Method and compound for detecting low levels of microorganisms
AssigneeBiometric Imaging, Inc.
InventorRichard M. Rocco
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and compound for detecting low levels of microorganisms in biological samples is disclosed. In the method, an antibiotic is conjugated to a detectable label. This antibiotic/label conjugate is then introduced into a sample containing biological material. The antibiotic binds to target microorganism where the label allows for detection of localized concentrations of the antibiotic. A compound to accomplish this method is also described. This compound is an antibiotic conjugated to a fluorescent dye. This dye has an excitation and emission wavelength that are not interfered by substances typically found in biological samples.
Claims13
An assay to detect bacteria in a liquid sample containing biological material, the assay comprising:
- obtaining a liquid sample containing biological material;
- directly combining the liquid sample with at least one antibacterial antibiotic to form a homogenous assay mixture, wherein said antibacterial antibiotic is labeled with an optically detectable label, said label selected such that it is not subject to optical interference by biological materials;
- and
- optically detecting bacteria in the assay mixture, wherein bacteria colony forming units may be detected in a period of time less than one hour with a lower detection limit of 1000 per millimeter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.