Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for the detection of the growth of respiring microorganisms in a sample, which comprises:(a) tris(4,7-diphenyl-10-phenanthroline)ruthenium dichloride pentahydrate;(b) a hydroxyl functional group;(c) an organosilicon polymer;(d) an organohydrogensilicon compound; and(e) a catalyst;and a method for preparing said composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for determining an analyte in a fluid sample in an assay. The device comprises a lid having a plurality of elements and a membrane. The elements have openings which allow passage of fluid to the membrane. The membrane is supported by the lid and covers the openings of the elements. The undersurface of the membrane is in contact with a porous wick which contains a first zone which includes binder attached to a particulate label and a second zone containing salt. The wick extends downward from the membrane and is in contact with the fluid sample.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for the determination of mutant restriction enzymes which comprises incubating restriction enzymes under non-native conditions with a labeled double stranded oligonucleotide to a solid support to form an enzyme-oligonucleotide complex and detecting the label to determine cleavage of the oligonucleotide by mutant enzymes.

Abstract: A device and system for assaying a target analyte from a sample fluid. According to the device, the target analyte is separated from the sample fluid through interaction with magnetic capture agents and application of an electromagnetic field. In this manner, fluid reagents used in the assay need not be transported or removed from the device when the assay is being conducted.

Abstract: A cell culture substrate is coated with a composition containing a cell adhesion promoter in a salt solution. A substrate such as plastic, glass or microporous fibers is coated with a composition containing about 5 .mu.g/ml to about 1000 .mu.g/ml of poly-D-lysine in an 0.005 M to about 0.5 M citrate or sulfate salt solution to provide about 50 .mu.l to about 500 .mu.l of the composition per cm.sup.2 of substrate, and the coated substrate is rinsed to remove extraneous materials and dried to obtain a coated substrate having increased shelf-life and/or stability. The coated substrate may be sterilized by rinsing with a sterilizing medium such as ethanol.

Abstract: A laboratory flask is designed for the growth of tissue, cells or microorganisms in a culture medium. The flask includes a bottom wall which accommodates the culture medium. The interior of the flask is accessible from an opening in a side wall through a neck extending outwardly therefrom. The neck of the flask is raised above an upper planar surface of the flask, so as to maximize the height between the neck and the bottom wall, thereby permitting an increase in the usable volume of the flask. The inner wall surface of the neck includes a depending filler wall extending between the inner wall of the neck and the upper planar surface of the flask to fill a gap which would otherwise exist therebetween. The flask permits accommodation of a standard screw-threaded cap to close the neck.

Abstract: An antimicrobial film-forming composition which provides antimicrobial effectiveness to the skin, comprising ethyl alcohol, carboxylated polyacrylates, a cross linking agent, an adhesion promoting agent which can include a secondary solvent and an emollient, an active antimicrobial agent which can be either iodine or povidone iodine, a pluronic polyol and optionally, water. This composition prevents degradation of iodine in the composition and is easily removable from the skin.

Abstract: A multiwell tissue culture assembly for culturing cells comprising a plate and a lid. The plate includes a plurality of wells for accommodating a cell culture insert and the lid includes means for varying the gas diffusion into and out of the assembly and for substantially minimizing biological contamination of the cells being cultured in the cell culture insert. The means for varying the gas diffusion is a gas permeable membrane provided in an opening in the lid and a removable thin impermeable film label is provided for selectively occluding passage of gases through the gas permeable membrane.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for viewing agglutination of blood cells in test tubes utilizes magnetic force to hold a magnifying mirror in the desired orientation on the base portion of the viewer. The magnetically held mirror can be adjusted more quickly and easily than mirrors supported by mechanical clamping arrangements, as in previously available agglutination viewers. The improved viewer also includes an illumination source in the form of a lamp head which can be adjusted in position with respect to the base portion and magnifying mirror. In one embodiment, the lamp head is provided with illumination by means of a fiber optic cable enclosed in a flexible gooseneck-type conduit. The fiber optic cable receives light from an incandescent lamp or other light source housed in the base portion of the viewer. In a second embodiment, the lamp head contains an incandescent lamp and can be rotated about two perpendicular axes by means of an articulated structure connected to the base portion of the viewer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of quantitative microspectroscopy, and in particular to an apparatus for determining the exact thickness of an optical microscopic sample at the time an absorbance measurement or other spectroscopic measurements are performed on this sample. This apparatus can be an optical microscope comprising a means for containing a sample wherein said means has first and second optical markers; a means for holding said means for containing a sample; a means for illuminating the sample in said means for containing a sample; a means for automatically focusing on first and second optical markers in said means for containing a sample; and a means for performing a pattern recognition procedure for said optical samples, wherein said means comprises an imaging receiver which is connected to an image processor and a computer.

Abstract: A multiwell tissue culture assembly for culturing cells comprising a plate and a lid. The plate includes a plurality of wells for accommodating a cell culture insert and the lid includes means for varying the gas diffusion into and out of the assembly and for substantially minimizing biological contamination of the cells being cultured in the cell culture insert. The means for varying the gas diffusion is a gas permeable membrane provided in a plurality of openings in the lid and a plurality of removable thin impermeable film labels are provided for selectively occluding passage of gases through the gas permeable membranes. The means for minimizing biological contamination of the cells being cultured is a sealing material located in the lid and means for removably securing the lid and the plate together whereby the sealing material is compressed between the lid and the plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for correcting false susceptibility results in antimicrobial susceptibility tests for resistant microorganisms. This method comprises adding specific amounts of sugars, carbohydrates, related compounds or other ingredients to a test medium for such susceptibility tests.

Abstract: A sampling device useful for determining whether microorganisms are present on a given surface includes a lid member and a base member. The lid member includes a flange that provides visual and tactile indications to a technician of the position of their fingers relative to an edge of the lid member. This increases the ability to avoid accidental or inadvertent contact with a sampling media. The flange is provided with a plurality of lugs that operate to maintain some spacing between the flange and a corresponding base member. This spacing is especially advantageous in situations where air flow is desirable within the sampling device. The base member includes a first cavity for supporting a sampling media and a second cavity. The second cavity includes a plurality of ribs that are contoured to securely fit a lid member partially within the second cavity so that a plurality of sampling devices can be stacked in a convenient and reliable fashion.

Abstract: Non-aqueous emollient iodophor formulations for use as a skin washing agents, comprising non-ionic surfactants, coconut oil, mineral oil, iodine, sodium iodide and an organic base solvent. The non-aqueous formulations substantially do not irritate the skin and will provide antimicrobial effectiveness to the skin.

Abstract: A multiwell tissue culture assembly for culturing cells comprising a plate and a lid. The plate includes a plurality of wells for receiving liquids therein and the lid includes means for varying the gas diffusion into and out of the assembly and for substantially minimizing biological contamination of the cells being cultured. The means for varying the gas diffusion is a gas permeable membrane provided in an opening in the lid and a removable thin impermeable film label is provided for selectively occluding passage of gases through the gas permeable membrane. The means for minimizing biological contamination of the cells being cultured is a sealing material located in the lid and means for removably securing the lid and the plate together whereby the sealing material is compressed between the lid and the plate.

Abstract: Cell culture substrates comprising dried films of native fibrillar collagen produced by a method in which collagen fibers are hydrolyzed in acid, solubilized, and reformed as gels on porous surfaces under non-physiologic salt conditions to produce large fibers with the striations characteristic of collagen fibers found in vivo. The gels are collapsed onto the porous surfaces by drawing the interfibril fluid out of the gel through the underside of the porous surface and then dried to form films. Dried collagen films made in this manner retain native fibrillar collagen structure and excellent diffusion characteristics. Native fibrillar collagen films produced according to the methods of the invention are useful as cell culture substrates. They have particularly advantageous properties for growth and differentiation of epithelial cells. This effect is synergistically enhanced by addition of butyric acid as a differentiation inducing agent.

Abstract: A multi-well culture dish assembly is provided which includes an insert having rows of frustoconical enclosures and a well plate in which the enclosures are suspended. The insert includes a top wall having a peripheral flange, the enclosures being integral with and extending downwardly from the top wall. Each enclosure includes a radial opening which extends into the upper portion of the enclosure. Rows of openings are formed in the top wall of the insert, and respectively adjoin the radial openings in the enclosures. The relatively large pipette openings are formed by the adjoining openings. The well plate may include rows of cylindrical wells. The enclosures are positioned within the wells and are radially offset with respect thereto. The openings within the top wall of the insert are in registration with the wells when the insert is mounted to the well plate.