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Microbial monitoring device

  • US 5,567,598 A
  • Filed: 03/03/1993
  • Issued: 10/22/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting the presence of respiring microorganisms in a fluid comprising:

  • (i) contacting said fluid with a sensor composition which comprises a fluorescent compound that exhibits a reduction in fluorescent intensity, when irradiated with light containing wavelengths which cause said compound to fluoresce, upon exposure to oxygen, wherein the presence of the sensor composition is non-destructive to the microorganism;

    (ii) irradiating said sensor composition with light containing wavelengths which cause said fluorescent compound to fluoresce;

    (iii) measuring or visually observing the fluorescent light intensity from said fluorescent compound while irradiating said sensor compound with said light;

    (iv) comparing said measurement to that of a control not containing a respiring microorganism, wherein said control is selected from the group consisting of;

    a reagent control not in contact with respiring microorganisms and a calculated threshold, wherein a change in fluorescent intensity relative to the fluorescent intensity of the control is indicative of the presence of respiring microorganisms; and

    (v) in the event that no such increase is measured or observed, repeat steps (ii), (iii), and (iv) as needed, to detect the presence of respiring microorganisms in said fluid.

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