QUANTIFICATION OF BACTERIA USING A NUCLEIC ACID HYBRIDIZATION ASSAY

摘要

This invention provides for a method of quantifying bacteria using a bacterial specific nucleic acid probe which is complementary to a unique and highly conserved region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of bacteria. This probe permits the rapid detection of 16S rRNA in a sample and by comparison with known standards, one can estimate the total bacterial count in the sample. The method is accurate and reproducible and conducted at temperatures of between about 12 DEG to about 14 DEG C.