Methods for the characterization of microorganisms on solid or semi-solid media
AssigneeBiomerieux
InventorsJohn Walsh, Jones M. Hyman, Thurman Thorpe
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Abstract
The present invention relates to methods and systems for scanning, detecting, and monitoring microorganisms on solid or semi-solid media using intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements. The methods are further directed to detection, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms on a solid or semi-solid media using intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements that are characteristic of said microorganisms.
Claims34
A method of detecting and characterizing a microorganism on a solid or semi-solid medium, comprising:
- (a) scanning a solid or semi-solid medium, known to contain, or that may contain one or more microorganism colonies to locate any colonies present on the medium;
- (b) interrogating one or more colonies located during step (a) to produce intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements characteristic of a microorganism in said colony;
- and
- (c) characterizing the microorganism in the colony based on said intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements.
A method of detecting the presence of a microorganism in a sample, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a sample known to contain or that may contain a microorganism;
- (b) growing any microorganisms present in the sample on a solid or semi-solid medium;
- and
- (c) locating any colonies present on the medium by conducting a point-by-point scanning of said solid or semi-solid medium to produce intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements;
- wherein the presence of one or more colonies as located by the produced measurements indicates that a microorganism is present in the sample.
A method of characterizing and/or identifying a microorganism on a solid or semi-solid medium, comprising:
- (a) interrogating one or more colonies on a solid or semi-solid medium to produce intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements characteristic of a microorganism in the colony;
- and
- (b) characterizing and/or identifying the microorganism in the colony based on intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.