Rapid method for detecting microorganisms
AssigneeAjinomoto Co., Inc.
InventorsIchiro Koumura, Hideo Kanou, Masahiko Okunishi, Kazuhiko Yamada
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Abstract
A small number of microorganisms can be rapidly detected or determined by means of a fluorescence analysis method using specific umbelliferone derivatives such as 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate and 4-methyl umbelliferyl galactoside, and this detecting method is applicable for a microbial inspection on sanitary quality of various kind of food, beverage, water and toilet article, or for a clinical inspection on a microbial infection.
Claims11
A method for rapidly determining a small number of microorganisms, less than 10.sup.4 per 1 milliliter, in a sample, which comprises:
- (A) forming a nutrient-containing solution consisting essentially of a nutrient medium capable of supporting propagation of the microorganisms and an aqueous solvent;
- (B) mixing said solution with a non-fluorescent umbelliferone derivative;
- (C) introducing said sample which contains microorganisms into said solution;
- (D) allowing said microorganisms to propagate in said solution consisting essentially of said nutrient-containing solution, umbelliferone derivative and sample for 1 to 12 hours;
- (E) measuring the amount of fluorescent umbelliferone derivative liberated by action of propagated microorganisms with a fluorescence detector;
- and
- (F) determining the number of microorganisms less than 10.sup.4 per 1 milliliter of said sample based on the amount of liberated fluorescent umbelliferone derivative.
A method for rapidly determining a small number of microorganisms, less than 10.sup.4 per 1 milliliter, in a sample, which comprises:
- (A) forming a nutrient-containing solution consisting essentially of a nutrient medium capable of supporting propagation of the microorganisms and an aqueous solvent;
- (B) introducing said sample which contains microorganisms into said solution;
- (C) allowing said microorganism to propagate in said solution for 1 to 12 hours;
- (D) mixing said solution with a non-fluorescent umbelliferone derivative to provide a mixture;
- (E) incubating said mixture consisting essentially of said nutrient-containing solution, said sample and said non-fluorescent umbelliferone derivative for from 1 to 2 hours;
- (F) measuring the amount of fluorescent umbelliferone derivative liberated by action of propagated microorganisms with a fluorescence detector;
- and
- (G) determining the number of microorganisms less than 10.sup.4 per 1 milliliter of said sample based on the amount of liberated fluorescent umbelliferone derivative.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.