Patent ID: 7688448

Claim:
An apparatus, adapted to interrogate a fluid specimen through the walls of a container in which the fluid is held, said apparatus comprising: a first radiation structure configured and arranged to direct a first emitted radiation through said container at a first location for reception by a first intensity detector to obtain a first transmitted intensity, said first emitted radiation comprising a characteristic first wavelength that permits transmission of said first emitted radiation through said walls of said container and at least one label that may be attached thereto, said characteristic first wavelength selected as a reference based upon its substantial lack of attenuation when transmitted through a known fluid composition; a second radiation structure configured and arranged to direct a second emitted radiation through said container at said first location for reception by said first intensity detector to obtain a second transmitted intensity, said second emitted radiation comprising a characteristic second wavelength that permits transmission of said second emitted radiation through said walls of said container and at least one label that may be attached thereto and is distinguishable from said characteristic first wavelength, said characteristic second wavelength selected as a measurement tool based upon its predictive attenuation when transmitted through said known fluid composition; and a comparison structure adapted to compare a first intensity ratio of said first transmitted intensity and said second transmitted intensity against a predetermined value.