Shape Optics has developed and produced high-performance fluorescence filter sets in Singapore using advanced optical thin-film coating technology, supporting COVID-19 PCR diagnostics and molecular detection systems.
Fluorescence filter sets are core optical components in PCR detectors, enabling precise excitation and detection of weak fluorescence signals with high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and minimal spectral crosstalk.
What Is a Fluorescence Filter Set?
A complete optical fluorescence filter set typically consists of three critical components:
- Excitation Filter (EX): Selectively transmits a narrow wavelength band from the light source to excite the fluorophore.
- Dichroic Beamsplitter / Dichroic Mirror (DM): Reflects excitation light toward the sample while transmitting longer-wavelength fluorescence emission toward the detector.
- Emission Filter / Barrier Filter (EM): Blocks residual excitation light and unwanted background (e.g. autofluorescence), allowing only the desired emission signal to reach the sensor.
This configuration ensures high spectral separation, low background noise, and accurate fluorescence quantification, which is essential in real-time PCR (qPCR) and multiplex fluorescence detection.
Fluorescence Filter Testing & Manufacturing Process
Our fluorescence filters are engineered for weak fluorescence signal filtering in demanding biomedical environments:
- High SNR optical filtering for ultra-low signal detection
- Multi-filter systems (4–6 filters operating simultaneously)
- Wavelength positioning accuracy: ±2 nm
- Noise reduction: < 1.0 × 10⁻⁸
- Channel crosstalk: < 1.0 × 10⁻⁶
- Manufacturing complexity: Extremely high precision and yield control
Coating Technology
- Plasma-physics-based magnetron sputtering PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition)
- Dense, stable thin films with excellent environmental durability
- High repeatability for volume PCR production
Fluorescence Filter Benefits
- Up to 500+ coating layers for ultra-sharp spectral performance
- Nanoscale optical thin-film control
- Deep blocking: > OD6 outside the passband
- High transmission: > 95% peak transmission
- Sharp spectral slope for excellent channel isolation
- Suitable for multiple fluorophores and multiplex PCR assays
Fluorescence Filters for PCR Detectors
Fluorescence filters are the central optical component of PCR detection modules, enabling accurate DNA/RNA amplification readout.
Supported Filter Types
- Excitation Filters (EX)
- Emission Filters (EM)
- Dichroic Filters / Beamsplitters (DM)
These filters are compatible with a wide range of common PCR fluorophores and customized wavelength channels.
Custom Fluorescence Filter Solutions in Singapore
Typical fluorescence filter sets can be fully customized based on:
- Fluorophore wavelength
- Bandwidth & blocking requirements
- Angle of incidence
- Substrate size & shape
- PCR instrument integration
Note: EX – Excitation filter / EM – Emission filter / DM – Dichroic filter