BIO-LUMINESCENCE MONITORING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

A monitoring instrument (or luminometer) comprises a casing (10) having a section (14) which can be pivoted between one position generally flush with a top face of the casing, and a second position which is generally vertical. The pivoted section (14) includes an elongate sample chamber (15) to receive a sample. The instrument has a light detector arrangement for sensing light emitted from a sample inserted into the sample chamber, to provide a measure of the light emitted in a predetermined time period. The instrument is used for monitoring bio-luminescent light emission, in which a swab, pre-moistened with breakage reagent, is wiped over a surface to be tested, then contacted with enzyme solution so that light will be emitted from the swab sample if it has picked up cells: the swab is then inserted into a transparent tube which is placed in the sample chamber (15).