmit the luminescence propagating within the substrates at angles greater than the critical angle out of the substrate where the luminescence may be detected by a detector provided below the substrate;
• exciting the sample to generate a luminescence signal;
• and
• detecting the luminescence signal transmitted out of the substrate.

A method of detecting a sample comprising:

• providing a sensor comprising:
• a first optical element comprising a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface having at least one sensor site provided thereon, the substrate configured such that on excitation of a sample provided at the sensor site, luminescence originating from the sensor site propagates into the substrate, the second surface of the substrate configured to selectively transmit the luminescence propagating within the substrate at angles greater than the critical angle out of the substrate where it is detected by a detector provided below the substrate;
• a second optical element, the second optical element arranged relative to the first optical element to effect a reflection of light exiting the substrate towards the detector;
• exciting the sample to generate a luminescence signal;
• and
• detecting the luminescence signal.