The potential use of fiber optics for detection in microchip separation and miniaturized flow-cell systems

This article evaluates the potential of using fiber optics as a detection tool during electrophoretic separations or identification and quantification of analytes in miniaturized systems, including microchips. This paper covers reports in the literature from 1989 to June 2002. The articles have been chosen based on various aspects of the instrumentation including the microchip substrates, channel size and geometry, pathlength, fiber and detector types, light source, separation conditions, detection limits, and applications-all with the goal of comparing and contrasting optical detections. This review has been divided into three groups: fluorescence measurement-based studies, absorbance measurement-based studies, and innovative studies in chronological order.