Method for classifying a microorganism in a biological sample
First Claim
1. A method of classifying a bacterium in a test sample, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) combining the test sample, which contains a standardized amount of the bacterium, with a hemocyte preparation to produce a mixture;
(b) measuring either (i) an optical property of the mixture at a preselected time or (ii) a time in which a preselected change occurs in an optical property of the mixture, wherein the optical property is selected from the group consisting of absorbance, transmittance, optical density, and turbidity; and
(c) comparing the optical property of step (b)(i) or the time value of step (b)(ii) with a first standard value indicative of the presence of Gram negative bacteria and a second standard value indicative of the presence of Gram positive bacteria thereby to determine whether the bacterium is a Gram negative bacterium or a Gram positive bacterium.
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Abstract
The invention provides a method using a hemocyte preparation, for example, Limulus amebocyte lysate, for detecting in a single assay the presence of at least one of a Gram negative bacterium, a Gram positive bacterium, and a fungus in a sample of interest. The method exploits the differential reactivity of Gram negative bacteria, Gram positive bacteria, and fungi with the hemocyte preparation to produce measurable changes in a property, for example, an optical property, of the mixture. Because the Gram negative bacteria, Gram positive bacteria and fungi each produce different changes in a given property, for example, an optical property, it is possible to classify the type of microorganism present in the sample of interest.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of classifying a bacterium in a test sample, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) combining the test sample, which contains a standardized amount of the bacterium, with a hemocyte preparation to produce a mixture; (b) measuring either (i) an optical property of the mixture at a preselected time or (ii) a time in which a preselected change occurs in an optical property of the mixture, wherein the optical property is selected from the group consisting of absorbance, transmittance, optical density, and turbidity; and (c) comparing the optical property of step (b)(i) or the time value of step (b)(ii) with a first standard value indicative of the presence of Gram negative bacteria and a second standard value indicative of the presence of Gram positive bacteria thereby to determine whether the bacterium is a Gram negative bacterium or a Gram positive bacterium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification