Fluorescence particle detector for real-time quantification of viable organisms in air

Greg Luoma; Pierre P. Cherrier; Marc Piccioni; Carol Tanton; Steve Herz; Richard K. DeFreez; Michael Potter; Kenneth L. Girvin; Ronald Whitney

doi:10.1117/12.456967

22 February 2002 Fluorescence particle detector for real-time quantification of viable organisms in air

Greg Luoma, Pierre P. Cherrier, Marc Piccioni, Carol Tanton, Steve Herz, Richard K. DeFreez, Michael Potter, Kenneth L. Girvin, Ronald Whitney

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4576, Advanced Environmental Sensing Technology II; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.456967
Event: Environmental and Industrial Sensing, 2001, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

The ability to detect viable organisms in air in real time is important in a number of applications. Detecting high levels of airborne organisms in hospitals can prevent post-operative infections and the spread of diseases. Monitoring levels of airborne viable organisms in pharmaceutical facilities can ensure safe production of drugs or vaccines. Monitoring airborne bacterial levels in meat processing plants can help to prevent contamination of food products. Monitoring the level of airborne organisms in bio-containment facilities can ensure that proper procedures are being followed. Finally, detecting viable organisms in real time is a key to defending against biological agent attacks. This presentation describes the development and performance of a detector, based on fluorescence particle counting technology, where an ultraviolet laser is used to count particles by light scattering and elicit fluorescence from specific biomolecules found only in living organisms. The resulting detector can specifically detect airborne particles containing living organisms from among the large majority of other particles normally present in air. Efforts to develop the core sensor technology, focusing on integrating an UV laser with a specially designed particle-counting cell will be highlighted. The hardware/software used to capture the information from the sensor, provide an alarm in the presence of an unusual biological aerosol content will also be described. Finally, results from experiments to test the performance of the detector will be presented.

Citation Download Citation

Greg Luoma, Pierre P. Cherrier, Marc Piccioni, Carol Tanton, Steve Herz, Richard K. DeFreez, Michael Potter, Kenneth L. Girvin, and Ronald Whitney "Fluorescence particle detector for real-time quantification of viable organisms in air", Proc. SPIE 4576, Advanced Environmental Sensing Technology II, (22 February 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.456967

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