JPS62111680A - Counter for microorganism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable real-time determination of the number of microorganisms in air, by using a microorganism counter composed of a sample air pretreatment region to facilitate the counting of microorganisms by dyeing the microorganism with a fluorescent dye, a region to excite the microorganisms dyed with a fluorescent dye with fluorescent light and a region to detect the microorganisms. CONSTITUTION:A microorganism detecting region 8 is provided with a light source 9 to excite microorganisms with fluorescent light and a detector 10 to detect the fluorescent light emitted by the excitation with light of the light source 9. Sample air is supplied to the microorganism detection region 8 with an air pump 13. Microorganisms in the sample air sucked to the microorganism detecting region 8 with the air pump 13 are dyed with a fluorescent dye in a pretreatment region region 1. Since the counter can be easily automated and unmanned, the number of microorganisms in air can be determined in real time without culturing the microorganisms.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microorganism counter for measuring microorganisms in the air.

Conventional technology Conventionally, when measuring the number of microorganisms in the air, typical methods include (1) a method in which microorganisms falling due to gravity are received in a culture medium and then cultured (fall #:); (2) a fan;
(3) Sampling air with a fan, air pump, etc., colliding the sampling air with sterile water, and directly using the sterile water. Cultivation, or a method in which the MP is passed through a membrane filter (hereinafter referred to as MP) and then cultured on a medium; (4) air is directly filtered through the MF, and the MP' is then cultured on the medium. Methods of culturing were mentioned.

However, in any of the methods (ll to (4) above),
It involves cultivation. This culture needed to satisfy the culture conditions of 24 to 48 hours at 36 to 37 degrees Celsius for general bacteria and 2 to 7 days at 20 to 25 degrees Celsius for fungi.Problems to be solved by the invention In this way, With conventional methods for measuring microorganisms in the air, measurement results cannot be obtained in real time, so even if microbial contamination that exceeds safety standards occurs in places where microbial control is required, such as food factories and pharmaceutical factories, it can be immediately detected. Appropriate measures were not taken, and problems such as product defects and food poisoning were unavoidable.

The steps involved in measurement, such as sampling → culture → observation → determination, still require manual work, and automation of microbial measurement is needed.
It was hoped that it would be unmanned.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a measuring instrument that can determine the number of microorganisms in the air in real time, with automation, unmanned operation, and simplification as the premise.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a microorganism detection section comprising a light source section for exciting microorganisms with fluorescence, and a detection section for detecting fluorescence excited and emitted by the light from the light source section; An air pump is provided for supplying sample air to the microorganism detection section, and a pretreatment section is provided for staining microorganisms contained in the sample air sucked into the microorganism detection section with a fluorescent dye. This is what was installed.

Function: When measuring the number of microorganisms in the air, the air pump provided in the microorganism detection section sucks air as sample air, sends it to the sample air pretreatment section, contacts it with a fluorescent dye, and then sends it to the microorganism detection section. send.

In the microorganism detection section, the fluorescently dyed microorganisms contained in the sample air emit fluorescent light by the light from the light source section. By detecting the fluorescent microorganisms, the number of microorganisms can be determined.

The embodiment diagram shows a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the microorganism counter of the present invention.

In the figure, (I) is a pre-treatment section that dyes the sample air with fluorescent light; the fluorescent dyeing solution (3) in the chemical solution tank (2) is sucked by the pump (4) and passed through the spray nozzle (5). The chemical solution drain (7) provided at the bottom of the spray box (6)
). (8) is a microorganism detection section, which includes a light source (9),
It consists of a detection unit Ql that measures the number of bright spots that are fluorescently colored by light from a light source (9), a sample air jet nozzle aυ, and a sheath air nozzle az that is provided to surround the jet nozzle αυ. (+3 is Ex-Bonp, α4 is Filter, 09 is Valve, QE9 is Sheath Air Flow Intial.

The operation of the microorganism counter of the present invention will be explained below.

When the near pump 0 is operated, air enters the main body (7) as sample air from the suction pipe P as shown by the arrow, and first enters the spray box of the pre-treatment section (1) located on the next side of the microorganism detection section (8). Pass through (6). When the sample air passes through the spray box (6), the fluorescent staining solution (e.g., acridine orange 200 ppm solution) stored in the chemical tank (2) is pumped up by the pump (4) and sent to the spray nozzle. (5) is sprayed using. Here, if microorganisms are present in the sample air, it means that it has been fluorescently stained (pretreated). The fluorescently stained (pretreated) sample air enters the microorganism detection section (8). In the microorganism detection section (8), sample air is blown out from a jet nozzle αυ in a form surrounded by sheath air blown out through a sheath air nozzle α. On the other hand, the light source (mercury lamp)
(9) Light (ultraviolet light) is irradiated onto the sample air.

If the fluorescently stained microorganisms become fluorescent due to the ultraviolet rays from the light source (9), they are detected by the detection unit Ql and counted as the number of microorganisms. H is a pleated membrane filter that performs P'A on the fluorescently stained sample air sent by air pump A3, and uses part of it as sheath air again through sheath line αG, and the remaining sample air is exhausted. be done. Here the displacement,
The sheath air amount is balanced by the valve (+9).

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention can be configured with a sample air pretreatment section that allows easy counting of the number of microorganisms by staining them with fluorescence, a section that excites the fluorescently stained microorganisms, and a microorganism detection section. Since it can be automated and unmanned, it has the excellent effect of being able to know the number of microorganisms in the air in real time without culturing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure shows a system diagram of an embodiment of the microorganism counter of the present invention. 1: Pretreatment section 2: Chemical tank 3: Fluorescent dye
4' Pump 5 Nispray nozzle 1 Dodget nozzle 12: Sheath air nozzle 13: Air bomb 7'
14: Fill Letter 15: Nokurupu] 6:
Sheath air flow line 30: Main body P: Suction pipe

Claims (1)

[Claims] A microorganism detection section consisting of a light source section for exciting the microorganisms with fluorescence, and a detection section for detecting fluorescence excited and emitted by the light from the light source section, and supplying sample air to the microorganism detection section. A microorganism counter comprising: an air pump for detecting microorganisms, and a pretreatment section for pre-staining microorganisms contained in sample air sucked into the microorganism detection section by the air pump with a fluorescent agent.