Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Real-time mass spectrometry of individual airborne bacteria

Conference ·
OSTI ID:634036

A method for the real-time detection of individual bacteria is described. Airborne bacteria and bacterial spores are directly sampled by laser ablation in an ion trap mass spectrometer with an atmospheric pressure inlet system. either positive or negative ion mass spectra can be obtained. Ions of a particular value of m/z can be further characterized by tandem mass spectrometry in the ion trap. Spectra averaged from several hundred individual bacteria of the same species appear to differ somewhat from spectra of bacteria of other species and to be readily distinguishable from spectra of nonbiological particles.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-96OR22464
OSTI ID:
634036
Report Number(s):
CONF-9707102--2; ON: DE97009377
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English