Water quality monitoring by Raman spectral analysis
First Claim
1. A method of assessing occurrence of a Cryptosporidium oocyst in an aqueous sample, the method comprising irradiating the sample and assessing radiation scattered from the sample for radiation that exhibits a Raman scattering characteristic of Cryptosporidium oocysts, wherein detection of scattered radiation that exhibits a Raman shift (RS) characteristic of Cryptosporidium oocysts is an indication that a Cryptosporidium oocyst occurs in the sample.
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Abstract
Raman scattering of radiation applied to a water sample is used to assess occurrence of a pathogen in the sample. The method is useful for detecting pathogens that are difficult to detect using other methods, such as protozoa. Examples of organisms that can be detected in water samples using these methods include protozoa of the genus Cryptosporidium and the genus Giardia. The methods described herein have important applications, such as for detection of Cryptosporidium organisms in municipal water systems.
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Citations
32 Claims
- 1. A method of assessing occurrence of a Cryptosporidium oocyst in an aqueous sample, the method comprising irradiating the sample and assessing radiation scattered from the sample for radiation that exhibits a Raman scattering characteristic of Cryptosporidium oocysts, wherein detection of scattered radiation that exhibits a Raman shift (RS) characteristic of Cryptosporidium oocysts is an indication that a Cryptosporidium oocyst occurs in the sample.
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27. A method of assessing occurrence of a viable Cryptosporidium oocyst in an aqueous sample, the method comprising irradiating the sample and assessing radiation scattered from the sample for radiation that exhibits a Raman scattering characteristic of viable Cryptosporidium oocysts, wherein detection of scattered radiation that exhibits a Raman shift characteristic of Cryptosporidium oocysts is an indication that a viable Cryptosporidium oocyst occurs in the sample.
- 28. A method of ablating viable Cryptosporidium oocysts in a sample, the method comprising identifying a viable Cryptosporidium oocyst in a portion of the sample by irradiating the sample, assessing radiation scattered from the sample for radiation that exhibits a Raman scattering characteristic of viable Cryptosporidium oocysts, and thereafter delivering an ablating agent to the portion.
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30. A method of eliminating viable Cryptosporidium oocysts from a sample, the method comprising identifying portions of the sample which comprise a viable Cryptosporidium oocyst by irradiating the sample, assessing radiation scattered from the sample for radiation that exhibits a Raman scattering characteristic of viable Cryptosporidium oocysts, and thereafter delivering an ablating agent to each portion which comprises a viable Cryptosporidium oocyst.
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31. A method of assessing whether a Cryptosporidium oocyst in an aqueous sample is viable, the method comprising irradiating a portion of the sample that includes the oocyst and assessing radiation scattered from the portion for radiation that exhibits a Raman scattering characteristic of viable Cryptosporidium oocysts, wherein detection of radiation scattered from the portion that exhibits a Raman shift characteristic of viable Cryptosporidium oocysts is an indication that the oocyst is viable.
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32. A method of assessing the source of cryptosporidial contamination of a water source, the method comprising identifying oocysts of a Cryptosporidium species by irradiating a sample of water from the source and assessing radiation scattered from the sample for radiation that exhibits a Raman scattering characteristic of a particular species of Cryptosporidium oocysts, whereby the species of Cryptosporidium oocysts can be correlated with a common host of that species to identify a likely source of the oocysts.
Specification