Detection of microorganisms in fluids

A method for evaluating the in situ quality of a fluid, the method comprising:

• obtaining a fluid sample from a source fluid comprising microorganisms;
• filtering the fluid sample through a filter having a pore size sufficiently small to prevent passage of at least some of the microorganisms through the filter to collect microorganisms associated with the filter;
• treating the filter with a sufficient quantity of lysis reagent to release nucleic acid material from at least some of the microorganisms associated with the filter and for the released nucleic acid material to adhere to the filter;
• treating the filter with a sufficient quantity of extractant to elute at least some of the nucleic acid material from the filter and to obtain an eluate comprising the at least some of the nucleic acid material;
• and
• analyzing the nucleic acid material in the eluate.

A method for obtaining nucleic acid material from a source fluid comprising microorganisms, the method comprising:

• obtaining in a fluid transfer device a fluid sample from a source fluid comprising microorganisms;
• coupling the fluid transfer device to a filter having a pore size sufficiently small to prevent passage of at least some of the microorganisms through the filter;
• filtering the fluid sample through the filter thereby collecting the microorganisms on the filter;
• decoupling the filter from the fluid transfer device a first time;
• coupling a fluid transfer device comprising lysis reagent to the filter;
• filtering lysis reagent through the filter to release at least some of the nucleic acid material from the microorganisms on the filter and to adhere the nucleic acid material to the filter;
• and
• decoupling the filter from the fluid transfer device a second time to obtain the nucleic acid material adhered to the filter.

A kit for obtaining a nucleic acid sample, the kit comprising

• a fluid transfer device to obtain a fluid sample from a source fluid comprising microorganisms;
• a filter having a pore size sufficiently small to prevent passage of the microorganisms through the filter and to permit collection of the microorganisms associated with the filter;
• and
• a lysis reagent which when filtered through the filter is capable of lysing microorganisms collected on the filter, releasing at least some of the nucleic acid material from the microorganisms, and adhering the nucleic acid material to the filter.

A use of a kit to evaluate the in situ identity of microorganisms in a fluid, the kit comprising:

• a fluid transfer device to obtain a fluid sample from a source fluid comprising microorganisms;
• a filter having a pore size sufficiently small to prevent passage of at least some of the microorganisms through the filter and to permit collection of the microorganisms associated with the filter;
• and
• a lysis reagent which when filtered through the filter is capable of lysing the microorganisms collected on the filter, release of at least some nucleic acid material from the microorganisms, and adherence of the released nucleic acid material to the filter.