Are there ways or modifications that can be done when testing a turbid sample using a spectrophotometer without yielding a false positive or false negative result? Or are there any reagents to be added or tweaking to be done on the spectrophotometer machine to make sure that despite the turbidity of the sample, due to natural causes, the reading is still accurate?
My first thought would be to filter the sample through Whatman 2V filter paper then ultrafilter it (0.22 um minimum) and use this for your measurement. My second thought would be to subtract the absorbance at 650 nm (microbiologists use this absorbance for optical density measurements of turbid broths)
If the apparent absorbance is stable can you measure it in the desired range, destroy the thing you are interested in, then remeasure?
There may be a smart way to use scatter from side illumination. I don't know how to approach this.
Either way, the result is likely to be approximate if the physical obstructive effect is large relative to the one you want to measure.
How about centrifugation or dialysis as clarification methods?
On my part, it is always best to filter the sample using Whatman filter paper 42 so that solids will not clog your tubings which may cause errors in your analysis.
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