Apparatus, system and method for measuring properties of a sample

Abstract

A device () comprising an optical apparatus () for monitoring bacterial growth of a drug-dosed liquid biological sample. A sample container port for receiving a sample container (), in use, is provided in the device, the sample container () having at least one detection chamber () for containing the drug-dosed sample. The optical apparatus () comprises a light source () configured to emit light along an incident beam axis that, in use, intersects with at least one detection chamber () of the sample container (), and to illuminate the drug-dosed sample contained within the detection chamber (). The optical apparatus () comprises a first photodetector () configured to receive light scattered by bacteria in the sample. The optical apparatus () comprises a light collection arrangement () configured to collect light exiting the detection chamber () that has been scattered in a forward direction by bacteria in the sample, in a range of scattering angles between about +/−4 and +/−20 degrees relative to the incident beam axis, and to direct the collected scattered light to the first photodetector (); and prevent non-scattered light travelling parallel to the incident beam axis and exiting the detection chamber () from reaching the first photodetector (). The optical apparatus () comprises at least one processor configured to: measure an intensity of the scattered light received by the first photodetector (); determine a corresponding representative amount or concentration of bacteria present in the sample based on the intensity of the scattered light; repeat the measuring and determining steps at a series of pre-determined intervals to determine changes in the representative amount or concentration of bacteria present in the sample as a function of time; and determine a corresponding susceptibility of the bacteria in the sample to the respective drug.