Two-Stage Microorganism Detection System for Food Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing food, beverages, and water for pathogenic microorganisms are impractical due to expense and low frequency of contamination, making it necessary to rely on tests for indicator microorganisms to assess potential contamination.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a culture device with a first indicator system to detect indicator microorganisms, followed by a detection article with a second indicator system to determine the presence or absence of target microorganisms, facilitating efficient detection by only applying the detection article when an indicator microorganism is present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If testing is performed on all food, beverages, and water for pathogenic microorganisms, then detection accuracy is improved, but cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The detection process is divided into two sequential stages: first detecting indicator microorganisms (coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae) as a screening step, and then detecting target pathogenic microorganisms only in samples that test positive for indicators. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high detection accuracy for pathogens while avoiding the time and resource costs of testing all samples directly for pathogens.
Solution Approach 2:
The method performs preliminary detection of indicator microorganisms before proceeding to pathogen detection. By conducting this preliminary screening action, the system identifies which samples require further pathogen testing, thereby reducing overall detection time while maintaining accuracy for positive cases.
2Measurement precision
If testing is performed on all samples for pathogenic microorganisms, then detection accuracy is improved, but expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection workflow is segmented into a low-cost indicator detection phase followed by a high-cost pathogen detection phase applied only to necessary samples. This reduces overall expense while maintaining pathogen detection accuracy through the selective application of resources.
Solution Approach 2:
Indicator microorganisms serve as an intermediary marker that correlates with the presence of pathogenic microorganisms. By detecting these intermediary indicators first, the system determines which samples warrant further pathogen testing, thereby reducing total testing expense while maintaining detection accuracy through the intermediary screening step.
3Productivity
If a two-stage detection method is used with indicator and target microorganisms, then cost and time are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The culture medium is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a growth substrate for indicator microorganisms and as a basis for subsequent pathogen detection. The detection article also performs multiple functions: it visualizes indicator organisms and enables pathogen identification through colorimetric changes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices and procedures, thereby managing complexity while improving productivity.
4Productivity
If only indicator microorganisms are tested, then cost and time are reduced, but detection reliability for pathogens decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the indicator detection results to determine whether pathogen detection is necessary. When indicators are detected, the system triggers the second-stage pathogen detection; when indicators are absent, pathogen testing is skipped. This feedback mechanism ensures pathogen detection reliability is maintained for at-risk samples while improving overall testing efficiency by avoiding unnecessary tests on negative samples.
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
This approach allows for cost-effective and efficient detection of target microorganisms by minimizing unnecessary testing, thereby reducing time, materials, and labor, while ensuring accurate assessment of microbiological content.
Implementation Method 1
a culture medium comprising ingredients selected to facilitate growth of a predetermined indicator microorganism
Implementation Method 2
a first indicator system, the first indicator system selected to detect a target microorganism
Implementation Method 3
observing the article-contacted culture device to detect a conversion of the first indicator system from a first state to a second state
Data Source
AI summary
A method of detecting a Shigella or Cronobacter microorganism. The method comprises providing a culture device with a selective culture medium and a detection article comprising a first indicator system.