Image based correction for unwanted light signals in a specific region of interest

1. A method for correcting the signal in an image having a plurality of regions of interest, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an image having a plurality of regions of interest, these regions of interest having areas between them;

(b) extracting geometric information for the plurality of regions of interest;

(c) selecting at least one parameter to describe a region of correction the at least one parameter defining a shape of the region of correction;

(d) determining the region of correction between at least two regions of interest based on the extracted geometric information for the plurality of regions of interest and the at least one parameter selected to describe the region of correction;

(e) calculating a correction signal from the region of correction; and

(f) using the correction signal to correct a signal measurement from the at least two regions of interest and reduce cross-talk between the at least two regions of interest.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of determining a background signal and adjusting the correction signal of a run by subtracting the background signal from the correction signal.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the background signal is a background signal stored prior to commencing the run.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the background signal is a background signal determined during the run.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the correction signal is scaled.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the region of correction has a plurality of sides.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the region of correction has four sides.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the region of correction is a closed polygon.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the region of correction is circular.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the region of correction is annular.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the region of correction is defined by a bitmap.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of regions of interest are from a multi-well plate.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein a thermocycler reader is employed.

14. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of storing the region of correction defined in step (d).

15. A method for defining a region of correction for use in a method for correcting the signal in an image having a plurality of regions of interest, the defining method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an image having a plurality of regions of interest;

(b) extracting geometric information for the plurality of regions of interest;

(c) selecting a location between at least two regions of interest based on the extracted geometric information for the plurality of regions of interest;

(d) selecting at least one parameter to describe the region of correction, the at least one parameter defining a shape of the region of correction; and

(e) constructing the region of correction between the at least two regions of interest based on the at least one parameter selected to describe the region of correction and the location selected between the at least two regions of interest, wherein the region of correction reduces cross-talk between the plurality of regions of interest.

16. The method of claim 15 , further including the step of constructing additional regions of correction that are not between the at least two regions of interest.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a sufficient number of additional regions of correction are constructed so that each region of interest has the same number of regions of correction as does any other region of interest.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the geometric information for the region of interest is a centroid.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the location between at least two regions of interest is the center point between the centroids of at least two regions of interest.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the region of correction is selected from the group consisting of polygons, circles, annuli, and bitmaps.

21. The method of claim 15 , further including the step of storing the region of correction associated with the at least two regions of interest.

22. A method for correcting the signal in an image having a plurality of regions of interest, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an image having a plurality of regions of interest, these regions of interest having areas between them;

(b) extracting geometric information for the plurality of regions of interest;

(c) determining a region of correction between at least two regions of interest based on the extracted geometric information for the plurality of regions of interest;

(d) calculating a correction signal from the region of correction;

(e) determining a background signal and adjusting the correction signal of a run by subtracting the background signal from the correction signal; and

(f) using the adjusted correction signal to correct a signal measurement from the at least two regions of interest and reduce cross-talk between the at least two regions of interest.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the background signal is a background signal stored prior to commencing the run.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the background signal is a background signal determined during the run.