System for Conducting the Identification of Bacteria in Urine

Abstract

A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for processing a fluid sample in preparation for the identification and quantification of micro-organisms in the fluid sample, the steps comprising:
 a) obtaining a fluid sample;   b) passing the fluid sample through a filter;   c) obtaining a sample of the filtered fluid sample and placing it into a centrifuge tube;   d) obtaining a dilution of the dissolved material in the fluid sample while retaining bacteria in the fluid sample by performing the following steps:
 1) centrifuging the sample of step c); 
 2) decanting a portion of the fluid in the centrifuge tube of step 1); 
 3) replacing the decanted solution of step 2) with a saline solution; and 
   e) transferring the final solution of step 4) into an optical cup or cuvette for analysis.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid sample is urine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein step d) results in about a 1,000,000:1 dilution. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sample of step (d)(1) is centrifuged at about 12,000 g-forces. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein about 95% of the fluid from step (d)(2) is decanted. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein after step d(3), further comprising a step of repeating steps (1), (2) and (3) and then transferring the final solution into an optical cup or cuvette for analysis. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein after step (d)(3), further comprising a step of repeating steps (1), (2) and (3) for a plurality of times and then transferring the final solution into an optical cup or cuvette for analysis. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of times is at least five times. 
     
     
         25 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method for identifying the type and quantity of micro-organisms in a fluid sample, the steps comprising:
 a) obtaining a fluid sample;   b) passing the fluid sample through a filter;   c) obtaining a sample of the filtered fluid and placing it into a centrifuge tube;   d) obtaining a dilution of the dissolved material in the urine sample while retaining bacteria in the urine sample by performing the following steps:
 1) centrifuging the sample of step c); 
 2) decanting a portion of the fluid in the centrifuge tube of step 1); 
 3) replacing the decanted solution of step 2) with a saline solution; and 
   e) transferring the final solution of step 4) into an optical cups or cuvette; and   f) subjecting the optical cup or cuvette to an optical analysis having optics which include exciting the fluid sample with a plurality of different wavelengths, collecting and detecting the fluorescent emissions; and directing the fluorescent emissions into a spectrometer.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein step d) results in about a 1,000,000:1 dilution. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the sample of step (d)(1) is centrifuged at about 12,000 g-forces. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein about 95% of the fluid from step (d)(2) is decanted. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein after step d(3), further comprising a step of repeating steps (1), (2) and (3) and then transferring the final solution into an optical cup or cuvette for analysis. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38  wherein after step (d)(3), further comprising a step of repeating steps (1), (2) and (3) for a plurality of times and then transferring the final solution into an optical cup or cuvette for analysis. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the plurality of times is at least five times. 
     
     
         45 . A method for identifying the type and quantity of micro-organisms in a fluid sample, the steps comprising:
 a) obtaining a fluid sample;   b) passing the fluid sample through a filter;   c) obtaining a sample of the filtered fluid and placing it into a removable tube; and   d) transferring the sample of the filtered fluid into an optical cup or cuvette, said optical cup or cuvette comprising a container having an open portion and a sidewall that is continuously tapered along their length to a truncated conical end and a reflective surface; and   e) subjecting the optical cup or cuvette to an optical analysis having optics which include exciting the fluid sample with a plurality of different wavelengths, collecting and detecting the fluorescent emissions, and directing the fluorescent emissions into a spectrometer,   wherein during the optical analysis, a light is directed down a middle portion of the container through the open portion of the container and into the fluid sample, wherein the sidewall is continuously tapered along its length to a truncated conical end configured to assist with the optical analysis and the reflective surface of the container reflects fluorescent emissions back in an upwardly direction out of the fluid sample and through the open portion of the container to an optics system for the optical analysis.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the container includes a lip for suspending the container from a top surface of a cartridge. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the cartridge includes a body and the container is located within an opening in the cartridge body. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  45 , wherein the container has a flat bottom surface. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the reflective surface is a coated onto the container or is a separately formed layer of material. 
     
     
         50 . The optical cup or cuvette of  claim 45 , wherein the reflective surface is an inner reflective surface of the container or is incorporated onto the container material.