DISPOSITIVO PER LA DETERMINAZIONE QUANTITATIVA DI PATOGENI MICROBICI

摘要

A method and apparatus are disclosed which provide for the rapid quantitative detection of microbial pathogens in a sample fluid such as blood. Initially the pathogens are concentrated by depositing the sample fluid on a liquid filter medium such as a concentrated aqueous solution of sucrose or a microporous aqueous solution of a crosslinked polymer having a greater density than the sample, and microporous openings throughout its solubilized network (which range in size between about 1 micron and about 7 microns) and then the material is subjected to centrifugation to cause the pathogens in the sample to selectively pass into the liquid filter medium. This step not only concentrates the pathogens but also separates them from the other components of the sample such as antimicrobial constituents of blood and medicants present in blood samples, such as antibiotics. The liquid filter medium containing the concentrated pathogens is then added to nutrient media for culturing and quantitative counting.