Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for monitoring airborne microorganisms composed of: a chassis, which has a fan for flowing the air therein from the outside at a portion thereof and of which inside is spatially segmented by partition plates for performing a plurality of steps; a perforated plate, which is disposed at a portion of the chassis and has a plurality of nozzles for focusing split air flows passing through a plurality of spaces in a given direction; a capturing plate, which has a plurality of trapping surfaces at the positions opposite to the plurality of nozzles of the perforated plate; a capturing plate control part, which moves the capturing plate relative to the perforated plate; and an optical detection part for fluorescence generated from the microorganisms on the trapping surface of the capturing plate.

Abstract: A method for accurately counting desired cells or microorganisms (viable bacteria) in a sample fluid in which contaminants are included is provided. One or plural types of membrane-permeable fluorochromes whose fluorescence amount is amplified by binding to a nucleic acid and glycerin are added to a sample fluid containing cells or microorganisms to be counted and allowed to stand for a certain time. Glycerin is added before or after or simultaneously with the mixing of the sample fluid and the fluorochrome(s). The cells or microorganisms to be counted are counted by staining the cells or microorganisms to be counted, followed by irradiating with light having a specific wavelength to detect the fluorescence emitted from the cells or microorganisms.

Abstract: Micropillars are arranged a first row up to an nth row, the micropillars in one row are disposed at the same interval “a” from each other, and each of the rows is disposed in a position shifted by a distance “b” with respect to an immediately preceding upstream row, in a row direction. A liquid that contains particles flows through between the micropillars. A voltage is applied from a power supply to electrodes, thereby generating an electric field in a flow channel. The micropillars are electrical insulating structures, so in regions of narrow intervals between the micropillars, electrical lines of force are dense and strength of the electric field is high, and in regions of wide intervals between the micropillars, electrical lines of force are sparse and the strength of the electric field is low.

Abstract: The present invention provides an impaction-based microorganism collecting device in which microorganisms are captured by the capture surface of a collection plate. The microorganism collecting device is designed to reduce the influence of the lateral wind flowing over the perforated plate having multiple nozzles and also prevent warpage of the perforated plate. Multiple air vents are formed around the circumference of the capture surface and through the capture surface so that air that has flowed through the nozzles of the perforated plate onto the capture surface can be discharged. This allows the air to flow in multiple directions over the capture surface, thereby reducing the speed of the air and increasing the microorganism capture rate.

Abstract: A microorganism testing device includes a measurement chip having a specimen container; a reaction container for mixing a specimen and a dyeing reagent; a bacteria detection portion irradiated with excitation light; a detection liquid waste container a solution flow path which connects the specimen container, the reaction container and the bacteria detection portion, and ventilation ports which are connected to the specimen container, the reaction container and the detection liquid waste container, through a air flow path and is connected to a chip connecting tube. Bacteria are detected in the bacteria detection portion by switching of the states of the containers between a sealed state and a state open to the atmospheric pressure, by moving the specimen to the reaction container to mix and stir the specimen and the dyeing reagent, and by moving of the liquid mixture to the detection liquid waste container.

Abstract: Provided are a microorganism testing chip capable of suppressing self-fluorescence and enhancing mass productivity, and a microorganism testing device using the same. The microorganism testing chip includes a main body and a fungus body detection unit mounted on the main body. The main body has a detection window frame portion which is a through-hole or a pass-through groove. The fungus body detection unit is disposed to cover the detection window frame portion and has a fungus body detection flow path connected to flow paths provided in the main body. The fungus body detection unit includes a cover member and a flow path member, and is formed by attaching these two members to each other. The flow path member has a groove. By attaching the two members to each other, the groove of the flow path member serves as the fungus body detection flow path.

Abstract: A means for accurately counting desired cells or microorganisms (viable bacteria) in a sample fluid in which contaminants are included is provided. One or plural types of membrane-permeable fluorochromes whose fluorescence amount is amplified by binding to a nucleic acid and glycerin are added to a sample fluid containing cells or microorganisms to be counted and allowed to stand for a certain time. Glycerin is added before or after or simultaneously with the mixing of the sample fluid and the fluorochrome(s). The cells or microorganisms to be counted are counted by staining the cells or microorganisms to be counted, followed by irradiating with light having a specific wavelength to detect the fluorescence emitted from the cells or microorganisms.

Abstract: To eliminate the necessity of a dedicated optical system and the flowing of fluorescent microparticles for aligning excitation light with a flat plate-shaped flow cell which internally includes a flow path, a microorganism testing apparatus includes: a first detector that detects fluorescence emitted from microorganisms flowing through a detection flow path when a microorganism detection unit included in a microorganism testing chip is irradiated with excitation light, and converts the fluorescence to an electrical signal; and a second detector that detects scattered light similarly emitted from the microorganisms flowing through the detection flow path, and converts the scattered light to an electrical signal. The alignment of the detection flow path is performed in the direction of the optical axis of the excitation light by controlling and moving a stage having the microorganism testing chip mounted thereon based on the intensity of fluorescence detected by the first detector.

Abstract: A liquid conveying substrate comprises: rectangular electrodes which are disposed on the substrate surface and whose surfaces are covered with a dielectric with a water repellent surface; first axial electrode columns where the rectangular electrodes are coupled in an x direction; and second axial electrode columns where the rectangular electrodes are coupled in a y direction. Accordingly, electrodes necessary for conveying liquid droplets can be arranged on one substrate, and the number of mechanisms for controlling the potential can be suppressed.

Abstract: Provided are a microorganism testing chip capable of suppressing self-fluorescence and enhancing mass productivity, and a microorganism testing device using the same. The microorganism testing chip includes a main body and a fungus body detection unit mounted on the main body. The main body has a detection window frame portion which is a through-hole or a pass-through groove. The fungus body detection unit is disposed to cover the detection window frame portion and has a fungus body detection flow path connected to flow paths provided in the main body. The fungus body detection unit includes a cover member and a flow path member, and is formed by attaching these two members to each other. The flow path member has a groove. By attaching the two members to each other, the groove of the flow path member serves as the fungus body detection flow path.

Abstract: The invention is achieved by feeding a reagent using centrifugal force, without providing a valve for controlling the flow rate of the reagent in the reagent flow path. A chemical analyzer is used which comprises a structure that is supported so as to be rotatable, said structure comprising a capturing section for capturing specific chemical substances from a specimen, specimen containers and reagent containers including washing solution containers.

Abstract: A microorganism testing device includes: an analysis chip that includes a fluid specimen container, a reaction container for causing the fluid specimen to react with a reagent solution, a microorganism detection flow path, and an alignment reagent container for holding an alignment reagent to be used in an alignment work of the microorganism detection flow path; a moving stage for holding the analysis chip; and a detection device including a light source for irradiating the detection flow path with light, and an optical detector for detecting light from the detection flow path and converting the light into electric signals, in which the alignment reagent container is provided on a downstream side of the specimen container and the reaction container.

Abstract: There is disclosed a microorganism testing device in which various types of microorganisms can be easily concentrated. The microorganism testing device includes a detection chip, a carrier device, a controller, and a magnet. The detection chip includes a specimen container for holding a specimen containing microorganisms, a trapping particle liquid container for holding trapping particle liquid containing magnetic particles, a microorganism trapping section for trapping the microorganisms, and a liquid flow path. In a state where a magnetic force of the magnet acts on the microorganism trapping section, the controller controls the carrier device to flow the trapping particle liquid into the microorganism trapping section to form a filtration filter by trapping plural magnetic particles in the microorganism trapping section, and in this state, to flow the microorganisms into the microorganism trapping section so that the microorganisms within the specimen are deposited on one side of the filtration filter.

Abstract: An organism testing apparatus adapted to measure the organisms in a specimen in stable fashion is disclosed in which the organisms are stained, the specimen is concentrated and the information on the organisms contained in the specimen are acquired through a simple process. The apparatus includes a staining unit for staining the organisms having live cells existing in a flowing liquid specimen, a concentration unit for concentrating the organisms in a flowing stained specimen, an individual measuring unit for acquiring the image information on the individuals containing the organisms in the concentrated specimen, and a control unit for measuring the organisms based on the image information on the individuals output from the individual measuring unit.

Abstract: Pretreatment of residual food removal and bacteria dyeing, and measurement of the number of bacteria using the fluorescence flow cytometry method, are stably performed by easy operations. A measurement chip 10 includes: a specimen container 151; a reaction container 170 for mixing a specimen and a dyeing reagent into a liquid mixture; a bacteria detection portion 18 being irradiated with excitation light; a detection liquid waste container 163 into which liquid mixture which has passed the bacteria detection portion enters; a solution flow path 157 which connects the specimen container, the reaction container and the bacteria detection portion, and ventilation ports 1631 through 1633 which are connected to the specimen container, the reaction container and the detection liquid waste container, through a air flow path and is connected to a chip connecting tube.

Abstract: In a chemical analysis apparatus for extracting a specific substance, such as nucleic acid, from a sample containing a plurality of chemical substances, solutions remaining in valves are prevented so that a reagent in an earlier step does not contaminate the subsequent steps. Predetermined quantities of solutions are carried and supplied by centrifugal force without providing valves for controlling the flow of the solutions. After perforating the lids of ventilation holes 272, 273, 274 communicated with a detection container 450 and disposal containers 460 and 470 in an analysis disc 2, the analysis disc 2 is rotated to supply and carry a predetermined quantity of the sample.

Abstract: A liquid conveying substrate comprises: rectangular electrodes which are disposed on the substrate surface and whose surfaces are covered with a dielectric with a water repellent surface; first axial electrode columns where the rectangular electrodes are coupled in an x direction; and second axial electrode columns where the rectangular electrodes are coupled in a y direction. Accordingly, electrodes necessary for conveying liquid droplets can be arranged on one substrate, and the number of mechanisms for controlling the potential can be suppressed.

Abstract: A chip having a deaerating function and requiring no bonding or welding for forming a channel, and an apparatus and method for the reaction analysis are provided. The chip contains a first substrate, a second substrate having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, and an intermediate member having hydro-phobicity and air permeability and forming a channel between the first and second substrates. It is thereby possible to prevent mixing of air bubbles into the channel.

Abstract: A chip having a deaerating function and requiring no bonding or welding for forming a channel, and an apparatus and method for the reaction analysis are provided. The chip contains a first substrate, a second substrate having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, and an intermediate member having hydro-phobicity and air permeability and forming a channel between the first and second substrates. It is thereby possible to prevent mixing of air bubbles into the channel.

Abstract: The invention is achieved by feeding a reagent using centrifugal force, without providing a valve for controlling the flow rate of the reagent in the reagent flow path. A chemical analyzer is used which comprises a structure that is supported so as to be rotatable, said structure comprising a capturing section for capturing specific chemical substances from a specimen, specimen containers and reagent containers including washing solution containers.