Hygiene Monitoring

Abstract

A test device for hygiene monitoring by detecting glucose as an indication of the presence of biological material.

1 . A device for detecting biological material in a sample, which device comprises: 
 a) a material for receiving said sample;    b) a reagent for converting said biological material to glucose; and    c) a reagent for the colorimetric detection of said glucose.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said reagent for converting biological material to glucose comprises an enzyme.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the said reagent for converting biological material to glucose and the reagent for the colorimetric detection of glucose are provided to a user on one or more zones on a lateral flow test strip.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealed compartment containing a surface wetting agent.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said material for receiving a sample comprises a swab.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising one or more separate, swab-puncturable, membrane compartments enclosing the reagent for converting the biological material to glucose and the reagent for the calorimetric detection of glucose.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said biological material comprises a carbohydrate.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said biological material comprises lactose.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said enzyme comprises β-galactosidase.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said carbohydrate comprises one or more sugars.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said carbohydrate comprises one or more complex carbohydrates.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said carbohydrate comprises lactose.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said enzyme comprises a hydrolytic enzyme.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said enzyme comprises invertase.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said enzyme comprises amylase.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said enzyme comprises cellulase.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said enzyme comprises sucrase.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said reagent for the calorimetric detection of glucose comprises glucose oxidase.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said reagent for the calorimetric detection of glucose comprises peroxidase.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the sample is from a surface.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the sample is from a surface of an inanimate object.