Method for detecting the impacts of interfering effects on experimental data

Abstract

The invention provides a method for identifying the impacts of interfering effects on experimental data. In particular, a method is described for identifying the impacts of unwanted auto-fluorescence, fluorescence quenching, and deterioration of a fluorescent sample under study on the collected experimental data. The data are analyzed whether or not said data fulfill certain criteria with respect to a threshold which is indicative for said interfering effect.

1 .- 36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . A system for detecting the impact of interfering effects on experimental data resulting from optical experiments, said system comprising:
 (i) means for supporting one or a plurality of samples in an inspection station ( 2 ),   (ii) one or a plurality of photosensitive detectors ( 9 ,  10 ) which are positioned relative to the inspection station ( 2 ) so that electromagnetic radiation emitted from the samples impinges on the detectors ( 9 ,  10 ), and a   (iii) signal processing unit ( 11 ) comprising
 means for addressing the photosensitive detectors ( 9 ,  10 ) to generate experimental data, 
 means for determining values of one or a plurality of identification parameters from said data, 
 means for storing the values in such a manner that preferably all the values which relate to any one of the samples are linked, 
 means for creating a multi-dimensional histogram or distribution of the values of the identification parameters, 
 means for determining one or a plurality of thresholds for the values of identification parameters from said histogram or distribution, which thresholds are indicative for the interfering effects, wherein the threshold for the values of a first identification parameter is a function of a corresponding second identification parameter, 
 means for analyzing the values of the one or a plurality of identification parameters whether or not these fulfill one or a plurality of criteria with respect to the thresholds, and 
 means for supplying as output information the experimental data influenced and/or the experimental data are not affected by the interfering effects. 
   
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37  comprising a fluorescence reader. 
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the fluorescence reader comprises a confocal optical set-up. 
   
   
       40 . The system according to  claim 37  wherein the photosensitive detector ( 9 ,  10 ) comprises an avalanche photodiode or a charged coupled device (CCD) camera. 
   
   
       41 . A signal processing unit ( 11 ) for processing experimental data which may be deteriorated by interfering effects comprising
 means for storing experimental data,   means for determining values of one or a plurality of identification parameters from said data,   means for storing the values in such a manner that all the values which relate to any one of the samples are linked,   means for creating a multi-dimensional histogram or distribution of the values of the identification parameters,   means for determining one or a plurality of thresholds for the values of identification parameters from said histogram or distribution, which thresholds are indicative for the interfering effects, wherein the threshold for the values of a first identification parameter is a function of a corresponding second identification parameter.,   means for analyzing the values of one or a plurality of the identification parameters whether or not these fulfill one or a plurality of criteria with respect to the thresholds, and   means for supplying as output information the experimental data influenced and/or the experimental data not affected by the interfering effects.   
   
   
       42 . Use of the system according to  claim 37  for the conductance of a method for detecting the impact of interfering effects on data, such as experimental data, comprising the steps of:
 (i) providing the data,   (ii) determining values of one or a plurality of identification parameters from said data,   (iii) creating a histogram or distribution of the values of the identification parameters,   (iv) determining one or a plurality of thresholds for the values of identification parameters from said histogram or distribution, which thresholds are indicative for the interfering effects,   (v) analyzing the values of one or a plurality of identification parameters whether or not these values fulfill one or a plurality of criteria with respect to the thresholds, and   (vi) determining those data which are influenced and/or those data which are not affected by the interfering effects.   
   
   
       43 . Use of the signal processing unit according to  claim 41  for the conductance of a method for detecting the impact of interfering effects on data, such as experimental data, comprising the steps of:
 (i) providing the data,   (ii) determining values of one or a plurality of identification parameters from said data,   (iii) creating a histogram or distribution of the values of the identification parameters,   (iv) determining one or a plurality of thresholds for the values of identification parameters from said histogram or distribution, which thresholds are indicative for the interfering effects,   (v) analyzing the values of one or a plurality of identification parameters whether or not these values fulfill one or a plurality of criteria with respect to the thresholds, and   (vi) determining those data which are influenced and/or those data which are not affected by the interfering effects.   
   
   
       44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . The system according to  claim 38  wherein the photosensitive detector ( 9 ,  10 ) comprises an avalanche photodiode or a charged coupled device (CCD) camera. 
   
   
       46 . The system according to  claim 39  wherein the photosensitive detector ( 9 ,  10 ) comprises an avalanche photodiode or a charged coupled device (CCD) camera.