Patent ID: 8183052
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for testing the sterility of a sample comprising: (a) providing a filter device having a chamber and a filter configured to collect culturable organisms within the chamber; (b) filtering a sample through the filter such that any collected culturable organisms are retained on the filter within the chamber; (c) adding a culture medium to the chamber such that at least a portion of the collected culturable organisms are resuspended in the culture medium; (d) after a pre-determined period of time, irradiating a fluorescent species immobilized on a substrate with excitation light emanating from a probe physically isolated from the fluorescent species immobilized on the substrate, (e) measuring the first and second emission intensities to determine the pH of the culture medium; and (f) inferring from the determined pH of the culture medium the sterility of the sample.