Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or... – Involving viable micro-organism
Patent
1999-03-11
2000-04-18
Leary, Louise N.
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or...
Involving viable micro-organism
435 31, 435 32, 4352831, 435975, C12Q 102, C12Q 122, C12Q 118
Patent
active
060513942
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the detection of micro-organisms and is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to the detection of pathogenic micro-organisms during the preparation of food for human consumption.
2. Description of the Related Art
The contamination of foodstuffs, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and the like by undesirable micro-organisms represents a significant threat to public health. In the past a number of methods to monitor the presence of such micro-organisms in foodstuffs, water supplies and on food preparation surfaces for example have been developed. Generally, such methods rely on conventional microbiological techniques, typically including the growth of micro-organisms on selective nutrient solid support media or alternatively in selective nutrient media. Subsequent morphological analyses are carried out. Such testing techniques are hindered by the fact that a result may not be obtained for 24 to 48 hours or more and the process is complex and laborious.
The demand for simple tests in which results as to the number of particular pathogenic micro-organisms present in a sample can been obtained in less time than the above described tests has lead to the development of alternative techniques. Such techniques are based on the growth of micro-organisms in nutrient media in the presence of an indicator specific to a micro-organism that is to be detected, or alternatively in selective growth media. A period of approximately 12 to 24 hours is still required for a result to be obtained in such testing assays. Generally, during all aspects of the preparation of food for human consumption and the like this time constraint is undesirable.
Other possible problems associated with the current assay systems available for detecting pathogenic micro-organisms may include the lack of containment of the micro-organism during the detection process and in the case of testing food preparation surfaces for example the standardisation of the sample area.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved means and method of detecting micro-organisms, or one which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of detecting micro-organisms comprising the steps of taking a sample from a mass, surface or a fluid to be tested, providing a sealable sterile chamber of substantially limited volumetric capacity in which the detection process is to be conducted, placing the sample in contact with a composition capable of detecting micro-organisms within said sealable sterile chamber and recording a change in the composition.
Preferably the volumetric capacity of said sealable sterile chamber is less than 10 cubic centimeters.
More preferably volumetric capacity of said sealable sterile chamber is less than or equal to 2 cubic centimeters.
Preferably the sample is taken and is placed in contact with said composition in said sealable sterile chamber using a sterile sampling instrument.
Alternatively the sample is taken by washing the surface with an appropriate solution and subsequently collecting the wash solution.
Alternatively the sample is taken from the surface using a sterile sampling instrument, the sterile sampling instrument washed with an appropriate solution and subsequently collecting the wash solution.
Alternatively the sample is taken by removing a mass from an object to be tested, washing the mass with an appropriate solution and subsequently collecting the wash solution.
Preferably said change in the composition capable of detecting micro-organisms is one which can be visualised by eye or in a spectrophotometer.
Preferably the method described in any of the preceding 8 paragraphs further comprises the step of delineating an area of a surface to be tested and placing the sterile sampling instrument in contact with substantially all of the delineated area.
Preferably the method described in any of the preceding 9 paragraphs
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patent: 5429803 (1995-07-01), Guirguis
patent: 5635362 (1997-06-01), Levine et al.
"Growth in Nitrogen-Free Mineral Salts Medium," Microbiological Techniques Manual, School of Microbiology, University of Melbourne, pp. 91-92.
Brock, Thomas D., "Steps in the Identification of an Unknown Bacterial Culture," Biology of Microorganisms, pp. 607-609, 1979.
"Eosin Methylene-blue Lactose Sucrose Agar EMB Agar," Handbook of Microbiology (Merck), pp. 173-174, 1983.
"Fuchsin Lactose Agar acc. to Endo (Type C) Endo C Agar," Handbook of Microbiology (Merck), pp. 175-176, 1983.
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Sharpin Rosemary Katherine Cameron
Simmons Maxine Helen
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