The management and exploitation of naturally light-emitting bacteria as a flexible analytical tool: A tutorial

Conventional detection of toxic contaminants on surfaces, in food, and in the environment takes time. Current analytical approaches to chemical detection can be of limited utility due to long detection times, high costs, and the need for a laboratory and trained personnel. A non-specific but easy, rapid, and inexpensive screening test can be useful to quickly classify a specimen as toxic or non toxic, so prompt appropriate measures can be taken, exactly where required. The bioluminescent bacteria-based tests meet all these characteristics. Bioluminescence methods are extremely attractive because of their high sensitivity, speed, ease of implementation, and statistical significance. They are usually sensitive enough to detect the majority of pollutants toxic to humans and mammals.