APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REGISTERING THE PRESENCE OF BACTERIA, PARTICULARLY IN FIELD CONDITIONS

Abstract: The apparatus includes at least one luminescence chamber (2) formed in a plate (1) preferably made in a transparent material, the chamber being defined at its opening by a perforated support lattice (5) carrying a filter (4), the lattice opening out into and being carried sealingly against the plate (1) with the aid of a liquid-sealing and opaque collection vessel (6). The plate (1) includes a portion (7) above or opposite the opening (3) of the chamber (2), the portion (7) being transparent, and above it there being means (8) for registering a light flux caused by luminescence, said means (8) being situated in an opaque housing (13) sealing against the plate (1) and covering the portion (7).

Description: Apparatus and method for, registering the presence of bacteria, particularly in field conditions The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for registering the presence of bacteria, particularly under field conditions, including a port¬ able plate with a luminescence chamber preferably made in transparent material, in which a liquid sample in¬ cluding bacteria is caused to emit light by luminescence with the aid of certain chemical compositions, the light being read by a light-sensitive means arranged adjacent the luminescence chamber, and constituting a measure of the bacteria present in the liquid sample. Such tests for the detection of bacteria usually take place by a sample that is suspected to contain bacteria being grown in a nutrient solution, so that the growth of cultures may be observed and counted therein. The method generally requires heat incubation and a time of between 18-48 hours, as well as pure laboratory conditions. By this method it has been possible, however, to make a species determination of the bacteria. Modern hygiene and technology within the areas which require control of bacteria amounts in our surroundings have so far been substantially dependent on these slow and exact methods for detecting bacteria in gases and liquids. In many connections there is a desire rapidly to determine the presence of bacteria, and particularly when large health risks can be present, e.g. in bacteriological warfare. The Swedish National Defence Research Institute has demonstrated a rapid way of discovering the presence of bacteria by a method utilising the fluorescence which, inter alia, bacteria can emit on being treated with suitable chemicals. This method consists in first col¬ lecting and subsequently treatingbacteria with the hemin in the bacteria thus being released. This hemin is thereafter permitted to react with oxygen and luminol, thus causing chemical luminescence. Existing lumines¬ cence registrating apparatus have high sensitivity and can often register individual photons, but the dis¬ advantage with these apparatus is that they are very large and have a complicated construction, while also having a high price, and so far they have only been used in larger laboratories. For practical applica- tions there is a desire for and a large need of being readily able to determine whether such as drinking water, bathing water, urine samples,wastewater, milk or other foodstuffs etc, contain alarming amounts of bacteria, or that they are uninfected and thus do not require any action. The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for registering the presence of bacteria, particularly in field conditions, with which it is possible to obtain a reading by the registration of the amount of microorganisms, and to use the reading for s rough assessment of the type "serviceable" or "un¬ serviceable" for a particular liquid sample. The apparatus in accordance with the invention is easily handled due to its simple construction, and may be used by untrained persons. The invention accordingly intends to provide an appara¬ tus of the kind mentioned in the introduction, which is easy to handle and at the same time cheap to manu¬ facture. Essentially distinguishing for the invention is that the luminescence chamber, which is formed in the plate preferably made from transparent material, has its opening defined by a filter which is carried by a perforated support lattice and which opens out in an opaque collection vessel sealing liquid-tight against the plate, in that the plate includes a transparent portion, above or opposite the opening of the chamber, over which portion there is a means for registering a light flux generated by luminescence, said means being situated in an opaque housing sealing against the plate and covering the portion, and in that if photographic film is used, as the means, there is an aperture plate displaceably mounted above the portion, between the plate and the means, for preventing unintentional exposure of the means. The method, particularly for field determination of the presence of bacteria by the apparatus, is essentially distinguished in that a liquid sample is injected into the luminescence chamber and is urged against the filter arranged at the bottom of the chamber for enriching on the filter the bacteria exist¬ ing in the sample, in that after opening the venting duct valve, the bacteria on the filter have sprayed over them in turn sodium hydroxide, luminol and perborate in previously determined amounts, whereon immediately after the addition of the perborate the light which occurs by luminescence in the chamber is allowed to be exposed to a light-sensitive means for photographic or electronic registration, the intensity of the light image achieved at the light-sensitive means being in proportion to the number of bacteria. Thanks to the invention, an apparatus has been provided with the aid of which the presence of bacteria in a liquid sample can be very rapidly determined outside laboratories with sufficient accuracy for deciding whether closer analysis is required, the apparatus being very rapid, easily looked after, light, cheap, robust, cheap in operation and very simple, in compari¬ son with all previously known apparatus. The invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a preferred embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the in¬ vention, as seen in cross-section. As will be seen from the figure, the apparatus com- prises,, in accordance with the present invention, a thick plate 1 manufactured from a suitable transparent material, there being a luminescence chamber 2 in the plate. The chamber 2 in the illustrated embodiment is preferably milled in the plate and has a practically cylindrical shape. The opening 3 of the luminescence chamber 2 is defined by a filter 4 arranged on a per¬ forated support lattice 5, the filter being of the polycarbonate type with accurately determined pore size. The filter 4, which rests on the support lattice 5 opens into and is carried sealingly against, the plate 1 with the aid of an opaque liquid-sealing collection vessel 6. The filter 4 and support lattice 5 as well as the col¬ lection vessel 6 are sealed by O rings 14 against the bottom of the plate 1. The plate 1 is entirely surrounded externally, by preferably light-insulating paint, although not in the chamber 2 nor in a portion 7 above or opposite the opening 3 of the chamber 2, this portion being transparent, and having a means 8 above it for registering light flux formed by luminescence. The means 8 may constitute a light-sensitive photographic film or a light-sensitive electronic cell in association with the portion 7 for registering the light image. The means 8 is accomodated in an opaque housing 13 sealing against the plate 1 and covering the portion 7. In the case where a photographic film is used, an aperture plate 9 is arranged between the housing 13 and the plate 1, this plate 9 being displaceable over the portion 7 between the plate 1 and the photographic film for preventing un¬ intentional exposure. The luminescence chamber 2 has a communication duct 10 extending into it through the plate 1 for enabling the injection of a liquid sample and chemicals, the duct 10 opening out preferably tangential- ly in the chamber 2. From the roof of the chamber 2 or in the area closest to it, there is a venting duct 11 leading down into the collection vessel 6. This duct 11 may be closed by a valve 12. The collection vessel 6 is formed with a cover 15, in the central portion of which the support lattice 5 for the filter 4 is formed. The support lattice 5 is required when the chamber 2 is subjected to pressure which would otherwise rupture the filter 4. The function of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention is as follows. In sampling there are used one large, about 50cc, and three smaller, about 2cc, injection syringes without needles, of the type used for health care purposes, for filling the chamber 2 with the sample of bacteria- carrying liquid and for infecting the chemicals causing the luminescence. The syringes have the advantage that they are graduated for easily measuring and metering the sample and liquids. The diameter of the duct 10 has a dimension such that the conical tips of the syringes fit into it. The syringes are stored together with the apparatus or in a special apparatus case. A sample is taken of a given amount of liquid using the large syringe, eg, 10 ml, and the rest of the syringe is filled with air. If the sample which is to be taken is heavily contaminated with larger particles it may need to be coarsely filtered by a disposable initial filter on the syringe. The sample is injected through the filter 4, which constitutes the bottom of the chamber 2. The filtrate runs down into the container 6 and the chamber 2 is flushed with air when the syringe is emptied. If bacteria were in the sample they have now been collected on the filter 4 on the separating filter surface at the bottom of the chamber 2. The bacteria collected on the filter 4 are then treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) which ruptures the cell membranes of the bacteria and thereby releases their content, including, inter alia, hemin. Luminol is then injected, and after about a minute, when the perborate is injected, the luminol starts the luminescence reaction with the hemin. Injection of the chemicals takes place with the valve 12 open, so that components in the chamber 2 will not be flushed through the filter 4. Dosing of the " chemicals is done according to the directions for their use. Instead of sodium hydroxide, luminol and perborate, other chemicals with corresponding reactions may be used, of course. Immediately after the perborate has been injected, the aperture plate 9 is pulled out so that the ceiling of the chamber 2, or the transparent portion 7, is opened to expose the photographic film. In the case where the light-sensitive means 8 consist of an electronic cell the light caused by luminescence in the chamber is accumulated and registered electronically immediately after the start of the reaction, a value being obtained which corresponds to a measure of the bacteria present, and in the case where the light-sensitive means 8 con- sists of a photographic film the luminescence in the chamber 2 is allowed to continue for about li minutes, after which the aperture plate 9 is closed and the film (of the polaroid type) is pulled out and developed for the prescribed time, generally 30-45 seconds, the picture then being removed and evaluated. If bacteria are present in the sample there is a round, white image on the film, the diameter of the image being in proportion to the number of bacteria detected. If a grey tone is used for detection, then the relation of this to a grey scale is decisive for a registered bacteria content. For elec¬ tronic registration of the light caused by luminescence. the light is utilised via the plate 8, provided with cells, in a moving coil instrument or a digital indica¬ tor, the indication on which remains at the maximum value of light registered during the measuring period, this indication constituting a measure of the bacteria present.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 25 June 1985 (25.06.85); original claims 1-8 replaced by amended claims 1-8 (3 pages)] 1. Apparatus of a portable kind for registering the presence of bacteria, particularly under field con¬ ditions, including at least one luminescence chamber (2) formed in a plate (1) made in a preferably transparent material, in said chamber there opening out at- least one duct (10) for injecting a liquid sample and chemicals, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the luminescence chamber (2) with its opening (3) is defined by a per¬ forated support lattice (5) carrying a filter (4) , the lattice opening out into and being carried sealingly against the plate (1) with the aid of a liquid-sealing and opaque collection vessel (6) , said plate including a portion (7) above or opposite the opening (3) of the chamber (2) , the portion (7) being transparent and having above it means (8) for registering a light flux formed by luminescence, said means (8) being situated in an opaque housing (13) sealing against the plate (1) and covering the portion (7) . 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c- t e r i z e d i n that the means (8) for registering the light occurring due to luminescence consists of a light-sensitive photographic film. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r¬ a c t e r i z e d i n that an aperture plate (9) is displaceably arranged over the portion (7) between the plate (1) and the light sensitive photographic film (8) for preventing unintentional exposure of the film. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d i n that the means (8) for registering the light occurring due to luminescence comprises an electronic light detector for registering the light generated by the reaction in the chamber (2) . 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d i n that the communication duct (10) for injecting a liquid sample and chemicals extends through the plate (1) and opens out preferably tangential- ly in the luminescence chamber (2) . 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim1, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d i n that a venting duct (11) goes from the upper portion of the luminescence chamber (2) and down into the collection vessel (6) , said duct (11) being closable with the aid- of a valve (12) . 7. Method, particularly for use in the field determina¬ tion of the presence of bacteria with the aid of a port¬ able apparatus including a luminescence chamber (2) formed in a plate (1) , there being at least one duct (10) opening out into the chamber for injecting a liquid sample or chemicals, a filter (4) arranged at the bottom of the chamber (2) on a support lattice (5) opening out into and carried sealingly against the plate (1) with the aid of a liquid-sealing and opaque collection vessel (6) , a transparent portion (7) against which there is arranged a housing (13) having a light sensitive film (8) displaceably arranged against the portion (7) , and arranged an aperture plate (9) displaceably arranged between the film (8) and the plate (1) , c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d i n that a liquid sample is injected into the luminescence chamber (2) via the communication duct (10) and is pressed through the filter (4) disposed at the bottom of the chamber (2) for enriching thereon the bacteria in the sample, in that over the bacteria on the filter (4) there are sprayed, in order, preferably sodium hydroxide, luminol and perborate in predetermined amounts, immediately after the addition of the perborate the aperture plate (9) being displaced so that the light due to luminescence in the chamber (2) strikes the film (8) for exposing it and in that after about li minutes the aperture plate is replaced over the transparent portion (7), the film being pulled out and developed for a predetermined time, a light image occurring on the film (8) then denoting the bacteria content by its dia¬ meter or grey tone being proportional to the number of bacteria. 8. Method, particularly for the field determination of the presence of bacteria, with the aid of a portable apparatus including a luminescence chamber (2) formed - in a plate (1) , a duct (10) opening out into the chamber for injecting a liquid sample and chemicals, a filter (4) arranged on the bottom of the chamber, carried by a support lattice (5) and opening out into the plate (1) to be carried sealingly against the plate by a liquid- sealing opaque collection vessel (6) , a transparent portion (7) against which there is arranged a housing (13) having a light-sensitive electronic light detector in association with the portion (7), c h a r a c t e r¬ i z e d i that a liquid sample is injected into the luminescence chamber (2) via the communication duct (10) and is pressed through the filter (4) arranged on the bottom of the chamber for enriching the bacteria in the sample on the filter, in that over the bacteria on the filter there are sprayed, in order, preferably sodium hydroxide, luminol and perborate in predetermined amounts, immediately after the start of the reaction the light caused by the luminescence in the chamber being accu¬ mulated and registered electronically and a value ob¬ tained corresponding to a measure of the bacteria present.

Inventors: LUNDBLOM EINAR, LUNDBLOM, EINAR
Applicants: SANGTEC MEDICAL AB, AB SANGTEC MEDICAL
Application year: 1985
Main classification: C12M1
IPC codes: C12M1, C12Q1, G01N21