METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENSING THE PRESENCE OF MICROBES

摘要

Method and apparatus for the detection of aerobic microbes on non-living surfaces in which electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength greater than 350 nm is directed onto the surface to cause excitation of pyridine nucleotides present in microbial cells to emit radiation having a higher wavelength. That higher wavelength radiation and reflected radiation is then sensed as a measure of the amount of microbial cells on the surface.