biological indicator developed by genetic engineering

sterilization indicator, comprising a carrier, the carrier having a first surface and a second surface; a support, the support having a first section and a second section, the carrier overlying the first support section, the second surface of the carrier which adheres to the first section of the support; and a biological indicator developed by genetic engineering, comprising: at least one test organism and at least one suitable reporter gene to produce a reporter enzyme, the reporter gene comprising lacZ, bgaB, xylE, cat, gfp, or a mixture of two or more of these, the reporter gene is detected by the test organism; and at least one repressor gene that inhibits reporter gene expression to the reporter gene is exposed to at least one inducer, the repressor gene comprising XylR, lacI, tetR or a mixture of two of these being supported by the carrier, the second section of the support is sufficient to permit handling the sterilization indicator without contacting the biological indicator dimension.