Abstract: A container for transferring pathogenic micro-organisms directly from the patient to the place of identification while keeping them alive whether they are obligate or facultative organisms. It comprises an enclosure having an open end, a carrier structure presenting a pair of culture areas supporting different nutrients thereon slidably received in said enclosure through said open end thereof, a hollow stopper adapted to hermetically seal the open end of said enclosure, and means in the interior of said stopper operable to release an oxygen-absorbing medium so as to establish an oxygen free atmosphere in the interior of the enclosure. The container is made of heat resistant transparent material so that it can be placed into a culturing chamber and that culture formations on the nutrient supporting areas of the carrier structure can be observed directly without need to remove the carrier structure from the enclosure.