What does a fluorometer measure?

A fluorometer is a type of fluorescence spectrometer that is designed to measure the intensity of fluorescence characteristic of a sample at different wavelengths. It is also known as a fluorospectrometer or fluorescence spectrophotometer.

Fluorescence is a phenomenon in which certain compounds absorb light of specific wavelengths and almost instantaneously emit longer wavelengths of light. This occurs when a sample illuminated or excited with light of one wavelength immediately emits light of a different wavelength. The emitted light usually has a longer wavelength. A fluorometer measures this phenomenon.

Fluorometers vary significantly in the way they hold the samples as well as in the size of the samples they accept. Fluorometers designed to use very small sample sizes down to 0.3 µl, are especially useful when there is a need to conserve precious sample materials.