Patent DE-102006016326-A1 (DE)
Title: Determining microbiological state of sample by placing the biological material from the sample on carrier, positioning the carrier with electrodes, setting specified temperature in sample chamber and carrying out electrochemical measurement
Inventor: ENDRES HANNS-ERIK
IPC: C12M1/34
Filed: 2006-04-06
Abstract: The determination of the microbiological state of a sample, comprises placing the biological material from the sample on a carrier, positioning the carrier with respect to a sample chamber with two electrodes, setting a specified temperature in the sample chamber and carrying out an electrochemical measurement using the electrodes. During the electrochemical measurement, the carrier is positioned in or at the sample chamber. The placement of the biological material comprises a contacting step of the sample with a gel strip serving as the carrier. The determination of the microbiological state of a sample, comprises placing the biological material from the sample on a carrier, positioning the carrier with respect to a sample chamber with two electrodes, setting a specified temperature in the sample chamber and carrying out an electrochemical measurement using the electrodes. During the electrochemical measurement, the carrier is positioned in or at the sample chamber. The placement of the biological material comprises a contacting step of the sample with a gel strip serving as the carrier. The positioning of the carrier comprises an insertion of the gel strip into the sample chamber. The insertion of the gel strip takes place in such a manner that the gel strip contacts the two electrodes. The determination further comprises an opening of a sterile packaging of the gel strip before the contacting of the sample with the gel strip. The sterile packaging of the gel strip is opened or partially removed, so that a handling region is covered by a remaining part of the sterile packaging after opening or partial removal of the sterile packaging. The placement of the biological material on the gel strip takes place using the opening in the sterile packaging. The positioning of the gel strip in the sample chamber comprises a positioning the gel strip including a remaining section of the sterile packaging, in such a manner that the gel strip contacts the two electrodes. The positioning of the gel strip takes place in such a manner that the remaining portion of the sterile packaging does not contact the electrodes. The placement of the biological material comprises a contacting step of the sample with an adhesive strip or non-woven fiber material serving as a carrier. The positioning of the carrier comprises a positioning of the adhesive strip in the sample chamber. The adhesive strip or the non-woven fiber material is attached to a lid for closing the sample chamber that the adhesive strips or the non-woven fiber material, is after closing positioned within the sample chamber. The determination further comprises a closing step of the sample chamber with the lid, so that the adhesive strip or the non-woven fiber material is positioned within the sample chamber after closing. The placement of the biological material comprises an insertion of a micro-filter serving as the carrier in a gas or liquid flow. The positioning of the carrier comprises a positioning of the micro-filter in the sample chamber. The micro-filter is attached to a lid for closing the sample chamber and partially comprises an area, in which the lid consists of an opening, so that the gas or the liquid flow flows through the opening in the lid through the micro-filter. The determination further comprises the closing step of the opening in the lid and the closing of the sample chamber with the lid, so that the micro-filter is positioned within the sample chamber after closing. The insertion comprises a pumping of the liquid growth medium from a storage tank into the sample chamber. The pumping of the liquid growth medium comprises an exertion of force on an elastic region of the storage tank, so that the liquid growth medium flows into the sample chamber, over a liquid connection with a valve. The pumping of the liquid growth medium comprises the exertion of force on an elastic region of the sample chamber or the lid of the sample chamber, so that the volume of the sample chamber reduces and a fluid present in the closed sample chamber flows out of the chamber. The pumping also comprises a releasing of the stress of the elastic region, so that the volume of the sample chamber increases. The determination further comprises reading of a temperature/time-integration unit to obtain a temperature/time-integral between a point of time before the implementation of the electrochemical measurement and the reading of the temperature/time-integration unit, evaluating the electrochemical measurement to get a quantity or concentration of the biological material at a point of time of the implementation of the electrochemical measurement, and calculating the amount or concentration of the biological material at the point of time before the implementation of the electrochemical measurement, using the temperature/time-integral. Independent claims are included for: (1) gel strip for the determination of the microbiological state of a sample; and (2) sample container for the determination of the microbiological state of a sample.