Abstract: A culture package system comprising a package preferably in the form of a container containing one or more conventional culture media dishes containing solidified culture media. Each dish includes a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall and a removable cover having a bottom wall and a peripheral side side wall which is loosely telescoped over the dish. A plurality of the dishes are preferably provided in inverted stacked relation in the container. A cover is hermetically sealed to close the container. The interior of the package has a gaseous atmosphere having less than 1% oxygen. An oxygen absorber is placed in the package to facilitate maintaining the atmosphere at less than 1% oxygen. Preferably a moisture absorber is also placed in the package. The package is made of plastic material which is impermeable to oxygen and moisture and preferably is in the form of a container which has a base wall and a peripheral wall and a cover sealed thereto.

Abstract: A rapid screening method for the detection and identification of target microorganisms in a sample which may contain both target microorganisms and competing non-target microorganisms includes the steps of enriching a sample in a mildly selective medium, incubating the sample in the growth medium for a predetermined amount of time, adding at least one inhibitor of the non-target microorganisms to the growth medium to discourage the growth of non-target microorganisms and to encourage the growth of target microorganisms. The method further includes the steps of incubating the sample in the growth medium including at least one inhibitor for a predetermined amount of time, performing biochemical assays specific for the identification of the target microorganisms, and detecting the presence of the target microorganisms in the sample. The invention further provides a system for the rapid detection of microorganisms in a sample.

Abstract: A method for Gram staining a specimen containing bacteria includes the steps of staining Gram positive bacteria in the specimen, fixing the stain to the Gram positive bacteria, and simultaneously decolorizing and counter-staining Gram negative bacteria in the specimen.

Abstract: A system (100), methods and apparatuses for transferring a primary medium (7) after incubating of the medium (7) are described. The system (100) includes a container (1) for containing a growth medium (7) and a sample (8) to be tested for the presence of target microorganisms. A system (100) for transferring a primary medium (7) after incubating of the medium (7) is also described. The system (100) includes an automated pouring mechanism for automatically pouring the primary medium (7) into a plurality of media receiving vessels (11) and a metering mechanism for metering the amount of medium (7) poured into each media receiving vessel (11). An automated tilting apparatus (20) tilts the container (1) to actuate pouring of a predetermined amount of the medium (7) from the container (1) into the media receiver (11). An apparatus (20) for automatically transferring medium (7) for collection and testing of microorganisms is also described.

Abstract: A container (10) adapted for use in the detection of aerobic microorganisms in a sample includes a non-toxic insert (22) disposed within the container (10) for supporting microorganisms adhered thereto and for increasing microbial exposure to oxygenated growth media to enhance microbial metabolism. A method for making the container (10) includes the steps of inserting a non-toxic insert (22) into the container (10) and adding growth media (14). Also, a method of detecting aerobic microbiological growth in a sealed sample container (10) having a headspace (16) and which contains a sample which may contain an unknown microorganism includes the steps of providing a sealed sample container (10) having a headspace (16) and non-toxic insert (22) saturated with microbiological growth media (24), inoculating the insert (22) within the sealed sample container (10), and monitoring metabolism in the container (10) as an indicator of the presence of microorganisms to detect microorganisms in the sample.

Abstract: A test slide (10) for performing diagnostic tests for detecting the presence of cells, their enzymes, metabolites and other cellular derivatives. The test slide (10) comprises a support strip (14), a coating (34) comprising a carrier and a diagnostic reagent disposed on the support strip (14), and a mount (12) comprising a front wall (18) and a rear wall (20). The coating (34) has the properties of being dry and stable, and water soluble. Further, the coating (34) and the diagnostic reagent are capable of rehydration. The support strip (14) is disposed between the front wall (18) and the rear wall (20) of the mount (12). Both the front (18) and rear (20) walls can have coinciding openings (28,28a) that overlie the support strip (14) thereby allowing spectroscopic, visual and microscopic examination of the support strip (14).

Abstract: A method for Gram staining a specimen containing bacteria includes the steps of staining Gram positive bacteria in the specimen, fixing the stain to the Gram positive bacteria, and simultaneously decolorizing and counter-staining Gram negative bacteria in the specimen.

Abstract: A diagnostic microbiological testing apparatus and method includes at least one test tray including a plurality of reaction chambers, a light source disposed proximate to the test tray for directing light, at an excitation wavelength of a fluorescence emitting agent contained within the reaction chambers, at the test tray, a filter for passing therethrough only light generated by a fluorescence emitting reaction resulting from the interaction of the fluorescence emitting agent and a sample, and an imaging mechanism for detecting only the light generated by the fluorescence emitting reaction at the emission wavelength simultaneously from the plurality of reaction chambers.

Abstract: In such a method and apparatus for detecting microbiological growth in a sealed sample container, pressure within the headspace of the container is monitored for detecting rate of change of such headspace pressure. Presence of microbiological growth within the container is indicated as a function of rate of change of headspace pressure. The rate of pressure change is compared with a standard rate for a family of microorganisms., and growth is indicated when the absolute value of the rate of pressure change (which may be positive or negative) exceeds the absolute value of the standard rate (which also may be positive or negative). For detecting microbiological growths which may have differing growth rates, absolute value of rate of pressure change is compared to a plurality of standard rates for differing families of microorganisms.

Abstract: A method of detecting, identifying, and enumerating microbes in biological and non-biological samples includes the steps of combining the sample with a triggerable chemiluminescent compound specifically susceptible to the initiation of chemiluminescent decomposition by at least one microbial enzyme in the sample and detecting and integrating light emission over an extended period of time as an indication of the presence, identification, or enumeration of the microbes in the sample.

Abstract: At least some of the reagents required for a chemiluminescent reaction are dried on a piece of a carrier material. The reagents are stable for extended periods of time, without refrigeration, in this form. The sheet of carrier material is of a shape and size to fit flat against the interior surface of a transparent wall of a test well through which light output of the reaction is measured. Light output is thereby concentrated in a region adjacent the wall, minimizing attenuation of the light in passing from the well to permit measurement of low light output levels.

Abstract: A process and kit for detecting microbial metabolism is disclosed, the process including the steps of combining medium, a metabolic dye having an absorbance spectrum which in the presence of microorganisms changes and responds to metabolism of the microorganism and a second analytical dye having an excitation or emission spectrum which overlaps with one of the changed or unchanged absorbance spectra of the first dye. The medium contains a sample solution to be analyzed for containing metabolizing microorganisms. The user observes either no change in the fluorescence emissions of the second analytical dye indicating the absence of metabolizing microorganisms in the sample or a change indicating the presence of metabolizing microorganisms in the sample.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing and measuring chemical reactions includes a reaction test apparatus having reaction wells wherein reactants are controllably mixed, and exposure apparatus which receives and positions the reaction test apparatus adjacent a photographic film. Each of the reaction wells includes at least two reaction cups, arranged one above the other. The uppermost reaction cups have orifices in the bottoms, so that liquid can be mixed and reacted in the uppermost cup, and then controllably transferred to the lower cup to be mixed with additional reactants. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction cups are supported in plates that are structurally integrated with the cups, and are superimposed to make a test block. The test block is retained in the exposure apparatus, and liquid is forced from the upper cup to the lower cup by application of pressure to the top of the upper cup.

Abstract: A diagnostic test slide for performing diagnostic tests for detecting the presence of microogranisms, enzymes or metabolites comprising a plastic film having a coating therein comprising a carrier and a reagent. The coated film is placed in a mount that is constructed and arranged to form a border around a portion of the film. A method is provided for making the test slide utilizing conventional, automated devices for making coated photographic films, and conventional, automated devices for mounting slide film in mounts.

Abstract: Lecithin is coated onto the surface of plastics such as polystyrene and polyethylene to enhance the wettability of aqueous liquids to the plastic. In one application, plastic test wells are coated with lecithin to enhance the ability of liquids placed into a well with sloping sides to flow in a regular manner into a well with vertical sides. The lecithin is applied to the plastic by dissolving the lecithin in an organic solvent such as heptane, coating the solution onto the plastic surface, and evaporating the solvent.

Abstract: A culture media package comprising a container having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall which is substantially filled with a culture medium, a removable insert over the top wall and having a portion defining a planar undersurface and a removable protective cover over the container and insert. The container and insert have radially extending flanges which are bonded to one another. The package is made by filling the container with a molten culture medium in a sterile environment, bonding the insert to the container in a sterile environment, inverting the sealed container such that the molten medium contacts the planar surface of the insert permitting any gases and bubbles to rise toward a space adjacent the bottom of the container and maintaining the container with the insert thereon in an inverted position until the medium has solidified. The removable cover may be applied to the sealed package of the container and insert either before the sealed package is inverted or after the medium has solidified.

Abstract: A plurality of centrifugation vials having a common base form a cluster tray suitably shaped for receipt by a standard multiwell or cluster tray carrier for a centrifuge. The tray base is segmented into individual vial bases to facilitate separation of a given vial from the cluster tray if desired. The bottom surface of each vial directly under the vial's interior chamber is recessed from the bottom supporting surface of the cluster tray to avoid scuffing or scratching. A skirted snap-plug cap is also provided for improved sealing means and to decrease the risk of contamination upon opening and closing of the vial. The vials and cluster trays thereof are preferably formed from transparent polymeric materials which can support anchored cell growth.

Abstract: A culture vessel for improving culture or cell yield of anchored cell or suspension cultures has a fluted body wall to provide the vessel with internal ribbing. The internal ribbing of the vessel increases the surface area available for anchorage-competent cell growth and also enhances the agitation of cells in suspension culture to disperse the cells and promote growth.

Abstract: A plurality of centrifugation vials having a common base form a cluster tray suitably shaped for receipt by a standard multiwell or cluster tray carrier for a centrifuge. The tray base is segmented into individual vial bases to facilitate separation of a given vial from the cluster tray if desired. The bottom surface of each vial directly under the vial's interior chamber is recessed from the bottom supporting surface of the cluster tray to avoid scuffing or scratching. A skirted snap-plug cap is also provided for improved sealing means and to decrease the risk of contamination upon opening and closing of the vial. The vials and cluster trays thereof are preferably formed from transparent polymeric materials which can support anchored cell growth.