An optical sensor is configured to determine an amount of at least one
material in a sample without interference from any of the material of
interest present in an ambient environment in which the optical sensing
is effected. The optical sensor may include a compensation detector
positioned a different distance apart from a source of monitoring
radiation than the distance that a primary, measurement detector is
positioned from the source. Alternatively, the optical sensor may include
an optically transparent material that consumes space within the sensor
and, thus, eliminates ambient amounts of a material of interest from at
least a portion of an optical pathway through the sensor. A calibration
element transmits calibration radiation to one or more detectors of an
optical sensor to facilitate correction of any changes in the manner in
which the one or more detectors sense radiation. Optical sensing methods
are also disclosed, as are calibration methods.