Time-resolved fluorometer

A time-resolved fluorometer for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample, which fluorometer comprises a light tight enclosure having therein:

• means for emitting a beam of excitation light;
• a light tight sample excitation station for a sample which has been reacted with a reagent composition excitable by said excitation light to produce a delayed fluorescence in the presence of said analyte, which excitation station comprises a light tight sample enclosure provided with an excitation beam inlet and a delayed fluorescence outlet;
• a fused silica lens system for delivering said excitation beam to said sample in said sample enclosure;
• sample handling means capable of positioning the so-reacted sample in the path of said excitation beam within said sample enclosure;
• means for measuring delayed fluorescence emitted from the so-reacted sample;
• a fused silica lens system for delivering the delayed flurescence emitted from the sample to said delayed fluorescence measuring means;
• and
• controller means to control the sequence and coordination of said fluorometer.