Traditionally, growth based techniques have been the standard in environmental monitoring for evaluating the quality and quantity of microbial content. However, many studies have underscored the inadequacy of these techniques: (1) to provide environmental microbial content data in a manner sufficiently expeditious for timely curative action; and (2) to faithfully indicate the entire bioburden of a sample. BioVigilant Systems, Inc. has designed and built the Instantaneous Microbial DetectionT (IMDT) System, which is capable of instantaneously detecting airborne particle size and auto-fluorescence. In this manner, the instrument provides information of high fidelity about airborne biological content. The IMDT System has been field tested in numerous environments, including the cleanrooms and aseptic isolators of Pharmaceutical Companies X, Y, and Z (names will remain omitted). The IMDT System has also been subjected to rigorous field tests by independent and government testing facilities, which show its efficacy in uncontained environments and its superiority to various instruments currently in Security-Military sector systems use. Further, a new optical technique has been established to determine the microbial content of a sample. Utilization of the inherent auto-fluorescent properties (tendency to fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light) is key to this enabling technology.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: Technical Proceedings of the 2008 Clean Technology Conference and Trade Show
Published: June 1, 2008
Pages: 542 - 544
Industry sector: Energy & Sustainability
Topic: Water Technologies