Method for spore detection

A method of detecting bacterial spores in a sample comprising the steps of providing a detector which comprises a UV source, a detection zone within which a sample is placed or passes, means for fluorescence analysis arranged to assess for the presence of spores by reference to a change in absorption, reflectance, or index of refraction (IOR) following one and then a subsequent exposure of the sample to a UV source without altering the structure of any spore, positioning the detector so that the sample is in the detection zone, analyzing the spore content of the sample, the step of analysis of the spore content including assessing the sample for absorption, reflectance, and/or index of refraction, exposing the sample to UV radiation, and then reassessing the sample for a change in absorption, reflectance, and/or index of refraction relative to that assessed in said first assessing step, a change in absorption, reflectance, and/or index of refraction at said reassessing step being indicative of the presence of spores.

A detector for detecting bacterial spores in a sample comprising a UV source, a detection zone within which the sample is placed or passes, means for analysis of changes in absorption, reflectance and/or index of refraction (IOR) arranged to assess for the presence of spores by reference to an increase in absorption, a decrease in reflectance, and/or a change in index refraction following an exposure of the sample to a UV source.