Bundled fiber optic capillary electrophoresis detection system

1. A multiplex capillary fluorescent detection system, comprising:

a plurality of capillaries having an internal radius;

a high power LED light source for providing a high photon flux to illuminate a volume selected from the group consisting of more than about 500 micrometers*π*r 2 , more than about 1000 micrometers*π*r 2 , more than about 1500 micrometers*π*r 2 , and more than about 2000 micrometers*Pi*π 2 , wherein r is the internal radius of the capillaries;

said high power LED light source being optically coupled to an optical fiber bundle that transmits light emitted from the high power LED light source to said plurality of capillaries;

said optical fiber bundle containing at least two individual optical fibers;

and wherein the ends of said at least two individual fibers in said optical fiber bundle are adjacent to each other and lie on a single plane;

at least one of said individual fibers in said optical fiber bundle provides for illuminating a whole volume of at least two of said capillaries;

and a CCD detector positioned to receive and detect fluorescence emissions from the capillaries.

2. The multiplex capillary fluorescent detection system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of said optical fiber bundle includes a generally rectangular shape.

3. The multiplex capillary florescent detection system of claim 2 , wherein light transmitted through said fiber optic bindle with said generally rectangular shape illuminates all sample vessels simultaneously.

4. The fluorescence detection system of claim 1 , wherein the detection system includes at least two light sources.

5. A method of detecting a fluorescence emission in a fluorescently labeled sample, the method comprising:

introducing said fluorescently labeled sample into a plurality of capillaries having an internal radius;

providing a high photon flux of transmitted light from a high power LED to illuminate a volume selected from the group consisting of more than about 500 micrometers*π*r 2 , more than about 1000 micrometers*π*r 2 , more than about 1500 micrometers*π*r 2 , or more than about 2000 micrometers*π*r 2 into and through a fiber optic bundle containing at least two individual fibers, wherein r is the internal radius of the capillaries,

wherein the ends of said at least two individual optical fibers in said optical fiber bundle are adjacent to each other and lie on a single plane;

at least one of said individual fibers in said optical fiber bundle illuminates a whole volume of at least two of said capillaries;

wherein said transmitted light through said optic fiber bundle illuminates all of said plurality of capillaries simultaneously;

and detecting fluorescent emissions from said capillaries by a CCD detector.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the optical fiber bundle has an exit end, and the capillaries are positioned less than one millimeter away from said end; wherein said optical fiber bundle is not immediately adjacent to said capillaries.