Method and kit for detecting pathogenic microorganism

A method for detecting a pathogenic microorganism in a biological sample separated from a subject infected with the pathogenic microorganism or a subject suspected of being infected with the pathogenic microorganism,

• the method comprising:
• an introducing step of introducing a hydrophilic solvent that contains the biological sample and a substance serving as a substrate for a reaction involving an enzyme present on a surface of the pathogenic microorganism or in the pathogenic microorganism into a space between a lower-layer section in which a plurality of receptacles capable of storing the pathogenic microorganism are formed separately from each other by a side wall having a hydrophobic upper surface and an upper-layer section facing a side of the lower-layer section in which side the receptacles are formed;
• an encapsulating step of introducing a hydrophobic solvent into the space to form in the receptacle a droplet of the hydrophilic solvent that is coated with the hydrophobic solvent and envelopes the pathogenic microorganism and the substance;
• and
• a detecting step of optically detecting a reaction product produced by the reaction between the enzyme and the substance in the droplet,
• wherein the hydrophilic solvent has a pH value higher than 8.0 , and wherein:
• the pathogenic microorganism is influenza virus;
• the enzyme is neuraminidase;
• the substance is 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-α-D-neuraminic acid;
• and
• the reaction product is 4-methylumbelliferone having an acid dissociation constant (pKa) of 7.79.