Rapid read-out biological indicator
First Claim
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1. A sterility indicator comprisinga) an outer container having liquid impermeable and substantially non-gas absorptive walls, said outer container having at least one opening therein;
- b) a gas-transmissive, bacteria-impermeable means covering said opening;
c) contained within said outer container, a source of active enzyme in a detectable concentration, said active enzyme having sufficient activity following a sterilization cycle which is sublethal to at least one test microorganism commonly used to monitor sterilization, to react with an effective amount of a substrate system for said active enzyme to produce a detectable enzyme-modified product within less than twenty-four hours, yet said active enzyme having activity which is reduced to background following a sterilization cycle which is lethal to said at least one test microorganism; and
d) also contained within said outer container, an effective amount of a substrate system capable of reacting in aqueous solution with said active enzyme to produce a detectable enzyme-modified product.
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Abstract
A rapid method of determining the efficacy of a sterilization cycle, and an indicator adapted to perform such method, comprising subjecting to the sterilization cycle a source of active enzyme having activity which correlates with the viability of a microorganism commonly used to monitor sterilization, and incubating the enzyme source, following the completion of the sterilization cycle, with an effective amount of a substrate system capable of reacting with any residual active enzyme to produce a detectable enzyme-modified product.
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11 Claims
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1. A sterility indicator comprising
a) an outer container having liquid impermeable and substantially non-gas absorptive walls, said outer container having at least one opening therein; -
b) a gas-transmissive, bacteria-impermeable means covering said opening; c) contained within said outer container, a source of active enzyme in a detectable concentration, said active enzyme having sufficient activity following a sterilization cycle which is sublethal to at least one test microorganism commonly used to monitor sterilization, to react with an effective amount of a substrate system for said active enzyme to produce a detectable enzyme-modified product within less than twenty-four hours, yet said active enzyme having activity which is reduced to background following a sterilization cycle which is lethal to said at least one test microorganism; and d) also contained within said outer container, an effective amount of a substrate system capable of reacting in aqueous solution with said active enzyme to produce a detectable enzyme-modified product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification