Fluorescent reporter beads for fluid analysis

A reporter bead cartridge for adding reporter beads to a sample fluid as said fluid is inlet into a flow cytometer, said reporter beads for detection of an analyte in the fluid bulk of said sample fluid, said bead cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge adapted for coupling with the fluid inlet of the flow cytometer, whereby reporter beads disposed therein mix with the sample fluid as it flows through the cartridge and into the flow cytometer;
• and
• a plurality of reporter beads disposed within said cartridge, each reporter bead comprising:
• a substrate bead;
• and
• a plurality of a first type of reporter molecule immobilized on or in said substrate bead;
• wherein an optical property of said reporter molecules is a function of the concentration of said analyte in said fluid bulk.

A cross-sensitivity compensating reporter bead for optical detection of a first analyte in a fluid bulk also containing a second analyte, using a reporter molecule which is intentionally sensitive to said first analyte and incidentally sensitive to said second analyte, comprising:

• a substrate bead;
• a plurality of a first type of reporter molecules immobilized on or in said substrate bead, wherein an optical property of said first reporter molecules is a function of the concentrations of both said first analyte and said second analyte;
• and
• a plurality of a second type of reporter molecule immobilized on or in said substrate beads, wherein an optical property of said second reporter molecules is a function of the concentration of said second analyte.

A cross-sensitivity compensating reporter bead mixture for optical measurement of the concentration of a first analyte in a fluid bulk also containing a second analyte, using a reporter molecule which is intentionally sensitive to said first analyte and incidentally sensitive to said second analyte, said mixture comprising:

• a plurality of a first type of reporter bead, each said bead comprising:
• a first type of substrate bead;
• and
• a plurality of a first type of reporter molecule immobilized on or in said substrate bead, wherein an optical property of said first type of reporter molecules is a function of the concentrations of both said first analyte and said second analyte;
• and
• a plurality of a second type of reporter bead, each said bead comprising:
• a second type of substrate bead;
• and
• a plurality of a second type of reporter molecule immobilized on or in said substrate bead, wherein an optical property of said second reporter molecules is a function of the concentration of said second analyte