Process and kit for detecting microbial metabolism
First Claim
1. A process for detecting microbial metabolism, said process including the steps of:
- combining a sample solution to be analyzed for metabolizing microorganisms, microbial growth medium, a nontoxic concentration of a first dye having an absorbance spectrum which in the presence of growing microorganisms changes in response to by products of metabolism released by the microorganism into the medium, and a nontoxic concentration of a second dye having an excitation or emission spectrum which overlaps with one of the changed or unchanged absorbance spectra of the first dye, neither dye being metabolized directly by the microorganisms; and
observing either no change in the intensity of fluroescence emission of the second dye indicating the absence of metabolizing microorganisms in the sample or a change in the intensity of the fluorescence emission indicating the presence of metabolizing microorganisms in the sample.
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Abstract
A process and kit for detecting microbial metabolism is disclosed, the process including the steps of combining medium, a metabolic dye having an absorbance spectrum which in the presence of microorganisms changes and responds to metabolism of the microorganism and a second analytical dye having an excitation or emission spectrum which overlaps with one of the changed or unchanged absorbance spectra of the first dye. The medium contains a sample solution to be analyzed for containing metabolizing microorganisms. The user observes either no change in the fluorescence emissions of the second analytical dye indicating the absence of metabolizing microorganisms in the sample or a change indicating the presence of metabolizing microorganisms in the sample.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A process for detecting microbial metabolism, said process including the steps of:
- combining a sample solution to be analyzed for metabolizing microorganisms, microbial growth medium, a nontoxic concentration of a first dye having an absorbance spectrum which in the presence of growing microorganisms changes in response to by products of metabolism released by the microorganism into the medium, and a nontoxic concentration of a second dye having an excitation or emission spectrum which overlaps with one of the changed or unchanged absorbance spectra of the first dye, neither dye being metabolized directly by the microorganisms; and
observing either no change in the intensity of fluroescence emission of the second dye indicating the absence of metabolizing microorganisms in the sample or a change in the intensity of the fluorescence emission indicating the presence of metabolizing microorganisms in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- combining a sample solution to be analyzed for metabolizing microorganisms, microbial growth medium, a nontoxic concentration of a first dye having an absorbance spectrum which in the presence of growing microorganisms changes in response to by products of metabolism released by the microorganism into the medium, and a nontoxic concentration of a second dye having an excitation or emission spectrum which overlaps with one of the changed or unchanged absorbance spectra of the first dye, neither dye being metabolized directly by the microorganisms; and
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14. A kit for detecting microbial metabolism, said kit comprising:
- microbial growth medium;
a nontoxic concentration of a first dye having an absorbance spectrum which in the presence of microorganisms changes in response to metabolism of the microorganism;
a nontoxic concentration of a second dye having an exciation or emission spectrum which overlaps with one of the unchanged or changed absorbance spectrum of the first dye whereby addition of the first and second dyes to the medium without metabolizing microorganisms causes no change in the observed fluorescence emission of said second dye and with metabolizing microorganisms causes changes in the observed fluroescence emission of said second dye. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
- microbial growth medium;
Specification