Apparatus and method for detecting and identifying microorganisms

摘要

The present invention is an apparatus for detecting the presence, quantity and identity of one or more microorganisms in a sample and a method for using the same. The apparatus is composed of one or more chambers and a sensing element for sensing microorganisms. In particular embodiments, the sensing element is an array of chemoresponsive dyes deposited on a substrate in a predetermined pattern combination, wherein the combination of the dyes have a distinct and direct spectroscopic, transmission, or reflectance response to distinct analytes produced by the microorganism which is indicative of the presence, quantity and identity of the microorganism.

主权项

1. An apparatus for detecting, quantifying or identifying a microorganism comprising
(a) a container with at least one chamber; (b) a medium within the chamber of the container, wherein said medium is supplemented with nutrients for supporting growth of a microorganism; and (c) at least one colorimetric sensing element placed in, or proximate to, the medium, wherein said sensing element includes a substrate comprising a plurality of chemoresponsive dyes in a predetermined pattern combination, wherein the sensing element comprises at least two different classes of dyes selected from the group of Lewis acid/base dyes, Bronsted acid or base dyes; or zwitterionic solvatochromic dyes, wherein each of said dyes comprises a chromophore and wherein the combination of the dyes have a distinct and direct spectroscopic, transmission, or reflectance response to distinct analytes produced by the microorganism which is indicative of the presence and identity of the microorganism.