Method for counting the number of living microorganisms

Abstract

A rapid, convenient, and highly sensitive method for counting the number of living microorganisms is disclosed, wherein a test solution is filtered through a membrane filter element having a plurarity of hydrophilic sections separated from each other by hydrophobic partitions. A microparticulate spray is then applied to the filter in order to add extracting and luminescence-inducing reagents in such an amount that allows the filter membrane within each section to become wet. Further, the sample obtained is processed by applying a highly sensitive luminescence image analyzing system thereto. The employment of a spray method for applying the extracting and luminescence-inducing reagents allows entrapment of the reagents and extracted substances within each of the hydrophilic sections. Therefore, when combined with the use of a luminescence image analyzing system, the number of bright spots so produced of which represent the living microorganisms may be rapidly counted without the requirement of cultivation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.