A method to monitor an output of an APD is disclosed. The method includes steps of, (a) measuring dark currents of the APD at several temperatures in advance to a practical operation of the APD, (b) measuring an output current of the APD by illuminating the APD practically at a measured temperature, (c) estimating a dark current at the measured temperature from measured dark currents, and (d) subtracting the estimated dark current from the output current.