Patent ID: 6673568
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: C12Q,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A kit for quantifying viable cells, comprising: a first container containing a first solution, means for mixing said first solution with a sample containing an unknown number of viable cells, means for concentrating the solids and cells from the mixture of said first solution with said sample and retaining said solids from the remainder of said mixture, a second solution containing a fluorescent dye that is actively internalized by the viable cells and binds selectively to double-stranded DNA or other specific cellular components, whereupon binding its target the dye's fluorescence is altered, indicating viable cells in the sample, means for mixing said second solution with said solids to form a second mixture, and means for illuminating the mixture of said second solution with said solids with excitation light and measuring fluorescence emitted by said mixture, and thereby determining the amount of DNA or other unique cell component in viable bacteria in said sample, and providing thereby a fluorescence value proportional to the number of viable cells in said sample.