| CPC G01N 21/51 (2013.01) [G01N 2021/4707 (2013.01); G01N 2021/4711 (2013.01)] | 22 Claims |
|
1. A device comprising an optical apparatus for monitoring bacterial growth of a drug-dosed liquid biological sample, the device comprising:
a sample container port for receiving a sample container, in use, the sample container having at least one detection chamber for containing the drug-dosed sample; and
the optical apparatus comprising:
a light source configured to emit light along an incident beam axis that, in use, intersects with at least one detection chamber of the sample container, and to illuminate the drug-dosed sample contained within the detection chamber;
a first photodetector configured to receive light scattered by bacteria in the sample;
a light collection arrangement configured to:
collect light exiting the detection chamber that has been scattered in a forward direction by bacteria in the sample, in a range of scattering angles between about +/−4 and +/−20 degrees relative to the incident beam axis, and to direct the collected scattered light to the first photodetector; and
prevent non-scattered light travelling parallel to the incident beam axis and exiting the detection chamber from reaching the first photodetector; and
at least one processor configured to:
(a) measure an intensity of the scattered light received by the first photodetector;
(b) determine a corresponding representative amount or concentration of bacteria present in the sample based on the intensity of the scattered light;
(c) repeat the measuring step (a) and the determining step (b) at a series of pre-determined intervals to determine changes in the representative amount or concentration of bacteria present in the sample as a function of time; and
(d) determine a corresponding susceptibility of the bacteria in the sample to the respective drug.
|