Automatic Fluid Sample Preparation Module, Automatic Analysis System and Method for Use Thereof

Abstract

This present invention relates to an automatic fluid sample preparation module and method for use thereof, for automatically preparing a fluid sample for detecting micro-organisms and/or biological substances. The invention further relates to an automatic analysis system. The automatic fluid sample preparation module comprises:—an inlet for automatically obtaining a sample directly from a fluid or fluid stream to be analyzed; —preparation means for preparing the fluid sample from the sample, comprising first coupling means for coupling with the inlet; and—an outlet for discharge of prepared fluid to measurement means, wherein the preparation means are provided such that micro-organisms and/or biological substances from one or multiple samples are accumulated in the prepared fluid sample.

1 . Automatic fluid sample preparation module for automatically preparing a fluid sample for detection and measurement of micro-organisms and/or biological substances, the module comprising:
 an inlet for automatically obtaining a sample directly from a fluid or fluid stream to be analyzed;   preparation means for preparing the fluid sample from the sample, comprising first coupling means for coupling with the inlet; and   an outlet for discharge of prepared fluid to measurement means,   wherein the preparation means are provided such that micro-organisms and/or biological substances from one or multiple samples are accumulated in the prepared fluid sample.   
     
     
         2 . Automatic fluid sample preparation module according to  claim 1 , wherein the preparation means comprise a filter for retaining micro-organisms and/or biological substances. 
     
     
         3 . Automatic fluid sample preparation module according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises a crossflow filter. 
     
     
         4 . Automatic fluid sample preparation module according to  claim 1 , comprising communication means. 
     
     
         5 . Automatic fluid sample preparation module according to  claim 1 , the inlet and preparation means comprising:
 a first inlet for obtaining a sample from a fluid or fluid stream to be analyzed;   a fluid chamber connected to the first inlet;   fluid sample preparation means comprising a filter and one or more of the following components: a heater, a cooler, a pump, a piston and mixing means; and   a first outlet for discharging a prepared fluid sample, the first outlet being connectable to the measurement means.   
     
     
         6 . Automatic fluid sample preparation module according to  claim 5 , wherein the fluid sample preparation means comprise a modular container system, comprising one or more containers for holding reagents, processing fluids and/or fluorescent beads. 
     
     
         7 . Automatic fluid sample preparation module according to  claim 6 , wherein one or more containers comprise at least one reagent from the group comprising:
 a Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) reagent;   an immunofluorescence reagent;   a general DNA marking reagent; and   a bioluminescence reagent.   
     
     
         8 . Automatic analysis system comprising the fluid sample preparation module according to  claim 1 , and a second module comprising measurement means, preferably comprising a light detector. 
     
     
         9 . Automatic analysis system according  claim 8 , further comprising a light source, preferably wherein the light detector is provided at an angle of substantially 90 degrees with respect to the light source. 
     
     
         10 . Automatic analysis system according  claim 8 , the measurement means further comprising:
 a cuvette with a length, the cuvette comprising:   an inlet for obtaining the fluid sample, and   an outlet for discharging the fluid sample,   
       preferably wherein one or more of the light detectors comprises a Charge Coupled Device provided in an array extending substantially over the length of the cuvette. 
     
     
         11 . Automatic analysis system according to  claim 8 , further comprising control means for controlling the light collection time of the light detector. 
     
     
         12 . Method for automatically preparing a fluid sample for detection and measurement of micro-organisms and/or biological substances using an automatic sample preparation module or preparation means according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 12 , comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a sample directly and automatically from a fluid or fluid stream to be analyzed; and   preparing the fluid sample from the sample by selecting one or more preparation steps from the group comprising filtration, dilution, concentration, heating, cooling, mixing, pumping, adding a processing fluid and adding a reagent.   
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 13 , further comprising performing measurements using a light detector and analyzing the measurements. 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 14 , comprising the steps of:
 adding fluorescent beads to the fluid sample before performing a calibration measurement;   performing the calibration measurement by measuring the intensity of the light emitted by the fluorescent beads; and   correcting measurements according to the relation between the light intensity measured in the calibration measurement and an expected light intensity.   
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 14 , further comprising measuring a total amount of micro-organisms and/or biological substances, and/or measuring an amount of one or more types of micro-organisms and/or biological substances.