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. 1966 Nov;14(6):979–984. doi: 10.1128/am.14.6.979-984.1966

Sensitive Rapid Detection Method for Viable Bacterial Cells

Robert A MacLeod 1,2, Marilyn Light 1,2, Lloyd A White 1,2, J F Currie 1,2
PMCID: PMC1058452  PMID: 16349705

Abstract

A rapid sensitive method for the detection of viable bacterial cells is described in which P32 as inorganic orthophosphate is used to label the cells. Factors affecting the uptake of P32 by cells as well as the sensitivity of the method have been explored with suspensions of Aerobacter aerogenes. The uptake of P32O4 is dependent on several factors. Of various incubation media tested, one composed of 0.005 m KCl, 0.002 m MgSO4 and 10 mg/ml of glucose was found to best stimulate the uptake of the tracer. Incubation time and temperature and level of isotope and of unlabeled P also affected uptake. Labeled cells were collected on a membrane filter for measurement of radioactivity. Under optimal conditions, as few as 23 viable cells per milliliter were detected in 1 hr with 95% confidence.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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