Patent ID: 7688440

Claim:
A Raman spectroscopy system comprising: an input fiber through which radiation can propagate to irradiate a sample; a collection fiber through which radiation scattered by the sample can be coupled to a detector; an optical head assembly defining an input path and an output path, wherein the input path comprises at least one light directing element that receives excitation radiation from the input fiber and directs it to the sample and the output path comprises at least one light collecting element that collects radiation scattered by the sample and couples the scattered radiation into the collection fiber; wherein the input and output paths of the head assembly are at least substantially orthogonal and the head assembly further comprises a dichroic mirror that directs the excitation radiation to the sample by reflection and transmits scattered radiation returning from the sample to the output path; and a fluid sample test substrate receiving structure sized and configured for receiving a body fluid sample test substrate and positioning said substrate for optical interrogation via the optical head assembly, wherein the fluid sample test substrate is a test strip, and wherein the test strip is a lateral flow binding assay test strip.