Abstract: A Petri dish includes a receptacle and a matching lid, which both have a shape of revolution and are each delimited by a bottom wall and at least one peripheral rim. This also includes fingers and complementary locking elements. The receptacle and the lid, when rotated relative to each other, are able to occupy three or four different positions, including at least a “first position” and an “intermediate position”. This dish is distinguished by the fact that the locking elements carry at least one blocking member which blocks the fingers in the “intermediate position” and which opposes the return to the “first position”.

Abstract: A Petri dish has members including a receptacle and an additional lid, both having an axisymmetric shape and which are delimited by a bottom wall and at least one peripheral wall, the receptacle and lid bearing complementary lock sections so that when a stack is formed by superposing at least two dishes, borne by a first component of a first dish which can engage with the lock section of the second component of the second dish, thus making them rigidly connected to one another. These lock sections cooperate by relative rotational movement of one dish with respect to the other, the lock sections being borne by the peripheral walls and including protrusions.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for dispensing a prescribed material into a Petri dish, each Petri dish including a removable lid capable of being arranged on a bottom that is not as broad as the latter, bringing the Petri dish to a material-dispensing station. According to the disclosure, the device includes a piston comprising a plate for supporting the bottom at the material-dispensing station and a device for rotating the plate on itself relative to the dispensing head, arranged so as to rotate the bottom relative to dispensing head in the position for dispensing the material into the bottom, in which the material outlet tip is arranged relative to plate in order to dispense the material into the rotated bottom.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for dispensing a prescribed product in a Petri dish, the device comprising pistons, a transfer member with lid-bearing openings and a dish bottom, and a dispensor. According to the disclosure, the transfer member is a shuttle capable of translation relative to the base according to a direct reciprocating movement of the bearing openings between either of first and second stop positions, the dispensor being arranged so as to dispense the product above the inner opening and under the upper opening at the bottom of the dish when the openings are in a position selected from the first and second stop positions.

Abstract: A Petri dish has members including a receptacle and an additional lid, both having an axisymmetric shape and which are delimited by a bottom wall and at least one peripheral wall, the receptacle and lid bearing complementary lock sections so that when a stack is formed by superposing at least two dishes, borne by a first component of a first dish which can engage with the lock section of the second component of the second dish, thus making them rigidly connected to one another. These lock sections cooperate by relative rotational movement of one dish with respect to the other, the lock sections being borne by the peripheral walls and including protrusions.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for dispensing a prescribed material into a Petri dish, each Petri dish including a removable lid capable of being arranged on a bottom that is not as broad as the latter, bringing the Petri dish to a material-dispensing station. According to the disclosure, the device includes a piston comprising a plate for supporting the bottom at the material-dispensing station and a device for rotating the plate on itself relative to the dispensing head, arranged so as to rotate the bottom relative to dispensing head in the position for dispensing the material into the bottom, in which the material outlet tip is arranged relative to plate in order to dispense the material into the rotated bottom.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an assembly formed from a planar rigid filtration membrane and generally flat plate for accommodating and supporting this membrane, to activate and/or reveal immobilized contaminants on the membrane, the support plate comprising a holding and immobilization device cooperating with a periphery of the membrane, wherein the device comprises at least one non-deformable member that projects from the general plane of the plate and at least one stop tab, substantially perpendicular to the plane, which is extended by a holding appendage substantially parallel to the plane, so that the membrane can be engaged with the member only through a first movement of the membrane substantially parallel to the plane of the support followed by a second movement substantially perpendicular to the plane.

Abstract: Polynucleotide primers and probes for the specific detection of E. coli 0157:H7 and/or E. coli 0157:NM which produces verotoxin in samples are provided. The primers and probes can be used in real time diagnostic assays for rapid detection of E. coli 0157:H7 and/or E. coli 0157:NM which produces verotoxin. The primers and probes can be used in real-time diagnostic assays for rapid detection of E. coli 0157:H7 and/or E. coli 0157:NM which produces verotoxin in a variety of situations and are capable of distinguishing E. coli 0157:H7 and/or E. coli 0157:NM which produces verotoxin from other E. coli strains. Kits comprising the primers and probes are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for dispensing a prescribed product in a Petri dish, the device comprising pistons, a transfer member with lid-bearing openings and a dish bottom, and a dispensor. According to the disclosure, the transfer member is a shuttle capable of translation relative to the base according to a direct reciprocating movement of the bearing openings between either of first and second stop positions, the dispensor being arranged so as to dispense the product above the inner opening and under the upper opening at the bottom of the dish when the openings are in a position selected from the first and second stop positions.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for diluting a sample, comprising an end-piece for dispensing a liquid diluent, means, having an upright extending upwards from the base, for supporting and moving the end-piece relative to the container support between a first position in which the outlet of the end-piece lies above the opening of the container, to allow the diluent to be fed into the container, and a second position in which the outlet is further away from the container. According to the disclosure, the second position of the outlet is to the side of the first, the upright is fixed to the base, and the upright has a cover at the upper end thereof for supporting the end-piece, the cover being rotatable on the upright between the positions, a rotary drive motor for rotating the cover between the positions being housed on the inside of the cover and/or of the upright.

Abstract: A process for trapping and confining microorganisms in air using water-soluble polymers is disclosed. The water-soluble polymers are readily soluble in water or a physiological diluent, have reasonable mechanical strength so that they can be transported without rupture, retain water and adhere to microorganisms. A process for the rapid and sensitive detection of microorganisms in air under aseptic conditions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for testing for microbial contamination using a digital flow cytometer comprising an illumination source, a fluorescence detector, a digitizing device, and a digitized signal transferring device.

Abstract: Apparatus for rapid, ultra sensitive and automatic counting of flourescent biological cells such as microorganisms, carried by a solid support such as a filter.

Abstract: Method for the rapid diagnostic of an infection of the urinary tract (UTI), by a specific examination of urine.The method of analyzing a urine specimen, for the rapid and simultaneous counting of both viable bacteria and leucocytes (white blood cells or WBC), consists of:(1) simultaneous labeling of said bacteria and said white blood cells (WBC) present in said urine specimen, with a fluorescent viability marker of bacteria, said marker tagging and accumulating in both bacteria and white blood cells, under the same conditions and leading to different fluorescent elements;(2) automatically counting all the fluorescent elements by photoelectric detection of the fluorescent marker; and(3) simultaneously classifying said fluorescent elements in fluorescent viable bacteria and in fluorescent white blood cells, in view to obtain in one part the total number of bacteria and on the other part, the total number of white blood cells, on the basis of their size.

Abstract: Apparatus and process capable of rapid detection and counting of rarely occuring mammalian cells in blood and other tissues which have been labeled with a fluorescent dye.The process includes: scanning a solid support on which a specimen potentially containing fluorescent cells has been deposited, with an incident beam from a laser, forming a laser spot on the solid support, the laser spot being substantially greater than the cells to be detected, the laser spot size being between 15 and 30 .mu.m; and simultaneously: detecting the resultant fluorescent light at least at one wavelength; establishing a set of correlated-features by a line-to-line correlation of individual features; comparing the correlated-features on each pair of adjacent lines in time synchrony, at least at two different wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.

Abstract: Process for rapid, ultrasensitive and automatic counting of fluorescent biological cells such as microorganims, carried by a solid support such as a filter.The process includes: scanning a solid support on which a specimen potentially containing microorganisms has been deposited, with an incident beam from a laser, forming a laser spot on the solid support, the laser spot being substantially greater than the microorganisms to be detected, the laser spot size being between 4 and 14 .mu.m and simultaneously: detecting the resultant fluorescent light at least at one wavelength; establishing a set of correlated-features by a line-to-line correlation of individual features; comparing said correlated-features on each pair of adjacent lines in time synchrony, at least at two different wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.

Abstract: The invention provides a method capable of determining the presence or absence of each of a plurality of different ligands in a specimen. The specimen is contacted with a predetermined number of different homogeneous populations of fluorescence beads having one or more predetermined antiligands affixed to their surface. The specimen and bead mixture is analyzed using a means having a single parameter for measuring the fluorescence per ligand to determine the number of nonagglutinated beads, the number of agglutinated beads, the number of bead aggregates, and for each aggregate, the number of beads it comprises. This information is used to correlate the presence or absence in the specimen of each of the different ligands analyzed for. The method of the invention thus provides for the simultaneous determination of a predetermined number of ligands in a specimen using only a single bead contacting step.

Abstract: The invention provides a method capable of determining the presence or absence of each of a plurality of different ligands in a specimen. The specimen is contacted with a predetermined number of different homogenous populations of fluorescent beads having one or more predetermined antiligands affixed to their surface. The specimen and bead mixture is analyzed using a means having a single parameter of measuring fluorescence per ligand to determine the number of non-agglutinated beads, the number of agglutinated beads, the number of bead aggregates, and for each aggregate, the number of beads its comprises. This information is used to correlate the presence or absence in the specimen of each of the different ligands analyzed for. The method of the invention thus provides for the simultaneous determination of a predetermined number of ligands in a specimen using only a single bead contacting step.