Back to results
US 4,233,404 AGranted
Method for testing for the presence of pathogens
AssigneeCalspan Corporation
InventorRobert E. Baier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Water and air are tested for biological agents by concentrating the biological substances at an air/water interface which permits natural cell multiplication during the concentrating process.
Claims3
A method for detecting and concentrating airborne and waterborne pathogens including the steps of:
- providing an air/water interface having a relatively large surface area;
- contacting the air/water interface with the fluid to be tested so as to minimize agitation of the air/water interface;
- after a sufficient time, reducing the area of the air/water interface so as to concentrate pathogens collected at the air/water interface into a concentrate;
- and
- removing the concentrate from the air/water interface for analysis.
2 more elements
A method for detecting and concentrating airborne pathogens including the steps of:
- covering the bottom of a shallow receptacle with water;
- gently adding one drop of protein solution to the surface of the water to form a film at the air/water interface;
- after a sufficient time, reducing the area of the air/water interface so as to concentrate pathogens collected on the film at the air/water interface into a concentrate;
- and
- removing the concentrate from the receptacle for analysis.
2 more elements
A method for detecting and concentrating waterborne pathogens including the steps of:
- obtaining a sample of water to be tested;
- covering the bottom of a shallow receptacle with a small portion of the sample;
- applying the remainder of the sample dropwise to the air/water interface of the sample present in the receptacle;
- when sufficient sample has been added dropwise to the air/water interface, reducing the area of the air/water interface so as to concentrate pathogens collected on a film which forms at the air/water interface into a concentrate;
- and
- removing the concentrate from the receptacle for analysis.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.