Abstract: A detection instrument determines whether a specimen container (e.g., blood culture bottle) is positive for presence of microbial agent growth therein. When the container is deemed positive it is made available (e.g, transferred or exposed to) to an automated instrument performing identification and/or characterization of the microbial agent. The identification and/or characterization instrument removes a portion of the sample from the specimen container and places it into a disposable separation and concentration device. The microbial agent is concentrated via optional selective lysis of non-microbial agent cellular material which may be present and centrifugation. A reading module reads the concentrated microbial agent using spectroscopic methods, e.g., measurements of intrinsic fluorescence. Such interrogation may occur while the microbial agent remains concentrated in the disposable device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for scanning, detecting, and monitoring microorganisms on solid or semi-solid media using intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements. The methods are further directed to detection, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms on a solid or semi-solid media using intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements that are characteristic of said microorganisms.

Abstract: A detection instrument determines whether a specimen container (e.g., blood culture bottle) is positive for presence of microbial agent growth therein. When the container is deemed positive it is made available (e.g, transferred or exposed to) to an automated instrument performing identification and/or characterization of the microbial agent. The identification and/or characterization instrument removes a portion of the sample from the specimen container and places it into a disposable separation and concentration device. The microbial agent is concentrated via optional selective lysis of non-microbial agent cellular material which may be present and centrifugation. A reading module reads the concentrated microbial agent using spectroscopic methods, e.g., measurements of intrinsic fluorescence. Such interrogation may occur while the microbial agent remains concentrated in the disposable device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for scanning, detecting, and monitoring microorganisms on solid or semi-solid media using intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements. The methods are further directed to detection, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms on a solid or semi-solid media using intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements that are characteristic of said microorganisms.

Abstract: A detection instrument determines whether a specimen container (e.g., blood culture bottle) is positive for presence of microbial agent growth therein. When the container is deemed positive it is made available (e.g, transferred or exposed to) to an automated instrument performing identification and/or characterization of the microbial agent. The identification and/or characterization instrument removes a portion of the sample from the specimen container and places it into a disposable separation and concentration device. The microbial agent is concentrated via optional selective lysis of non-microbial agent cellular material which may be present and centrifugation. A reading module reads the concentrated microbial agent using spectroscopic methods, e.g., measurements of intrinsic fluorescence. Such interrogation may occur while the microbial agent remains concentrated in the disposable device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting, and characterizing a microorganism present in a blood culture medium whereby the method may be accomplished utilizing a time-dependent spectroscopic technique to obtain at least two measurements directly of a blood culture medium and correlating said measurements for the detection and characterization of a microorganism, that may be present in the blood culture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for monitoring, detecting, and/or characterizing a biological particle that may be present in a sample whereby the method may be accomplished non-invasively by utilizing a time-dependent spectroscopic technique to obtain at least two measurements of a growth composition comprising a sample and correlating said measurements for the detection and/or characterization of a biological particle, that may be present in the sample.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for isolating and culturing microorganisms from a bulk fluid sample. The device comprises a container having therein a polymeric immobilization layer having interstitial spaces between polymer chains such as a gel matrix. The interstitial spaces are of an average size less than an average size of microorganisms to be separated from the sample and cultured. A bulk fluid sample is applied to the immobilization layer where fluid is absorbed by the layer and microorganisms remain on the surface of the layer. After culturing, microorganism colonies are readily accessible on the surface of the layer for harvest and testing. The immobilization layer may contain one or more of nutrients for microorganisms growth, lytic agents, lytic enzymes, antibiotics, antibiotic neutralizers, indicators, detergents and selective agents. An adjacent support layer may be above and/or below the immobilization layer.

Abstract: A device and method allow for detecting the presence of microorganisms in clinical and non-clinical specimens. The device, a sensor, provides an environment to culture microbial organism colonies from a fluid sample, and a means to facilitate microbial detection and quantification, either manually or with an instrument. The sensor has a microorganism immobilization matrix layer and a sensor layer. Detected microbial colonies are immediately available for further testing. The sensor provides an area for accepting a fluid sample, a mechanism to immobilize the fluid sample on an interior surface of the plate, nutrients to facilitate growth of microorganisms in the sample, and a sensor for allowing the detection and/or enumeration of microorganism colonies within the sample.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for isolating and culturing microorganisms from a bulk fluid sample. The device comprises a container having therein a polymeric immobilization layer having interstitial spaces between polymer chains such as a gel matrix. The interstitial spaces are of an average size less than an average size of microorganisms to be separated from the sample and cultured. A bulk fluid sample is applied to the immobilization layer where fluid is absorbed by the layer and microorganisms remain on the surface of the layer. After culturing, microorganism colonies are readily accessible on the surface of the layer for harvest and testing. The immobilization layer may contain one or more of nutrients for microorganisms growth, lytic agents, lytic enzymes, antibiotics, antibiotic neutralizers, indicators, detergents and selective agents. An adjacent support layer may be above and/or below the immobilization layer.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for isolating and culturing microorganisms from a bulk fluid sample. The device comprises a container having therein a polymeric immobilization layer having interstitial spaces between polymer chains such as a gel matrix. The interstitial spaces are of an average size less than an average size of microorganisms to be separated from the sample and cultured. A bulk fluid sample is applied to the immobilization layer where fluid is absorbed by the layer and microorganisms remain on the surface of the layer. After culturing, microorganism colonies are readily accessible on the surface of the layer for harvest and testing. The immobilization layer may contain one or more of nutrients for microorganism growth, lytic agents, lytic enzymes, antibiotics, antibiotic neutralizers, indicators, detergents and selective agents. An adjacent support layer may be above and/or below the immobilization layer.

Abstract: A device and method allow for detecting the presence of microorganisms in clinical and non-clinical specimens. The device, a sensor, provides an environment to culture microbial organism colonies from a fluid sample, and a means to facilitate microbial detection and quantification, either manually or with an instrument. The sensor has a microorganism immobilization matrix layer and a sensor layer. Detected microbial colonies are immediately available for further testing. The sensor provides an area for accepting a fluid sample, a mechanism to immobilize the fluid sample on an interior surface of the plate, nutrients to facilitate growth of microorganisms in the sample, and a sensor for allowing the detection and/or enumeration of microorganism colonies within the sample.

Abstract: Disposable plates for performing microbial antibiotic susceptibility testing with multiple channels can be inoculated with a microorganism and antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial agent may be presented as a gradient of concentrations in the plate. The susceptibility testing plates are configured to allow viewing of microbial growth, and/or to be received in an automated instrument which analyzes same.

Abstract: Disposable plates for performing microbial antibiotic susceptibility testing with multiple channels can be inoculated with a microorganism and antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial agent may be presented as a gradient of concentrations in the plate. The susceptibility testing plates are configured to allow viewing of microbial growth, and/or to be received in an automated instrument which analyzes same.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing microbial antibiotic susceptibility testing include disposable, multi-chambered susceptibility plates and an automated plate handler and image acquisition and processing instrument is described. The susceptibility plates are inoculated with a suitable microorganism such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae or viruses and anti-microbial agent(s) are applied that the microorganism is exposed to at a variety of concentrations or a gradient of each anti-microbial agent. The plates are then placed in the instrument, which monitors and measures the growth or lack thereof of the microorganisms. This data is used to determine the susceptibility of the microorganism to the antibiotics. Such a system automates anti-microbial susceptibility testing using solid media and Carbo-Bauer standardized result reporting. The system provides a level of automation previously associated only with broth micro dilution testing, while retaining the advantages of the manual disk diffusion test.

Abstract: A device and method allow for detecting the presence of microorganisms in clinical and non-clinical specimens. The device, a sensor, provides an environment to culture microbial organism colonies from a fluid sample, and a means to facilitate microbial detection and quantification, either manually or with an instrument. The sensor has a microorganism immobilization matrix layer and a sensor layer. Detected microbial colonies are immediately available for further testing. The sensor provides an area for accepting a fluid sample, a mechanism to immobilize the fluid sample on an interior surface of the plate, nutrients to facilitate growth of microorganisms in the sample, and a sensor for allowing the detection and/or enumeration of microorganism colonies within the sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing microbial antibiotic susceptibility testing include disposable, multi-chambered susceptibility plates and an automated plate handler and image acquisition and processing instrument. The susceptibility plates are inoculated with a microorganism (any suitable organism such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae or viruses) and anti-microbial agent(s) are applied such that the microorganism is exposed to a variety of concentrations, or a gradient of each anti-microbial agent. The plates are then placed in the instrument, which monitors and measures the growth (or lack thereof) of the microorganisms. This data is used to determine the susceptibility of the microorganism to the antibiotics. Such a system automates antimicrobial susceptibility testing using solid media and Kirby-Bauer standardized result reporting. The system provides a level of automation previously associated only with broth microdilution testing, while retaining the advantages of the manual disk diffusion test.

Abstract: A device and method allow for detecting the presence of microorganisms in clinical and non-clinical specimens. The device, a sensor, provides an environment to culture microbial organism colonies from a fluid sample, and a means to facilitate microbial detection and quantification, either manually or with an instrument. The sensor has a microorganism immobilization matrix layer and a sensor layer. Detected microbial colonies are immediately available for further testing. The sensor provides an area for accepting a fluid sample, a mechanism to immobilize the fluid sample on an interior surface of the plate, nutrients to facilitate growth of microorganisms in the sample, and a sensor for allowing the detection and/or enumeration of microorganism colonies within the sample.

Abstract: A device and method allow for collection of a blood specimen and for detecting the presence of microorganisms in the blood specimen. The device, a sensor plate under vacuum, provides an environment to culture microbial organism colonies from a blood sample, and a means to facilitate microbial detection and quantification, either manually or with an instrument. The vacuum sensor plate has a microorganism immobilization matrix layer and a sensor layer. Detected microbial colonies are immediately available for further testing. A kit is provided having a needle assembly for direct draw of blood from a patient onto the immobilization layer within the vacuum sensor plate. The sensor plate provides an area for accepting a blood sample, a mechanism to immobilize the blood sample on an interior surface of the plate, nutrients to facilitate growth of microorganisms in the sample, and a sensor layer for allowing the detection and/or enumeration of microorganism colonies within the blood sample.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing/agitating microorganism culture bottles includes a wheel in which culture bottles are placed, with the wheel being set at an angle from vertical so that bottles are not inverted during rotation. A sensor such as a florescence or colorimetric sensor for carbon dioxide is disposed along the flat bottom surface of each of the bottles. Once during each revolution the bottles pass across a photodiode/light emitting diode pair (for a calorimetric system). A sensor transmits light emitted by the LED to the photodiode. At the same instant, an infrared reflective objective sensor, emitting on a digital rotary encoder, determines the bottle number. The change in sensor transmittance is directly related to cell growth so that bottles positive for growth can be detected by suitable software.