Biochemical sensor for quantitative simultaneous multi-species bacteria detection in situ

An apparatus comprising

• a reaction chamber;
• a reversible pump having an inlet and an outlet,
• wherein the outlet is fluidically coupled to the reaction chamber,
• wherein the inlet is disposed to allow for collection of a water sample external to the reaction chamber;
• a reagent source comprising a fluorophore-tagged reagent,
• wherein the reagent source is fluidically coupled to the reaction chamber;
• a light source,
• wherein the light source emits light having a known wavelength,
• wherein the light source is positioned to expose at least a portion of the reaction chamber to the light having a known wavelength;
• an optical detector disposed to detect fluorescence emitted from the reaction chamber in response to light emitted from the light source;
• a processor configured to communicate with the reversible pump, the reagent source, the light source, and the optical detector, the processor being configured to:
• activate the reversible pump to deliver the water sample to the reaction chamber,
• prompt delivery of the fluorophore-tagged reagent from the reagent source to the reaction chamber,
• activate the light source to expose at least a portion of the reaction chamber to the light having a known wavelength,
• obtain a measurement of fluorescence intensity from the optical detector,
• determine a concentration of at least one bacteria in the water sample based on the measurement of fluorescence intensity, and
• report the concentration of the at least one bacteria in the water sample.

A method of simultaneously detecting a concentration of each of a plurality of target organisms in a water sample, the method comprising:

• adding one or more tagged reagents to the water sample comprising a plurality of target organisms,
• exposing the water sample to light having a known wavelength;
• detecting a plurality of light emissions from the water sample;
• determining, by a processor, the type and the concentration of each of the plurality of target organisms in the water sample by detecting an intensity for each of the plurality of light emissions from the water sample.