Correct distortions in fluorescence data. Automatically.
TINFE detects and removes inner filter effects directly from microplate reader data to restore linear, quantitative results. No additional sample handling. No hardware changes. No reruns.
Every fluorescence assay is vulnerable to signal distortion caused by the Inner Filter Effect (IFE), where excitation and emission light is absorbed, reabsorbed, or attenuated within the sample.
What causes it
The inner filter effect (IFE) is inherent to fluorescence measurements and depends on sample absorbance and well geometry.
•Excitation light is attenuated near the sample surface
•Emitted light is reabsorbed before detection
•Signal no longer scales linearly with concentration
Optical density and its impact
Standard fluorescence measurements are limited to a total absorbance of A < 0.05. Beyond this point, IFE causes significant signal attenuation and non-linear distortion.
Validated for absorbance values up to A = 2 and experimentally evaluated beyond A = 5, TINFE maintains linear accuracy in samples at least 40x more concentrated than traditional methods allow.
Fluorescein dilution series showing non-linear fluorescence response at higher concentrations, deviating from the expected linear relationship.
What it leads to
✕Non-linear calibration curves
✕Underestimation at higher concentrations
✕Reduced dynamic range
✕Inconsistent results across assays
In high-throughput workflows, even small distortions propagate across entire plates—affecting data quality, downstream analysis, and decision-making.
The real impact in the lab
✕Repeated measurements and manual dilution
✕Increased reagent consumption
✕Delayed workflows and reduced throughput
✕Hard-to-diagnose variability
The solution: Correct IFE without changing your sample handling
TINFE automatically detects and corrects inner filter effects directly from fluorescence measurement data. It restores linear, quantitative results without dilution, re-measurement, or hardware changes.
Screenshot of the TINFE SaaS interface showing fluorescence correction for human serum albumin samples. Uncorrected signals (blue, orange) are non-linear due to inner filter effects, while the corrected response (green) aligns with the ideal linear reference (red). At 10 mg/mL, total sample absorbance reaches A ≈ 5.5 (normalized to a 1 cm optical path length).
What TINFE does
TINFE uses physics-based modelling of excitation and emission attenuation to detect and correct distortion within each well—producing signals that reflect true fluorescence intensity across an increased dynamic range.
✓Restores linear signal response
✓Works directly on instrument output data
✓Handles high absorbance and complex samples
Why it’s different
Dilution reduces distortion—but increases labour, variability, and sample use
Absorbance-based correction requires additional measurements and assumptions
Hardware solutions are costly and not scalable for high-throughput workflows
TINFE works directly on your data—no experimental changes required
TINFE applies a standardized calibration and readout workflow for fluorescence measurements acquired on standard microplate readers. Compatible with top-reading fluorescence microplate readers supporting variable Z-position measurements.*
The platform performs empirical inner filter effect correction, evaluates calibration quality, and generates traceable quantitative results.
1
Upload fluorescence data
Bring existing fluorescence measurements into a standardized analysis workflow.
2
Define plate specification
Establish the analytical context required for quantitative interpretation.
3
Calibrate and correct
Validate correction performance before analysing unknown samples.
4
Review and export
Generate traceable quantitative results for downstream analysis and reporting.
*Actual instrument data format depends on vendor and software version. Custom formatting or integration may be required in some cases.
TINFE workflow preview
1
Upload fluorescence data
Upload fluorescence data generated on a standard microplate reader without modifying assay protocols, instrumentation, or sample preparation procedures.
2
Define plate specification
Identify calibration standards, controls, blanks, and unknown samples so that fluorescence measurements can be linked to known concentrations and assay-specific requirements.
3
Perform calibration and correction
TINFE identifies optimal measurement conditions, applies empirical inner filter effect correction, and evaluates calibration quality using statistical and regression-based metrics.
4
Review and export results
Review correction quality, apply validated correction parameters to unknown samples, inspect calculated concentrations, and export corrected data together with supporting documentation.
Replace dilution and reruns with direct correction
Conventional approaches either reduce throughput, require additional measurements, or increase cost. TINFE corrects inner filter effects directly from existing data, preserving both throughput and reproducibility.
Feature
TINFE
Dilution
Absorbance-based correction
Short-path optics
Restores linear response at high concentration
✓
✓
partial
partial
No changes to assay protocol
✓
✕
✕
✕
No additional sample preparation
✓
✕
✕
✓
No additional measurements required
✓
✕
✕
✓
Compatible with existing plate workflows
✓
✓
partial
✕
Works across fluorophores and matrices
✓
✓
partial
partial
Scales to high-throughput workflows
✓
✕
partial
✕
Suitable for automated workflows
✓
partial
partial
✕
In practice, these differences influence throughput, resource consumption, and the overall cost of fluorescence workflows.
Applicable across fluorescence-intensive workflows
CRO Labs
Improve resource efficiency while maintaining audit-ready outputs.
Pharma & Biotech R&D
Obtain cleaner, more reliable data across assay development stages.
Academic Research
Generate publication-quality results using standard plate readers.
Food & Environmental Analysis
Correct inner filter effects in coloured or turbid matrices.
Clinical Diagnostics*
Improve signal reliability and traceability in assay development workflows.
Industrial/Pharma QC*
Support consistent, reproducible measurements across batches.
*For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Built for science. Built by scientists.
TINFE applies physics-based correction with built-in validation and traceability. It converts distorted fluorescence signals into reliable quantitative data, helping teams reduce reruns, save time, and improve data quality without changing their workflow.
Science-first interpretation
TINFE applies empirical correction to real measurement data, compares corrected and uncorrected results, and provides statistical outputs to support interpretation.
Traceability by default
Every correction step is documented. Original data remain available, corrected outputs are traceable, and final results are curated by the user for publication, quality control, or internal review.
High-standards workflows
TINFE is designed to integrate into existing laboratory workflows, reduce avoidable errors, and support consistent data quality across fluorescence-based assays.
About TINFE
TINFE makes fluorescence measurements more trustworthy. Founded in 2024 as a University of Zagreb Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry spin-out, TINFE corrects systematic optical distortions with a focus on the inner filter effect (IFE). By combining academic expertise with product-driven development, we address persistent data-quality problems in everyday laboratory workflows—helping teams rely on their fluorescence data without changing instruments or sample handling.
Small team, real data
We work directly with laboratories, validate on real datasets, and document algorithm updates to support traceable, reproducible results.
Tin leads TINFE’s core technology development, data validation, and software implementation. His expertise in fluorescence spectroscopy and biophysical chemistry supports scientific rigor, scalability, and cross-instrument compatibility.
Davor Šakić, PhD CEO
scientific strategy & IP
+
Davor leads TINFE’s scientific strategy, intellectual property management, and long-term product vision. His background in computational and physical-organic chemistry supports translation of academic research into structured, market-oriented innovation.
Dunja Horvat Weitner COO
Operations & marketing
+
Dunja oversees operations, customer engagement, and process coordination. Her background in HR and data-driven process optimization supports pilot execution, market validation, and structured company growth.
Projects and open calls
Project BRIGHT
BRIGHT - Digital Platform for Fluorescence Signal Correction and Data Integrity (DIGIT.2.2.01.012) is a validation project focused on demonstrating the performance, usability, and commercial readiness of TINFE’s reader-agnostic platform for fluorescence signal correction and data integrity.
More detailsHide details↓
BRIGHT in brief
TINFE HTS llc received funding through the DIGIT Project Seal of Excellence Synergies Program to validate a digital platform that corrects fluorescence signal distortion directly from standard microplate reader data. The project builds on a proposal that received a Seal of Excellence under HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-02-ACCESS-01 - EIC Pre-Accelerator for Widening Countries,
recognising it as a high-quality proposal in a competitive European evaluation process.
Project objective
The objective of BRIGHT is to validate a reader-agnostic platform for fluorescence signal correction and data integrity in representative laboratory environments, advancing the technology toward broader adoption in research and industrial applications.
Validation activities
✓Evaluate performance across representative fluorescence assays, sample matrices, and plate-reader models.
✓Assess usability, onboarding effort, reporting clarity, and integration into routine laboratory workflows.
✓Quantify practical benefits, including reductions in reruns, sample preparation effort, and time-to-result.
✓Collect structured user feedback to support product refinement, documentation, pricing, and future platform development.
Programme support
BRIGHT is supported through the Digital, Innovation and Green Technology Project (DIGIT Project) under the Seal of Excellence Synergies Program. The programme supports the validation and commercialisation of high-quality research and innovation projects originating from Horizon Europe proposals and is implemented by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth with support from the Croatian Science Foundation.
Project duration: 24 months
Project status: Active
Open Call for PILOT Projects
TINFE i is seeking pilot partners from academic, CRO, industrial, environmental, food-testing, and diagnostic research laboratories to evaluate a software platform for correction of inner filter effects (IFE) in fluorescence measurements.
More detailsHide details↓
TINFE is seeking pilot partners from academic, CRO, industrial, environmental, food-testing, and diagnostic research laboratories to evaluate a software platform for correction of inner filter effects (IFE) in fluorescence measurements.
The pilot program is designed to validate TINFE under real laboratory conditions using standard microplate reader workflows and existing assay protocols. Participating laboratories may evaluate routine operating conditions as well as challenging high-absorbance, coloured, or scattering sample matrices where fluorescence quantification often becomes unreliable.
What partners receive
✓Extended pilot access to the TINFE platform.
✓Support with assay setup, validation design, and data interpretation.
✓Corrected fluorescence datasets, quality-control summaries, and technical reports.
✓Opportunity to help define operating limits and best practices for IFE correction.
What we evaluate
✓Performance across assays, sample matrices, and microplate reader models.
✓Recovery of linear fluorescence response and quantitative accuracy.
✓Reduction of reruns, dilution requirements, and assay complexity.
✓Workflow compatibility, reporting requirements, and usability.
Collaboration outcomes
Pilot partners contribute to the technical validation of a new approach for fluorescence data correction. Selected partners may be invited to contribute to technical white papers, case studies, conference presentations, or peer-reviewed publications.
Interested in participating?
Complete the Pilot Partner Interest Form to describe your assay system, laboratory environment, and validation objectives. We will review your submission and contact selected applicants to discuss pilot participation.
Short, practical articles for teams working with fluorescence data, assay development, and inner filter effect correction.
COMING SOON
See how it works on your data
Book a live walkthrough (15–30 min) with our scientific team. Use your own data or use our example datasets.
✓Upload and correct a plate dataset live
✓Technical, scientific, and practical Q&A
ROI calculator
Estimate your lab-specific savings
Based on your current plate volume, rerun rate, and operating costs, estimate how much time and material cost TINFE can save by eliminating inner-filter-effect reruns.
Inputs
Default: 1 plate per workday
Default: 96 wells × €2 per well
Estimated annual impact
Cost saved (material only)
€0
Cost saved (time to re-run)
€0
Total cost saved
€0
Total time saved
0 hrs
✓Removes avoidable reruns caused by IFE-related distortion
✓Reduces operator time spent on manual dilution and repeat analysis
✓Preserves throughput while improving data quality
Estimates are illustrative and depend on assay design, workflow, rerun rates, and operating costs. Enter your own values for a more accurate estimate.
Used by research institutions
Backed by leading European accelerators, venture capital, and public innovation programs
TINFE is supported by European innovation initiatives, digital transformation projects, and startup programs focused on
scientific excellence, technology transfer, and sustainable growth.
Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union and any other listed partner.
Neither the European Union, and any other listed partner, nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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