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Abstract

The concentration of molecular oxygen in a sample is determined by exciting oxygen molecules of the sample from the electronic ground state to the excited .sup.1 .DELTA..sub.g state (excited singlet state), measuring a 1270-nm luminescence characteristic of the excited oxygen molecules (singlet oxygen) and correlating the luminescence characteristic measured with the concentration of molecular oxygen in the sample. Normally, the 1270-nm luminescence characteristic is the 1270-nm luminescence intensity. Preferably, the oxygen molecules are excited by being subjected to diffusion contact with a sensitizer such as a porphyrin or a porphyrin-related compound, e.g. a transition metal complex of a porphyrin. The sensitizer is brought into an oxygen-exciting electronic state by absorption of electromagnetic radiation such as light, the oxygen-exciting electronic state optionally being adapted to the measuring system employed by means of a quencher such as a substituted polyene. The sensitizer may be present in an organic solvent or a polymer such as polyvinylchloride. The oxygen-containing sample is preferably a sample of biological origin such as a blood sample.

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