Lens and associatable flow cell

A biosensor, comprising:

• a waveguide, comprising:
• a planar portion with opposite first and second planar surfaces, said planar portion capable of transmitting light from a front end to a rear end thereof;
• and
• at least one type of capture molecule immobilized relative to said first planar surface of said planar portion of said waveguide, said at least one type of capture molecule arranged over said first planar surface in a plurality of discrete reaction sites.

A biosensor for use in an apparatus which uses light to analyze a sample solution comprising a biological liquid, the biosensor comprising:

• a waveguide including at least one planar surface;
• a taper extending from said at least one planar surface and optically associated therewith, said taper configured to receive and convey light into said waveguide;
• capture molecules associated with said at least one planar surface;
• a flow cell cover positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from said at least one planar surface and, with said at least one planar surface, defining at least one reservoir for containing the biological liquid;
• and
• at least an inlet in fluid communication with said at least one reservoir to facilitate introduction of the sample solution therein so as to permit the biological liquid to contact said capture molecules for interaction therewith.

A method for analyzing a sample solution comprising a biological liquid, the method comprising:

• providing a biosensor comprising a waveguide and a plurality of capture molecules on a surface of said waveguide;
• exposing said capture molecules to the sample solution, the biological liquid of which may comprise molecules of at least one selected analyte;
• adding tracer molecules to the sample solution, each tracer molecule including a site capable of binding with at least a portion of a complementary capture molecule or at least a portion of said at least one selected analyte, each tracer molecule including a component that emits fluorescent radiation of an emission wavelength when exposed to radiation of an excitation wavelength;
• introducing light of said excitation wavelength into said waveguide;
• and
• detecting light of said emission wavelength passing through another surface of said waveguide.