Detection method
AssigneeConidia Bioscience Limited
InventorJoan Kelly
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of analysis of a hydrocarbon fuel for the presence of a micro-organism comprises contacting a fuel sample with an aqueous diluent and with an antibody reactive with the micro-organism, or reactive with a metabolite of breakdown product produced by the micro-organism, to detect the presence or absence of the micro-organism.
Claims11
A method of analysis of a sample of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel for the presence of Hormoconis resinae, the method comprising the steps of:
- 1) emulsifying the liquid fuel sample by vigorously mixing the liquid fuel sample with an aqueous diluent containing an emulsifier;
- 2) contacting the emulsified mixture with antibodies specific for an antigen that is a metabolite produced by Hormoconis resinae which is recoverable from liquid hydrocarbon fuel when Hormoconis resinae is grown in contact with the liquid hydrocarbon fuel;
- and
- 3) detecting the presence or absence of bound antibodies in the sample;
- wherein the method provides a result within two hours from step 1, and wherein the detection of bound antibodies indicates the presence of Hormoconis resinae which is actively growing in liquid hydrocarbon fuel.
The method according to claim 3, wherein the emulsifier is polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate.
A kit for analyzing a sample of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel for the presence of Hormoconis resinae, the kit comprising:
- 1) a homogenized preparation of Hormoconis resinae, wherein the Hormoconis resinae in the homogenized preparation was grown in contact with liquid hydrocarbon fuel;
- 2) antibodies specific for an antigen recoverable from the liquid hydrocarbon fuel after the Hormoconis resinae was grown in contact with the liquid hydrocarbon fuel;
- and
- 3) an aqueous diluent containing an emulsifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.