Patent ID: 8372624

Claim:
A sterilization indicator, comprising: a first compartment containing a biological indicator, wherein the biological indicator is a genetically engineered biological indicator, comprising: at least one test organism and at least one reporter gene suitable for producing an indicator enzyme, the reporter gene being taken up by the test organism; 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 first compartment being adapted to permit the biological indicator to be brought into contact with a sterilization medium during sterilization; and a second compartment containing at least one inducer and at least one enzyme substrate, the second compartment being adapted to maintain the inducer and enzyme substrate separate from the biological indicator during sterilization, and the second compartment being adapted to permit the inducer and the at least one enzyme substrate to contact the biological indicator after the biological indicator has been exposed to the sterilization medium.