Patent ID: 8502963

Claim:
A method for analyzing at least one constituent of a biologic fluid sample quiescently residing within an analysis chamber defined by a first panel and a second panel, and which sample is mixed with at least one colorant that is operable to reside within the constituent and emit fluorescent light upon exposure to predetermined first wavelengths of light, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating at least a portion of the sample containing the constituent at one or more first wavelengths in a constant manner for a period of time; imaging the at least a portion of the sample at discrete points in time during the period, including producing image signals at the discrete points in time, which signals are indicative of fluorescent emissions from colorant residing within the constituent; determining one or more fluorescent emission values associated with the colorant residing within constituent using the image signals from the discrete points in time, and a rate of change for the fluorescent emission values between a plurality of the discrete points in time; and analyzing the constituent using the determined rate of change of the fluorescent emission values for the constituent.