Sample collection and bioluminescent sample testing system

A monitoring instrument, comprising:

• a photon device;
• a reading chamber for retaining a light emitting sample to be analyzed using the photon device;
• a communication port that allows the instrument to receive a signal from an additional measurement device, the measurement device being capable of measuring a parameter other than photon count;
• and
• a processor operable to integrate the received parameter with information received from the photon device into integrated data.

A method of monitoring a sample of a product, an ingredient, a process, or an environment comprising:

• providing an instrument having a photon detector and a communication port for communicating with a measurement device, the measurement device being capable of measuring a parameter in addition to a parameter measured by the photon detector;
• providing the measurement device to be coupled to the instrument through the communication port;
• collecting a sample from the environment, process, product or ingredient, and placing the sample in a chamber for analysis using the photon detector;
• analyzing the sample using the photon detector;
• measuring a parameter of the product, the ingredient, the environment or process using the measurement device;
• communicating the parameter to the instrument via the communication port;
• and
• integrating the received parameter with information received from the photon detector into integrated data.

A method of sampling of a product, an ingredient, a process or environment using a sampling instrument, the method comprising:

• analyzing a sample using a photon detector residing in the sampling instrument, the sample collected from the product, the ingredient, the process, or the environment;
• receiving a signal from a measurement device, the measurement device being capable of measuring a parameter other than a photon count and the signal comprising information corresponding to the measured parameter;
• integrating the information corresponding to the measured parameter with information received from the photon detector into integrated data;
• and
• storing the integrated data into a memory residing in the sampling instrument.