Non-Contact, Real-Time Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection and Monitoring of Microbial Contaminants on Solid Surfaces Before, During and After Decontamination

A real-time detection and monitoring (RTDM) of microbial contamination on solid surfaces is mandatory in a range of security, safety and bio-medical applications where surfaces are exposed to accidental, natural or intentional microbial contamination. This work presents a new device, the BC-Sense, which allows a rapid and user-friendly RTDM of microbial contamination on various surfaces while assessing the decontamination kinetics and degree of cleanliness. The BC-Sense LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) device uses the Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) method based on dual wavelength sensing with multispectral pattern recognition system to rapidly detect microbial contamination on a solid surface. Microbial simulants (bacteria, bacterial spores, fungal conidia and virus) were spread at varying concentrations on a panel of solid surfaces which were assessed by BC-Sense. The spectra of dead and living E. coli showed differences at various sensing wavelengths. The limit of detection (LoD) of E. coli and MS2 virus was 2.9 × 104 and 9.5 × 104 PFU and CFU/cm2, respectively. Random samples (n=200) tested against a training dataset (n=800) were optimally discriminated for contamination versus background with a threshold of predicted response (PR) >0.55 and 10 min with spores and E. coli.