| CPC G01N 27/021 (2013.01) [C12N 1/06 (2013.01); C12Q 1/18 (2013.01); C12Q 1/34 (2013.01)] | 13 Claims |

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1. A method of detecting the presence of β-lactam antibiotic hydrolyzing bacteria in a sample, the method comprising:
introducing the sample comprising the β-lactam antibiotic hydrolyzing bacteria to a container housing a filter, wherein the filter comprises a filter surface, wherein the filter surface is a mesh or matrix structure made of a polymeric material, wherein the filter is secured by the container housing;
introducing a buffer solution to the β-lactam antibiotic hydrolyzing bacteria, wherein the buffer solution comprises a β-lactamase substrate, a β-lactamase activator, and a lysing agent to lyse cells of the bacteria to release-lactam antibiotic hydrolyzing enzymes,
wherein the buffer solution and the B-lactam antibiotic hydrolyzing enzymes form a reaction mixture;
exposing a sensor having an electrical characteristic to the reaction mixture, wherein the sensor comprises an active electrode and a quasi-reference electrode, wherein the active electrode and the quasi-reference electrode are disposed on a base dielectric layer; and
monitoring a change in the electrical characteristic of the sensor to detect the presence of the β-lactam antibiotic hydrolyzing bacteria in the sample originally introduced, wherein the change in the electrical characteristic is a change in a voltage potential between the active electrode and the quasi-reference electrode measured by a parameter analyzer coupled to the active electrode and the quasi-reference electrode.
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