	US 12,031,174 B2
	Methods for measuring bacteria in biological samples
Giosi Farace, Georgetown, ME (US); Jon Braff, Portland, ME (US); and Murthy V S N Yerramilli, Falmouth, ME (US)
Assigned to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, ME (US)
Filed by IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC., Westbrook, ME (US)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/362,478.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/646,588, filed on Mar. 22, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2019/0316171 A1, Oct. 17, 2019
Int. Cl. C12Q 1/06 (2006.01); C12Q 1/22 (2006.01); C12Q 1/24 (2006.01); G01N 15/02 (2006.01); G01N 15/0227 (2024.01); G01N 33/493 (2006.01); G01N 33/52 (2006.01)

CPC C12Q 1/06 (2013.01) [C12Q 1/22 (2013.01); C12Q 1/24 (2013.01); G01N 15/0227 (2013.01); G01N 33/493 (2013.01); G01N 33/52 (2013.01); G01N 2015/0294 (2013.01); G01N 2800/26 (2013.01)]

37 Claims

1. A method of measuring an amount of bacteria in a biological sample, the method comprising:

clearing non-bacterial particulate matter from a biological sample by contacting the biological sample with an aqueous clearance solution comprising a monounsaturated or polyunsaturated C₁₀-C₂₂hydrocarbyl surfactant;

generating an image of the contacted sample by a camera;

measuring a number of pixels that correlates to the bacteria in the image; and

correlating the number of pixels with a predetermined number of pixels to obtain the amount of bacteria in the sample; and

determining the amount of bacteria in the sample.