Microbial Detection and Quantification
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsJason Lye, John Gavin MacDonald, Ning Wei, Stephanie Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Suitable dyes are used herein to indicate the presence of microbial contamination by spraying them onto surfaces in the form of an aqueous solution. The dye solution may also be allowed to dry, thus producing the dried residue of an aqueous solution. It's believed that these dyes change color in response to a change in polarity of the environment. Since water is a polar solvent and most bacteria are made from non-polar substances, the presence of bacteria changes the polarity of the environment, triggering a change visible by the unaided eye.
Claims18
1-20. (canceled)
A method for detecting bacteria on a surface, the method comprising contacting the surface with a substrate coated with a composition comprising a zwitterionic microbe-sensitive colorant;
- and detecting a visible color change that indicates the presence of bacteria.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.