Polysorbate Dilution Buffer for Accurate Bifidobacteria Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for measuring the viable cell count of bifidobacteria in powdered products, such as milk powder, often result in significantly lower values than the actual cell count, leading to inaccurate analysis and economic inefficiencies due to the need for over-addition of bifidobacteria in products like infant formulas.
Innovation Solution
A dilution buffer containing polysorbates at a concentration of not less than 0.5%, preferably 1% or greater, is used to prepare a suspension buffer for measuring the viable cell count of microorganisms, particularly bifidobacteria in powdered samples, enhancing measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional dilution buffers (physiological saline or dilution buffer A) are used for measuring viable cell count of bifidobacteria in powdered products, then the measurement process is simple and cost-effective, but the measured values are significantly lower than the actual cell count (only 60-70% accuracy)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the dilution buffer by adding polysorbates (0.01-10% by weight) to the conventional buffer system. This parameter modification enables the buffer to effectively displace bifidobacteria from powdered matrices, thereby improving measurement accuracy from 60-70% to near 100% without fundamentally changing the measurement methodology
Solution Approach 2:
Polysorbates act as an intermediary substance between the dilution buffer and the bifidobacteria-powder matrix. The surfactant properties of polysorbates facilitate the detachment and suspension of bacterial cells from the powdered food matrix, enabling more accurate recovery and counting of viable cells
2Measurement precision
If conventional measurement methods are used, then the analysis process is straightforward, but the measured viable cell count is significantly lower than actual cell count leading to economic inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inadequate cell recovery mechanism of conventional buffers with a enhanced displacement mechanism using polysorbate-containing buffers. This substitution enables near-complete recovery of viable bifidobacteria from powdered products, eliminating the need for over-addition and ensuring accurate quantification for quality control
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of polysorbates in the dilution buffer significantly improves the accuracy of viable cell count measurements in powdered products, ensuring that the measured values closely align with the actual cell count, thus addressing the inaccuracies and economic inefficiencies of conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
the dilution buffer containing polysorbates at a concentration of not less than 0.5%
Data Source
AI summary
A dilution buffer for suspension and an enumeration method, which, for the measurement of the viable cell count of a microorganism contained within a sample, and particularly a powdered product such as a milk powder, yield more accurate measurement values than have conventionally been obtainable. A dilution buffer for suspension, used for preparing a suspension buffer of a sample when conducting a measurement of the viable cell count of a microorganism contained within the sample, wherein the dilution buffer contains polysorbates at a concentration of not less than 0.5%. Also, an enumeration method for a microorganism contained within a sample, the method including: preparing a suspension buffer of the sample using a dilution buffer for suspension containing polysorbates at a concentration of not less than 0.5%, and measuring the viable cell count of the microorganism contained within the suspension buffer.