Encapsulated biological indicator

• Main Authors: RICHARDSON; DONNA M, MALCHESKY; PAUL S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.05.1996
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL ORENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; ENZYMOLOGY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEICACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METALLURGY; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; SPIRITS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; VINEGAR; WINE

Reference microorganisms are sealed into an interior cavity of a microporous membrane (14, 20). In one embodiment, the reference microbes are inoculated on a element (12) which is sealed in a microporous envelope (14) (FIG. 1). In another embodiment, the reference microbes (22) are loaded into an interior bore or cavity of a microporous plastic tube or envelope (20) (FIG. 3). The microporous membrane and the reference microbes, such as spores, are immersed concurrently with items to be microbially decontaminated separately into an anti-microbial fluid. The microporous membrane is constructed of a material which is sufficiently resistant to temperature, water, strong oxidants, and other anti-microbial agents or processes used for microbial decontamination or sterilization that it retains its integrity during the immersion in any common steam, gas, or liquid microbial decontamination or sterilization fluid or system. The micropores are sufficiently small that the reference microbes are entrapped, yet sufficiently open that anti-microbial steam, gas, or liquid are passed into the interior for direct contact with the reference microbes. After the microbial decontamination process, the microporous membrane and the contained reference microbes are immersed in a culture medium (40) and monitored to determine whether any of the reference microbes remain alive and commence growing.