| abstract |
AN AUTOMATED APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIALLY ASSAYING URINE SAMPLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF BACTERIAL ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE (ATP) COMPRISES A ROTARY TABLE WHICH CARRIES A PLURALITY OF SAMPLE CONTAINING VIALS; DISPENSING MEANS WHICH AUTOMATICALLY DISPENSE FLUID REAGENTS INTO THE VIALS AT PREDETERMINED TIMES PREPARATORY TO INJECTING A LIGHT PRODUCING LUCIFERASE-LUCIFERIN MIXTURE INTO THE SAMPLES; AND INDICATING MEANS WHICH AUTOMATICALLY MEASURE THE LIGHT PRODUCED IN EACH URINE SAMPLE BY A BIOLUMINESCENCE REACTION THEREIN OF THE FREE BACTERIAL ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE WITH THE LUCIFERASE-LUCIFERIN MIXTURE. THE LIGHT MEASURED IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE CONCENTRATION OF BACTERIAL ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE WHICH, IN TURN, IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE NUMBER OF BACTERIA PRESENT IN THE RESPECTIVE URINE SAMPLE. AFTER THE LIGHT MEASUREMENT IS PERFORMED, THE VIALS ARE EJECTED FROM THE TABLE. |