Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or... – Involving viable micro-organism
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2001-03-27
Redding, David A. (Department: 1744)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or...
Involving viable micro-organism
C435S309100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06207406
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a microbial sampling apparatus and process and relates specifically to a contact device for screening surfaces for microbial contamination in the food and similar industries.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, numerous outbreaks of food poisoning have resulted from consuming ground beef contaminated with toxigenic strains of
Escherichia coli
or chickens infected with shigella or salmonella. These outbreaks have become a major public health problem and a large-scale industry and government program is underway to minimize and prevent further attacks of food poisoning. One aspect of this program involves examination of the sanitary practices in food processing facilities, especially meat and poultry processing plants. Inherent in such a program is a determination of the microbial profile or burden in work stations, carcasses, and any surface coming in contact with the product that could be a source of contamination.
Current surface sampling techniques include rubbing a sterile moist cotton swab or moist pieces of gauze across a suspect surface, and in the laboratory after elution, the number and types of microorganisms are determined. Another technique uses nutrient agar molded in the shape of a “sausage”. A section or slice of this sausage agar is taken and the sliced section pressed down on the suspect surface, removed, and after incubation, the numbers and types of microorganisms determined. The present invention utilizes the advantages of these systems while minimizing the disadvantages thereof.
It is accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for sampling of surfaces for suspect microorganisms.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sampling tool for determining microorganism presence, identification, and quantity on a test surface.
It is another object of the present invention to employ double-faced adhesive tape for attaching an agar saturated porous plastic foam to a support base to form a microorganism sampling tool.
Another object of the present invention is a process of making a microorganism sampling and identification tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, the foregoing and additional objects are attained in the preferred embodiment of the invention by using porous plastic foam for absorbing melted, and subsequently gelled, nutrient agar to form a block and attaching a support surface to one surface of the porous plastic foam to permit positioning of the other agar surface onto a test suspect microorganism-contaminated surface. The support surface is a double-faced adhesive tape with one face of the tape adhered to the plastic foam and the other face adhered to a roller rotatably attached to a handle for rotatable support.
A test surface, animal carcass, processing table or the like, is sampled by rolling the roller over the test surface. Microorganisms are recovered from the test surface(s) by the combined natural sticky action of agar and the bristle-like action of the plastic foam. After sampling the roller spool may be removed from the handle and the entire roller, or at least the agar saturated plastic foam, is placed in an incubator in a conventional manner to facilitate microorganism growth and to give an indication of the numbers and types of recovered microorganisms by conventional biochemical and other techniques.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3066342 (1962-12-01), Jackson
patent: 3074276 (1963-01-01), Moos
patent: 4717667 (1988-01-01), Provonchee
patent: 4848165 (1989-07-01), Bartilson
patent: 4848167 (1989-07-01), Gordon
patent: 5063026 (1991-11-01), Wong
patent: 5243865 (1993-09-01), Hsu
patent: 5373748 (1994-12-01), Lioy
patent: 5554537 (1996-09-01), Sharp
patent: 5695988 (1997-12-01), Chong
Nelson Wallace J.
Redding David A.
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