Patent ID: 9709500
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: G01N

Claim:
1. A method of determining the presence and/or quantity of individual viable microorganisms in a liquid sample, the method comprising the steps of: (a) passing the liquid sample through at least a portion of a substantially planar porous membrane having a flatness tolerance of up to about 100 μm supported upon a fluid permeable support member comprising a membrane contacting surface having a flatness tolerance of up to about 100 μm so that viable microorganisms, if any, are retained by the portion of the substantially planar porous membrane; (b) labeling, with a fluorescent label, the viable microorganisms, if any, retained by the portion of the substantially planar porous membrane after passing the liquid sample therethrough; (c) scanning the portion of the porous membrane having the flatness tolerance of up to about 100 μm by rotating the porous membrane relative to a detection system comprising, (d) determining the presence and/or quantity of individual viable microorganisms captured by the membrane based upon the emission events detected in step (c).