An analyzer of a component in a liquid sample, comprising: a liquid handling system configured to combine the liquid sample (201,407) with a reference liquid into a laminar flow such that the liquid sample and reference fluid flow side by side into a sample chamber, allowing for referencing of the liquid sample against the reference liquid; an optical source configured to emit a light, wherein the light is directed to the sample chamber housing the liquid sample and the reference liquid flowing in parallel with the component in the liquid sample, the parallel flow of the liquid sample and the reference liquid caused by the sample chamber; a scanning system configured to scan the light through the sample chamber between the flow of the liquid sample (201,407) and the flow of the reference liquid, across an interface between the parallel flows and perpendicular to the laminar flow; a de-scanning mechanism configured to guide the light passing through the reference liquid and the liquid sample to an optical detector subsystem; the optical detector subsystem being configured to measure the light after interaction with the liquid sample and the reference liquid; wherein the optical detector subsystem detects and measures the absorption and/or scattering of the light passing through the reference liquid and the liquid sample to generate detector outputs; and a computing system configured to receive the detector outputs; wherein the computing is configured to: calculate the differential absorption and/or scattering of the light between the reference liquid and the liquid sample; and calculate a characteristic of the component in the liquid sample from the differential absorption and/or scattering of the reference liquid and the liquid sample. a liquid handling system configured to combine the liquid sample (201,407) with a reference liquid into a laminar flow such that the liquid sample and reference fluid flow side by side into a sample chamber, allowing for referencing of the liquid sample against the reference liquid; an optical source configured to emit a light, wherein the light is directed to the sample chamber housing the liquid sample and the reference liquid flowing in parallel with the component in the liquid sample, the parallel flow of the liquid sample and the reference liquid caused by the sample chamber; a scanning system configured to scan the light through the sample chamber between the flow of the liquid sample (201,407) and the flow of the reference liquid, across an interface between the parallel flows and perpendicular to the laminar flow; a de-scanning mechanism configured to guide the light passing through the reference liquid and the liquid sample to an optical detector subsystem; the optical detector subsystem being configured to measure the light after interaction with the liquid sample and the reference liquid; wherein the optical detector subsystem detects and measures the absorption and/or scattering of the light passing through the reference liquid and the liquid sample to generate detector outputs; and a computing system configured to receive the detector outputs; wherein the computing is configured to: calculate the differential absorption and/or scattering of the light between the reference liquid and the liquid sample; and calculate a characteristic of the component in the liquid sample from the differential absorption and/or scattering of the reference liquid and the liquid sample. calculate the differential absorption and/or scattering of the light between the reference liquid and the liquid sample; and calculate a characteristic of the component in the liquid sample from the differential absorption and/or scattering of the reference liquid and the liquid sample.