Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or... – Involving viable micro-organism
Patent
1998-09-28
2000-05-09
Leary, Louise N.
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or...
Involving viable micro-organism
435 29, 4352521, 43525233, 4352528, 4352831, 435848, 435849, 435975, 422161, 422 56, 422129, 422138, 422109, 422108, 422285, C12Q 104, C12Q 102, C12N 112, G01N 3353
Patent
active
06060266&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the fields of detecting and disposing of microorganisms. In particular, the invention relates to the use of incubators for detecting microorganisms and the use of storage containers for the disposal of the microorganisms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The following description of the background of the invention is provided to aid the reader in the understanding of the invention, but it is not admitted to constitute or describe prior art to the invention.
The collection of biological samples from the field, such as the sampling of water for microbiological contamination testing is an important aspect of maintaining the purity of water supplies.
Samples are often maintained under conditions which will allow for the later growth of any microorganisms present. However, little or no growth of any microorganisms in the sample occurs on site and during shipment of the sample to the testing laboratory. Growth based detection of any microorganism in the sample must await arrival at the testing facility, which delays the detection of the presence of microorganisms. Also, microbiological testing requires incubation of samples at elevated temperatures and such testing is usually done in a laboratory setting.
The use of portable incubation devices for the growth of biological samples, such as cells or tissues in culture is known. Such devices rely on the use of electrical elements such as batteries, heating coils and thermostats to maintain the proper temperature required for cellular growth. See, G. M. Eastham and K. H. Rieckmann, Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 84:27-28 (1981) and, Geoffrey A. R. Mealing and Jean-Louis Scwhartz, Brain Research Bulletin, 23:161-162 (1989).
Lemberg et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,674 disclose an infant incubator relying on convection flow from a heating element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a portable incubation kit which relies on non-electromechanical devices in order to facilitate growth of a microorganism in a sample such that growth during shipment may occur. It also provides the option to conduct the microbiological testing on-site rather than shipping the sample to a laboratory. Surprisingly, the kit does not utilize any electrical components. The sample container and the vessel cap of the sample container, as described in detail below, provide a means for disinfecting a sample at a desired time and safely disposing the sample. By separating the sample from the disinfectant with a membrane or barrier, contact between the sample and the disinfectant can be prevented until the user breaks or removes the barrier or membrane and thereby allows contact and disinfection.
Thus, in one aspect the invention features a kit which advantageously provides for the incubation of a sample for on-site testing, which may contain a microorganism. It can also be used for concurrent shipment and incubation of a sample that may contain a microorganism. Instead of shipping the sample to a testing facility, the growth based detection of the organism can be conducted on-site, so that a signal generated by the growth of the organism may be rapidly detected by field personnel. If it is used as a shipping container, upon arrival at a testing facility, the growth of the organism(s) is complete or nearly complete and the result can be rapidly detected by facility personnel.
The kit includes a sample container for growth of a microorganism which may be present in a sample, and a heat pack. The kit is configured so that the heat pack is located to provide proper temperature for the growth of any such microorganism(s).
The "sample container" is generally any sterile vessel into which may be placed a sample which may contain a microorganism. The sample container may be made of plastic, glass or other nonporous substances which can contain a liquid or fluid without leaking. Such a sample container will allow growth of the microorganism to be detected and will generally contain from 10-100 ml liquid with appropriate spa
REFERENCES:
patent: 3960670 (1976-06-01), Pflug
patent: 4458674 (1984-07-01), Lemburg et al.
patent: 4885253 (1989-12-01), Kralovic
Eastman et al., "Field incubator for measuring drug susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum," Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 84:27-28 (1981).
Mealing et al., "An inexpensive portable incubator for tissue or cell cultures," Brain Research Bulletin 23:161-162 (1989).
Gu Haoyi
Naqui Ali
Pierson Mark W.
Workman, Jr. Erwin F.
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
Leary Louise N.
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