A system and method for the detection of bacteria on a sample, utilizes spectroscopic analysis of the sample and the fluorescent properties of bacteria or other substance(s) or matter associated with the bacteria to identify the presence of bacteria on the sample. A detector analyses light emitted from the sample in response to illumination. The detector 5 is arranged to analyze the emission spectra across two wavebands, a first waveband containing the wavelengths associated with the fluorescent properties of the bacterial species or other substance or matter to be detected, and a second waveband excluding these wavelengths but also having an overlapping region with the first waveband.