Patent ID: 6284526
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
A method for determining a concentration at which a growth-altering agent has an appreciable effect on the growth of a microorganism, comprising the steps of:(a) providing a microorganism growth medium;(b) providing a sensible reagent, which includes a growth-altering agent mixed with a first marker, said first marker having a first signal with a magnitude proportional to said first marker's concentration;(c) incorporating said reagent into said growth medium, in a manner that creates a gradient of concentrations of said growth-altering agent and said first marker within said growth medium;(d) inoculating said growth medium with said target microorganism;(e) incubating said inoculated growth medium for a period of time sufficient for said target microorganism to grow a detectable amount;(f) evaluating said growth of said microorganism in a region containing said growth-altering agent;(g) measuring said magnitude of said first signal in said region; and(h) determining said concentration of said growth-altering agent in said region using said measured magnitude of said first signal.