Improved detection of hemoglobin and other compounds by electrophoresis

A system for detecting a compound in a patient sample in a point-of-care diagnostic device, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• receive absorption characteristics of the compound;
• select an imaging wavelength of light based on the absorption characteristics;
• during the active run of the electrophoresis test, generate an instruction to cause emission of light at the imaging wavelength and at a second wavelength towards an electrophoresis strip having the patient sample;
• generate an image of a band on an electrophoresis strip during an active run of an electrophoresis test;
• during the active run of the electrophoresis test, determine an absorption characteristic or a fluorescence characteristic of absorbed or fluoresced light, respectively, from the imaged band on the electrophoresis strip;
• and
• determine presence of the compound in the patient sample based on the absorption characteristic or the fluorescence characteristic of the absorbed or fluoresced light, respectively;
• and
• an output configured to output data that indicates the presence of the compound in the patient sample.