Patent ID: 7615759

Claim:
A fluorescence analysis apparatus, comprising: i) a light source for producing exciting light, ii) a sensor section for propagating the exciting light through the interior of the sensor section to radiate out the thus propagated exciting light from an outside surface of the sensor section, such that the exciting light having thus been radiated out may excite a fluorescent substance for indicating the presence of a substance to be analyzed in a liquid sample; iii) a photodetector for detecting the fluorescence, which has been produced by the fluorescent substance when the fluorescent substance is excited by the exciting light; iv) sensor section actuating means for dipping the sensor section in the liquid sample, and thereafter moving the sensor section into a predetermined atmosphere, which is substantially free from occurrence of absorption or scattering of the exciting light and the fluorescence; v) control means for actuating the light source and the photodetector in a state, in which the sensor section has been located in the predetermined atmosphere, and thereby causing a fluorescence detecting operation to be performed.