Patent ID: 8039206

Claim:
A method for recovering microorganisms from a sample mixture, comprising the steps of: i) passing the sample mixture through a sample inlet that opens into the interior of a filter, the filter comprising a plurality of hollow fibre filter membranes which have been pre-treated with a detergent for increased flow and retention of the microorganisms onto the membranes for re-suspension, the membranes having first and second ends, and an outer side surface and an inner side surface defining a lumen, the first end of each of the membranes being open and communicating with the sample inlet and the second end of each of the membranes being closed such that the flow of the sample mixture is prevented from exiting the second end and directed transverse through the sides of membranes, leaving a filtrand in the lumens of the membranes; ii) re-suspending the filtrand in the membranes by drawing re-suspension solution into the lumens of the membranes using a syringe; iii) removing the re-suspended filtrand from the membranes of the filter; and, iv) detecting the presence of any microorganisms in the removed filtrand.