Device and method for phage-based antibiotic susceptibility testing

摘要

A phage-based antibiotic susceptibility test is carried out by maintaining a patient sample in a sealed sample well during addition of the phage and Luciferin substrate used in the test, in order to prevent contamination of the laboratory environment. The phage is adhered in dried form to a metal carrier disk which is retained beneath the cap of the sealed sample well by means of an external magnet, and is mixed with the patient sample by removing the external magnet and allowing the carrier disk to fall to the bottom of the sample well. The Luciferin substrate is adhered to the underside of the cap and is mixed with the patient sample by shaking or inverting the sealed sample well after the metal carrier disk has separated from the underside of the cap. A row of connected sample wells and caps may be employed to allow the same patient sample to be tested with multiple antibiotics.