초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration of an antibiotic for a target microorganism is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a microorganism growth medium; (b) providing a sensible reagent, which includes an antibiotic mixed with a marker, the

A method and apparatus for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration of an antibiotic for a target microorganism is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a microorganism growth medium; (b) providing a sensible reagent, which includes an antibiotic mixed with a marker, the marker having a signal with a magnitude proportional to the marker's concentration; (c) incorporating the reagent into the growth medium, in a manner that creates a gradient of concentrations of the antibiotic and marker within the growth medium; (c) inoculating the growth medium with the target microorganism; (d) incubating the inoculated growth medium for a period of time sufficient for the target microorganism to grow a detectable amount on a first section of growth medium; (e) determining a growth boundary between the first section of growth medium having detectable target microorganism growth and a second section having substantially no detectable target microorganism growth; (f) measuring the signal magnitude at the growth boundary; and (g) determining a minimum inhibitory concentration of the antibiotic using the measured signal magnitude.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] The method for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration of an antibiotic for a target microorganism, comprising the steps of:(a) providing a microorganism growth medium;(b) providing a sensible reagent, which includes an antibiotic mixed with a first marker, said first marke

[ I claim:] [1.] The method for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration of an antibiotic for a target microorganism, comprising the steps of:(a) providing a microorganism growth medium;(b) providing a sensible reagent, which includes an antibiotic mixed with a first marker, said first marker having a first signal with a magnitude proportional to said first marker's concentration;(c) incorporating said reagent into said growth medium, in a manner that creates a gradient of concentrations of said antibiotic and said first marker within said growth medium;(d) inoculating said growth medium with said target microorganism;(e) incubating said inoculated growth medium for a period of time sufficient for said target microorganism to grow a detectable amount on a first section of said growth medium;(f) determining a growth boundary between said first section of said growth medium having detectable target microorganism growth and a second section of said growth medium having substantially no detectable target microorganism growth; and(g) measuring said magnitude of said first signal at said growth boundary; and(h) determining said minimum inhibitory concentration of said antibiotic using said measured magnitude of said first signal.