Biomerieux, Inc.

Akzo Nobel N.v.

Akzo N.v.

Biom&eacute;rieux, Inc.

Thurman C Thorpe

Jones M Hyman

John D Walsh

Bradford G Clay

Scott R Jeffrey

Paul M Matsumura

Martin J Maresch

James L DiGuiseppi

James E Turner

Christopher S Ronsick

John Walsh

Richard C Driscoll

William G Barron

Michael J Calandra

Mark S Wilson

Ronnie J Robinson

James L Di Guiseppi

Carmella S Moody

John F Weaver

David E Trogdon

Karen A Read

The present invention is directed to a method for separating, characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in a test sample. The method of the invention comprises an optional lysis step for lysing non-microorganism cells that may be present in a test sample, followed by a subsequent separation step. The method may be useful for the separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms from complex samples such as blood-containing culture media. The invention further provides for the use of one or more identifier agents and interrogating the microorganism sample and/or said one or more identifier agents to produce measurements which characterizing and/or identifying the microorganism based on the produced measurements and/or the presence or absence of the identifier agent or a metabolized form of the identifier agent in the microorganism sample.

Methods for separation and characterization of microorganisms using identifier agents

The present invention provides a method and system for monitoring, detecting, and/or characterizing a biological particle that may be present in a sample whereby the method may be accomplished non-invasively by utilizing a time-dependent spectroscopic technique to obtain at least two measurements of a growth composition comprising a sample and correlating said measurements for the detection and/or characterization of a biological particle, that may be present in the sample.

Method and system for detection and/or characterization of a biological particle in a sample

A method is described to separate, characterize and/or identify microorganisms in a test sample. Said method comprises the steps of (i) lysing non-microorganism cells that might be present in the sample, (ii) separating the microorganisms as a pellet in the sample post-lysing non-microorganism cells, (iii) interrogating the pellet containing microorganisms by mass spectrometry to produce mass spectra of microorganisms, and (iv) characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in the sample. The method may be used in characterizing/identifying microorganisms in complex samples, e.g., blood containing culture media.

Method for separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms using mass spectrometry

The present invention provides a method and system for monitoring, detecting, and/or characterizing a biological particle that may be present in a sample. The method may be accomplished in a sealed container by utilizing a first step time-dependent spectroscopic technique to obtain at least two measurements of a growth composition comprising a sample and correlating said measurements for the detection and/or characterization of a biological particle that may be present in the sample. The method further provides for a subsequent step for the separation, characterizion and/or identification of the microorganisms in the sealed container.

Method for detection, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms in a sealed container

The present invention is directed to a method for separating, characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in a test sample. The method of the invention comprises an optional lysis step for lysing non-microorganism cells that may be present in a test sample, followed by a subsequent separation step. The method may be useful for the separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms from complex samples such as blood-containing culture media. The invention further provides methods for separating, characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in situ within a single system.

Methods for the isolation and identification of microorganisms

A detection instrument determines whether a specimen container (e.g., blood culture bottle) is positive for presence of microbial agent growth therein. When the container is deemed positive it is made available (e.g, transferred or exposed to) to an automated instrument performing identification and/or characterization of the microbial agent. The identification and/or characterization instrument removes a portion of the sample from the specimen container and places it into a disposable separation and concentration device. The microbial agent is concentrated via optional selective lysis of non-microbial agent cellular material which may be present and centrifugation. A reading module reads the concentrated microbial agent using spectroscopic methods, e.g., measurements of intrinsic fluorescence. Such interrogation may occur while the microbial agent remains concentrated in the disposable device.

Combined detection instrument for culture specimen containers and instrument for identification and/or characterization of a microbial agent in a sample

The present invention relates to methods and systems for scanning, detecting, and monitoring microorganisms on solid or semi-solid media using intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements. The methods are further directed to detection, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms on a solid or semi-solid media using intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements that are characteristic of said microorganisms.

Method for the characterization of microorganisms on solid or semi-solid media

The present invention is directed to a method for separating, characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in a test sample. The method of the invention comprises an optional lysis step for lysing non-microorganism cells that may be present in a test sample, followed by a subsequent separation step. The method may be useful for the separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms from complex samples such as blood-containing culture media. The invention further provides for spectroscopic interrogation of the separated microorganism sample to produce measurements of the microorganism and characterizing and/or identifying the microorganism in the sample using said spectroscopic measurements.

Methods for separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms using spectroscopy

Method for separation and characterization of microorganisms using identifier agents

Methods for the characterization of microorganisms on solid or semi-solid media

The present invention provides a method for detecting, and characterizing a microorganism present in a sample and growth composition whereby the method may be accomplished utilizing a time-dependent spectroscopic technique to obtain at least two measurements directly from a sample and growth composition and correlating said measurements for the detection and characterization of a microorganism, that may be present in the sample.

Method for detection and characterization of a microorganism in a sample using time-dependent intrinsic fluorescence measurements

Method for separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms using spectroscopy

The present invention provides a method for detecting, and characterizing a microorganism present in a blood culture medium whereby the method may be accomplished utilizing a time-dependent spectroscopic technique to obtain at least two measurements directly of a blood culture medium and correlating said measurements for the detection and characterization of a microorganism, that may be present in the blood culture.

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Thurman C Thorpe