Bacterial Endospore Detection using Photoluminescence from Terbium Dipicolinate

Abstract

A new method of detecting endospores and its scientific background are reviewed. The new method of detecting bacterial endospores has the following steps: terbium cation is added to a sample potentially containing bacterial endospores, terbium dipicolinate forms when the terbium cations react with dipicolinate anions released from bacterial spore cases, solid particles are filtered from the suspension, and photoluminescence from terbium dipicolinate is measured. Research on both endospores and terbium dipicolinate photoluminescence is reviewed. Furthermore, compounds and biological materials that could interfere with this detection method were tested and the results are listed. Phosphate anions and some biological particles reduced the signal of the terbium-treated endospores while aquo-terbium cation generates a photolutninescent background. False positive detection of bacterial endospores has not proven to be a significant limitation of this method.