Method for detection of surfaces contaminants

摘要

A method for determining the presence and concentration of total microbial contamination or the presence and concentration of a specific microbial species on a surface is described. The method consists of a means of a collection device and fluid for removing the microbes from the surface and suspending them in a fluid phase. An aliquot of the fluid phase is introduced into a disposable test device which allows filtration of the sample to remove extraneous substances including somatic cells, and concentration of the microbes. The total concentration of microbes is determined by adding a bacterial releasing reagent and a luminescent reagent to the disposable test device and introducing the disposable test device into a luminometer that can read the luminescence from the side wall. The presence and concentration of specific microbial species is determined by adding an aliquot of the fluid phase described above to the dispoable test device, washing the sample, then adding a specific labeled antibody directed against the microbes to be detected to the test device, washing then adding a luminescent reagent to the disposable test device. The test device is then introduced into the luminometer. The relative light units determine the presence and quanity of microbes present. In both cases, the microbe is identified and/or the concentration is determined in less than 1 hour and generally in less than 5 minutes.