Patent ID: 8680486

Claim:
A biological molecule detecting apparatus that detects fluorescence emitted by a first complex and a second complex within a solution, the first complex being formed by a substance that specifically binds with a detection target substance bound to a fluorescent molecule, and the second complex being formed by the first complex bound to the detection target substance, to detect or quantify the detection target substance, comprising: a light source that emits excitation light having a light component which is linearly polarized in a specific direction that excites the fluorescent molecules; a light receiving section that detects the fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent molecules; orientation control means for periodically switching the orientation of the second complex within the solution; synchronous component extracting means for extracting components of the fluorescence detected by the light receiving section which are synchronized with the period at which the second complex is oriented; and a calculating section that detects or quantifies the detection target substance based on the component extracted by the synchronous component extracting means.