Patent ID: 8895239

Claim:
A genetically engineered biological indicator in a self-contained sterilization indicator, comprising: at least one test organism and at least one reporter gene for producing an indicator enzyme, the reporter gene being taken up by the test organism, the test organism comprising bacterial spores, the reporter gene comprising bgaB; and at least one repressor gene that inhibits expression of the reporter gene until the reporter gene is exposed to at least one inducer, the repressor gene comprising xylR; wherein the genetically engineered biological indicator is a component of a self-contained sterilization indicator comprising a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment being adapted to permit the biological indicator to be brought into contact with a sterilization medium during sterilization, the second compartment containing an enzyme substrate and a growth medium for the genetically engineered biological indicator, the second compartment being adapted both to maintain the enzyme substrate and the growth medium separate from the sterilization medium during the sterilization and to permit the enzyme substrate and the growth medium to contact the biological indicator after the biological indicator has been exposed to the sterilization medium.