# US 11,305,287 B2 · Water testing apparatus and methods of using the same

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- Number: US 11,305,287 B2
- Document ID: US11305287B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/742,196
- Filed: 2016-07-11
- Published: 2018-07-12
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-07-09
- Assignees: Environmental Laboratories, Inc.
- Applicants: Environmental Laboratories, Inc.
- Inventors: Chris Myers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305287B2

## CPC

- B01L 3/50825: {Closing or opening means, corks, bungs}
- B01L 3/50853: {with covers or lids (closures for test tubes B01L3/50825)}
- B01J 2219/00596: Solid-phase processes
- B01L 2200/141: Preventing contamination, tampering
- B01L 2200/16: Reagents, handling or storing thereof
- B01L 2300/042: Caps; Plugs
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS

## Abstract

An apparatus and kit for performing water testing and a method for using the same.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A test vial for detecting contaminants in a water sample comprising:
a) a tamper evident cap comprising a separable top cap, an internal seal, and a bottom ring, and
b) a vial consisting essentially of a single internal vial sample testing volume that is the sum of the air volume and a water sample test volume,
wherein the air volume in the vial is at least 16.7% of the single internal vial sample testing volume,
wherein the water sample test volume is at least 25 mls and consists of a water test sample and media, and
wherein the media consists essentially of 4-methylumbelliferyl-b-D-glucuronide (MUG), 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (XGAL), or combinations thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The test vial of claim 1, wherein the water sample test volume ranges from about 25 mls to about 100 mls.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The test vial of claim 1, wherein the vial sample volume is about 30 mls, the air volume is about 5 mls, and the water sample test volume is about 25 mls.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The test vial of claim 1, wherein the vial sample volume is about 120 mls, the air volume is about 20 mls, and the water sample test volume is about 100 mls.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The test vial of claim 1, wherein the contaminants are bacteria.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The test vial of claim 5, wherein the bacteria are total coliform bacteria.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The test vial of claim 6, wherein the total coliform bacteria are selected from the group consisting of Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Hafnia, Klebsiella, and Escherichia.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The test vial of claim 7, wherein the Escherichia bacteria is E. coli.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The test vial of claim 8, wherein the E. coli is E. coli 0157:H7.

### Claim 10

The test vial of 1, wherein the media and test vial have a shelf life of at least about 12 months.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A kit for detecting contaminants in a water test sample comprising one or more of the test vials of claim 1.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The kit of claim 11, wherein the contaminants are total coliform bacteria.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The kit of claim 12, wherein the total coliform bacteria is E. coli.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A method for detecting contaminants in a water sample using the test vial of claim 1, comprising:
a. locking the tamper evident cap onto the vial to form the test vial,
b. incubating the test vial at a temperature ranging from about 20° C. to about 35° C.,
c. enzymatically reacting the contaminants in the water test sample with the 4-methylumbelliferyl-b-D-glucuronide (MUG), the 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (XGAL), or combinations thereof in the media to cause a change of color of the media in the water sample test volume,
wherein the change of color of the media in the water sample test volume indicates a presence of contaminants in the water sample of the test vial.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the contaminants are total coliform bacteria.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the total coliform bacteria is E. coli.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The test vial of claim 1, wherein the vial has dimensions ranging from about 1 inch to about 5 inches in height and from about 0.25 inches to about 1 inch in diameter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The test vial of claim 1, wherein the cap has dimensions ranging from about 0.25 inch to about 1 inch in height and from about 0.25 inches to about 1 inch in diameter.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The test vial of claim 1, wherein the media is hydrated or dehydrated.

### Claim 20 (depends on 10)

The test vial of claim 10, wherein the media and test vial have a shelf life ranging from about 18 months to about 36 months.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The test vial of claim 1, wherein the air volume in the vial is about 20% of the water sample test volume.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The test vial of claim 1, wherein the air volume ranges from about 5 mls to about 20 mls.