System for detecting microbial contamination

摘要

The present invention relates to a system for detecting microbial contamination of a liquid specimen comprising a device for concentrating micro-organisms from a liquid specimen, having (i) a hyperbaric chamber, (ii) a filter housing comprising a liquid-permeable bed of an adsorbent material and adapted for being fluidly connected to the hyperbaric chamber, and (iii) a manner for pressurizing the hyperbaric chamber. The system also comprises a kit for detection of micro-organisms adsorbed to the adsorbent material, wherein the kit is based on enzymatic detection using chromogenic and/or fluorescent substrate analogues.

主权项

1. A system for detecting micro-organisms in a liquid specimen, comprising:
a device for concentrating micro-organisms from a liquid specimen, wherein the device comprises:
a) a hyperbaric chamber for holding a liquid specimen comprising:
a liquid inlet through which said liquid specimen can enter said hyperbaric chamber,a liquid outlet through which said liquid specimen can leave said hyperbaric chamber and adapted for sealably engaging with the liquid inlet of a filter housing, andmeans for pressurizing said hyperbaric chamber; andb) a filter housing comprising:
a liquid inlet through which said liquid specimen can enter the filter housing and adapted for engaging with the liquid outlet of said hyperbaric chamber ,a liquid outlet through which said liquid specimen can leave the filter housing, anda liquid-permeable bed of an adsorbent material housed in the filter housing between said liquid inlet and liquid outlet of said filter housing adsorbing micro-organisms through electrostatic interaction, wherein said adsorbent material has a positively charged surface, is in a granular form, having granules with a spherical particle size of between 5 μm and 1 mm; and comprises metal oxides and/or hydroxyapatite; whereby when:
i) said hyperbaric chamber containing a liquid specimen is sealably engaged with said filter housing such that fluid communication between said hyperbaric chamber and said filter housing is allowed by means of a sealed passageway andii) said hyperbaric chamber is pressurized, said liquid specimen is forced into the filter housing from said hyperbaric chamber and passes through said liquid-permeable bed of an adsorbent material before leaving via said liquid outlet;a kit for the detection of said micro-organisms by detecting enzymatic activity specific for said micro-organism comprising:
a chromogenic and/or fluorogenic substrate,a liquid growth medium; and optionally instructions for assembling, operating and disassembling the device, and/or detecting micro-organisms concentrated in said device by using said detection kit.