[Microquantitative determination of glucose in solutions using microorganisms as the test system]

A technique for determining small quantities of glucose in solutions and biological liquids is proposed. The assay can be performed in the presence of some other carbohydrates, except those which are transported into E. coli cells by means of the phosphoenol-transferase system. The method is based on pH-metric regictration of H+-ions which are released from bacteria as a result of glucose consumption. The suspension of cells of E coli st. M-17 was used as a test system. We can also recommend a commercial preparation of colibacterin, which contains lyophilized bacteria E. coli st. M-17 in the sucrose-gelatin medium. The sensitivity of the method is about 1 microgram of glucose in 5-10 microliter.