Patent · US Expired

Identification and enumeration of microbial cells

US4467032A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
1References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 26, 1982
Grant dateAug 21, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 26, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/23
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A process and apparatus is disclosed for rapid and accurate identifying and enumerating of microorganisms. A sample believed to contain a certain microorganism is combined with an inhibiting reagent having a known specificity for the microorganism. The combined sample and inhibiting reagent is placed in an alternating current electrical field having a frequency sufficiently high to cause alignment of microbial cells in the sample. A polarized beam of laser light is then passed through the sample and the extent of birefringence is measured. The measured birefringence is compared with that of a control sample known to contain the microorganism under investigation to determine the microorganism in the sample.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.