DETERMINATION OF MICROORGANISMS WITH A QUARTZ-CRYSTAL MICROBALANCE SENSOR

A technique using a quartz crystal microbalance sensor coated with a t hin culture medium film was developed and successfully applied to dete rmine the number of Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) in the range of 1 X 10(2)-4.1 x 10(7) cells ml(-1), based on a good linear r elationship between the turning point time and the number of S. epider midis. The technique is fast and accurate for detection of microorgani sms due to the thin culture film and the sharp turning point of the re sponse. The experimental conditions were discussed in detail.