Patent · US Expired

Rapid coliform detection system

US5518894A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
9References
56Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 12, 1993
Grant dateMay 21, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 12, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S435/968
  • WIPO fieldBiotechnology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A rapid presence-absence method for determining if fecal coliform cells are present in a sample. Portions of the original sample are filtered and retained upon microporous filters which are placed in incubation containers having an actuating medium containing a fluorogenic substrate. The samples are incubated for predetermined durations of from about twenty minutes to six hours. After adjusting the pH is incubation to an alkaline level, the containers are irradiated and the fluorescent light emitted is measured. The measured values are adjusted for background fluorescence and corrected for extraneous sources of fluorescence. It is concluded that fecal cells are present in the original sample (i.e., at least one fecal coliform cell per 100 milliliters) when the corrected fluorescence values are positive and meet certain predetermined criteria.

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