Massively parallel detection

An apparatus for measuring the amount of light emitted from a first set of two or more detection sites on a planar substrate while spatially resolving the measurements from each first set detection site, the apparatus comprising:

• a source of a light beam having a first wavelength directed towards the planar substrate at a first angle;
• one or more lenses for focusing light emitted from each of the first set detection sites and having a second angle onto a unique area of an array detector;
• a filter interposed between the detection sites and the array detector, which filter selectively absorbs light of the first wavelength and transmits light emitted from the detection sites having a wavelength differing from the first wavelength;
• and
• the array detector comprising a plurality of light responsive pixels, wherein for each first detection site there is at least one light responsive pixel that receives light emitted from that detection site and substantially no cross-talk from another detection site, wherein substantially none of the light from the light source intersects with the array detector.

A method for measuring and spatially resolving the amount of light transmitted through a first set of two or more detection chambers or the amount of light emitted from the first set detection sites as a result of their illumination, wherein each chamber is separated by a blocking material that is opaque to the light and the density of first set detection sites is at least about 10 per cm.sup.2, the method comprising

• (1) providing an apparatus comprising:
• a source of light directed towards the planar substrate at a transmission angle;
• one or more lenses for focusing light from each first set detection chamber onto a unique area of an array detector;
• and
• the array detector comprising a plurality of light responsive pixels, wherein for each first set detection chamber there is at least one light responsive pixel that receives light transmitted through that detection chamber and substantially no cross-talk from another detection chamber, and
• (2) measuring light transmitted through the detection sites using the apparatus.