초록 ▼

A diagnostic microbiological testing system and method for microorganism identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility determinations (AST). The system includes multiple-well test panels capable of performing ID and AST testing on the same test panel. Each test panel is inoculated with reagen

A diagnostic microbiological testing system and method for microorganism identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility determinations (AST). The system includes multiple-well test panels capable of performing ID and AST testing on the same test panel. Each test panel is inoculated with reagents, broth-suspended organisms, and placed into the instrument system. The instrument system includes a rotating carousel for incubation and indexing, multiple light sources each emitting different wavelength light, precision calorimetric and fluorometric detection, barcode test panel tracking and a control processor for making determinations based on measured test data. One light source includes a plurality of LEDs arranged in a linear array. Each of the LEDs' junction currents are controllable to produce a predetermined illumination profile.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A microbiological testing apparatus having an incubation chamber, said chamber comprising: a carousel assembly adapted to mount a plurality of test panels each having a plurality of wells for receiving a test inoculum fluid for producing a reaction; an enclosure surrounding s

What is claimed is: 1. A microbiological testing apparatus having an incubation chamber, said chamber comprising: a carousel assembly adapted to mount a plurality of test panels each having a plurality of wells for receiving a test inoculum fluid for producing a reaction; an enclosure surrounding said carousel assembly for preventing intrusion of ambient light into said incubation chamber, said enclosure having a door for providing access to said carousel assembly; a drive system for continuously rotating said carousel assembly to directly position the test panels for testing by said diagnostic microbiological testing apparatus; a heating unit for heating said incubation chamber; and a temperature controller for controlling said heating unit to maintain the temperature of said incubation chamber within a predetermined temperature range. 2. A microbiological testing apparatus having an incubation chamber, said chamber comprising: a carousel assembly adapted to mount a plurality of test panels each having a plurality of wells for receiving a test inoculum fluid for producing a reaction, the carousel assembly comprising a carrier adapted to receive and carry the test panels; an enclosure surrounding said carousel assembly for preventing intrusion of ambient light into said incubation chamber, said enclosure having a door for providing access to said carousel assembly; a drive system for continuously rotating said carousel assembly to directly position the test panels for testing by said diagnostic microbiological testing apparatus; a heating unit for heating said incubation chamber; and a temperature controller for controlling said heating unit to maintain the temperature of said incubation chamber within a predetermined temperature range. 3. The microbiological testing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining a predetermined position of the carousel assembly. 4. A microbiological testing apparatus, comprising: a carousel assembly, comprising: a frame adapted to receive a panel carrier; said panel carrier for carrying a test panel having a plurality of wells for receiving a test inoculum fluid for producing a reaction, said panel carrier receiving the test panel so as to position the test panel in a predetermined manner; and means for determining the leading edge of the test panel received therein. 5. A microbiological testing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for indicating a completion of testing. 6. A method of performing diagnostic microbiological testing, comprising the steps of: inoculating a plurality of test panels including a plurality of wells for receiving a inoculum fluid comprising a reagent and a microbiological test sample for producing a test reaction; mounting the test panels on a carousel of diagnostic microbiological testing apparatus; and operating the testing apparatus to cause (1) the carousel to rotate continuously to position at least one test panel between a light source and a light detection unit of the testing apparatus, (2) a light from the light source to be directed toward the at least one test panel, (3) the light emitted from, or absorbed by, each of the wells of the at least one test panel due to the test reaction to be detected by the light detection unit, (4) a signal corresponding to the light detected from each of the wells to be generated by the light detection unit, and (5) a test result to be determined for each of the wells based on the generated signal. 7. A computer-readable medium having stored therein computer executable code which, when executed, performs a method for operating a diagnostic microbiological testing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: rotating a carousel of the testing apparatus, on which are mounted a test panel and a normalizer panel, past a light source and a light detection unit of the testing apparatus at a predetermined angular velocity, the test panel including a plurality of wells for receiving a inoculum fluid comprising a reagent and a microbiological test sample for producing a test reaction and the normalizer panel including a plurality of normalization wells; detecting with the light detection unit the light emitted form, or absorbed by, one or more of the normalization wells of the normalizer panel and the light emitted from, or absorbed by, one or more of the wells of the test panel due to the test reaction; and normalizing the detected test panel light using the detected normalizer panel light. 8. A computer-readable medium according to claim 7, the method further comprising the steps of: monitoring a light intensity of light from the light source directed toward the normalizer panel; and taking corrective action if the light intensity is outside a predetermined range. 9. A computer-readable medium according to claim 7, the method further comprising the steps of: generating with the light detection unit a signal corresponding to the normalized light from the one or more wells of the test panel; and determining a test result for each of the one or more wells of the test panel based on the generated signal. 10. A computer-readable medium according to claim 7, wherein said normalizing step normalizes light on a well-by-well basis. 11. A diagnostic microbiological testing apparatus, comprising: a light source; a light detection unit; and a carousel, on which are mounted a test panel including a plurality of wells for receiving a inoculum fluid comprising a reagent and a microbiological test sample for producing a test reaction, and a normalizer panel including a plurality of normalization wells, the carousel being controlled to move past the light source and the light detection unit at a predetermined angular velocity, wherein the light detection unit detects the light emitted from, or absorbed by, one or more of the normalization wells of the normalizer panel and the light emitted from, or absorbed by, one or more of the wells of the test panel due to the test reaction, and normalizes the detected test panel light using the detected normalizer panel light. 12. A method for operating a diagnostic microbiological testing apparatus, comprising the steps of: rotating a carousel of the testing apparatus, on which are mounted a test panel and a normalizer panel, past a light source and a light detection unit of the testing apparatus at a predetermined angular velocity, the test panel including a plurality of wells for receiving a inoculum fluid comprising a reagent and a microbiological test sample for producing a test reaction, and the normalizer panel including a plurality of normalization wells; detecting with the light detection unit the light emitted from, or absorbed by, one or more of the normalization wells of the normalizer panel, and the light emitted from, or absorbed by, one or more of the wells of the test panel due to the test reaction; and normalizing the detected test panel light using the detected normalizer panel light.