Abstract: Method and apparatus for the microbiological testing of liquids to identify and count living microorganisms contained therein includes a tubular sleeve for collecting the liquid sample to which there is attached at one end a microporous membrane filter. Each end of the sleeve has the shape of a female receptacle portion where into one end a container housing a culture medium can be nested by force for applying the medium to the underside of the filter and where into the other end a cover can be nested to provide a substantially tight sealing of the device. Preferably, the tubular sleeve is in the form of a bellows the convolutions of which can be either compressed or expanded to correspondingly alter the volume of the sleeve between minimum and maximum values.

Abstract: A method for assaying a specimen for the presence of a substance capable of inhibiting de novo biomolecular synthesis in a test microorganism, which comprises: exposing a cell wall permeability-enhanced test microorganism exhibiting delayed de novo synthesis of said biomolecule to said specimen, and assaying the extent of inhibition of synthesis of said biomolecule in said microorganism. A kit is described for performing the method, as well as a reaction mixture for performing the technique.

Abstract: A personal, disposable hand held diagnostic kit having a specimen support member such as a membrane, wafer or the like including a plurality of liquid receptacles with means for applying the liquids to said support member in sequence for relatively immediate observation of reaction and ultimate diagnosis.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for detecting cell proteins of microorganisms, such as the principal outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis having a mean molecular weight of 39,500 daltons. The method includes the steps of adding a buffer salt solution to a specimen suspected of containing bacterial antigens, raising the pH of the buffered solution so produced, incubating the solution, adding a neutralizing buffer to the solution to lower the pH, and assaying the sample by conventional immunoassay techniques. Optionally the sample solution is heated prior to incubation and then cooled afterwards before adding the neutralizing buffer.

Abstract: The presence of fermentation inhibiting activity in a sample is determined by contacting the sample with bacterial strains and detecting the inhibition of the activity of the strains. A carrier (1) carrying microtitration cups arranged in four rows of cups (8) is provided. The cups of the same row contain a lyophilisate comprising a given bacterial strain. Each sample to be tested, effected in a tube (3), is diluted in a tube (4) containing a culture medium and bromocresol purple and then poured into the cups of a given column by means of an automatic pipette and cones (5). After incubation, a drop of janus green reagent in tube (6) is introduced in each cup and, after a new incubation, the number of cups which have produced a change in color indicates the degree of contamination of the mixture. The process may be applied in the determination of bacteriophages present in cheese-making vats.

Abstract: A chamber for the treatment of cells in an electrical field, in which a space is provided to hold the suspension containing the cells and into which extend at least two electrodes. The cells are exposed to an electrical field developed between the electrodes. The chamber is also provided with an accessory vessel removably connected thereto for further treatment of the cells.

Abstract: Apparatus for contacting a biological cell system on a substrate with a pulsating flow of perfusion fluid has a two-part housing for a combined holding and tensioning device which is removably inserted into an internal space to define with the housing and with the substrate therein two separate chambers. The housing has inlets and outlets for the two chambers and inlet and outlet valves which are operated in response to a reduction or increase of the volume of the respective chambers by elastic walls of the housing. The walls are oscillatable by cams and cam followers and the valves at the inlets open when the valves at the respective outlets are closed and vice versa. The characteristics of perfusion fluid prior to entry into and upon evacuation from the chambers are monitored to thus ascertain the nature of processes which take place at the cells on the substrate.

Abstract: A process for the production of microbial cells by fermentation of carbonaceous material in a foam fermenter containing an oxygen-enriched nutrient medium. The process uses a source of carbon which is assimilable by the microorganism for the production of the microbial cells. The microbial cells are separated and removed from the foam fermenter for use as a food product high in protein content. The process includes the controlled release of a quantity of the constituents of a portion of the microorganism within the fermenter to increase the maintenance of the source of carbon and the nutrient medium in a foamed condition at a predetermined level in the fermenter. Also disclosed are various forms of apparatus for practicing the process of the present invention.

Abstract: This invention describes a reagent system, including saponin in a lysing reagent and a rapidly active cross-linking agent such as glutaraldehyde as a fixing reagent, which reproducably affects whole blood to cause the red blood cells to stromatolyze and modifies the leukocytes to generate data to define four distinct clusters for detection and classification by flow analysis instrumentation. The clusters represent the four major leukocyte types found in blood: lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, thus providing a method of leukocyte differential analysis. The parameters used for the leukocyte classification include combinations of two or more of DC (Coulter) volume, high frequency (RF) size, opacity (RF size/DC volume), light scatter at various angular ranges, and fluorescence at various wavelengths of illumination.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and test kit for determining the reliability of a barrier to microorganism passage. In accordance with the process, a multiplicity of non-self replicating particles is introduced into a first gas volume, disposed on one side of a barrier to particle movement, and particle traps are placed in a second gas volume on the other side of the barrier. The particles carry a marker substance such as a toxin for a selected microorganism or a component needed for growth of a selected microorganism. The barrier is operated and the contents of the trap are assayed for the amount of the marker substance present in association with particles which crossed the barrier by adding the marker substance in the trap to a culture of the selected microorganism and detecting the effect of the marker substance on the culture. Finally, the results of the assay are compared to a standard to determine the number of trapped particles which crossed the barrier.

Abstract: A germination floor system for a malt plant having a plurality of pivotally mounted tray assemblies movable between a horizontal position for supporting grain during germination and an approximate upright orientation to provide access beneath the floor for cleaning. The tray assemblies are capable of being manually movable to the cleaning position or, alternatively, may be fitted with a pneumatic cylinder and/or spring devices to facilitate movement. In the vertical cleaning position, the individual tray assemblies are fixed in position to prevent injury to personnel beneath the structure.

Abstract: A biological indicator is made of a vial which contains a "spore dot", a nutrient solution in a frangible ampoule, and means for positioning the spore dot and for breaking the ampoule to release the nutrient solution when the cap of the vial is fully pressed on. The nutrient solution typically contains a pH indicator to determine whether all active spores on the strip were killed by a sterilization process which takes place prior to breaking the ampoule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for measurement and detection which employ a photosensitive indicator which may be prepared from a composition capable of offering a visual, calibrated reaction to the presence of ultraviolet radiation. The indicator preferably employs a composition comprising a complex of a leuco dye and animal-derived serum albumin. The leuco dye-serum albumin complex is capable of exacting calibration, so that scientifically significant quantitative measurements of radiation falling within the wavelengths of ultraviolet light and lower may be made. Numerous techniques useful in a variety of diagnostic applications are made possible, including the measurement of bioactive materials that are independently capable of absorbing ultraviolet wave energy, as well as bioactive materials that by association with certain ancillary materials capable of modulating their ultraviolet light absorption may similarly be quantitatively measured.

Abstract: A method for placing individual living cells at identifiable locations is provided comprising the steps of:(a) providing a carrier having a plurality of apertures, the apertures being arranged in an ordered array and being sized to hold individual cells;(b) applying a fluid containing living cells to the carrier; and(c) applying a force to the cells to move the cells into the apertures.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dry analytical element for .alpha.-amylase in a fluid sample which comprises the analytical element including a starch capable of forming a complex with iodine, an iodine compound and an oxidizing agent, and the iodine compound and the oxidizing agent are disposed in the element so that iodine may be liberated therefrom when the fluid sample is brought into contact with the analytical element.The analytical element of this invention enables an easy, prompt and accurate dry quantitative analysis of a component in a fluid sample, especially a biological fluid sample by the use of visible light with the aid of a spectrophotometer.

Abstract: A method for pretreating a biological material for observation by scanning electron microscope which comprises: placing a biological material in a vacuum, supplying an inert gas to a predetermined level of pressure; and energizing the inert gas for ionization for a time sufficient to cause the surface of the biological material to be activated whereby when an electron beam is irradiated on the treated surfaces, secondary electrons are emitted in a high efficiency. The apparatus for carrying out the above method is also described.

Abstract: A new method of rapidly analyzing plural substances in the presence of biological catalyzers is disclosed. The method is practiced by way of the steps of injecting both pH buffer solution and specimen into a reaction cell, successively adding a plurality of enzymes to induce uptake reaction of dissolved oxygen, causing the plurality of substances to be subjected to selective oxidation in the stepwise manner, obtaining a stepdown curve of dissolved oxygen by automatically recording the oxidative process by means of a dissolved oxygen sensor, qualitatively determining each of the substances with reference to the kind of added enzymes and the order of their addition and quantitatively determining the same with reference to the extent of decrease in dissolved oxygen. Typically, oxidation of the substances is carried out by way of two or three or further more steps.

Abstract: A photosynthetic reaction bath has thereinside a number of photoradiators in the form of narrow upright tubes. A baffle plate is disposed below the photoradiators and is formed with a number of apertures therethrough in a predetermined area thereof which may be a radially central area or a generally annular peripheral area. Co.sub.2 -containing air is fed into the reaction bath through the apertures in the baffle plate to circulate along a predetermined path inside the reaction bath due to the remaining non-apertured part of the baffle plate. The function of the baffle plate may be performed by plugging which blocks the passage of the air through the spacings between the lower ends of the adjacent photoradiators in the predetermined area. The circulation of the air may be caused more positively along a variable path by a rotor which is positioned below the photoradiators and rotatable by ejecting the air while supplying it to the interior of the reaction bath.

Abstract: A method of distinguishing multiple subpopulations of cells from a single sample of cells of a variety of types comprises labeling particles with two or more marking agents. These particles are marked in a plurality of different pre-selected ratios of the agents ranging between zero percent and one hundred percent of each agent. Each such agent has distinguishing, quantifiable marking characteristics. The differently labeled particles are mixed with cells suspected of having specific receptors for the differently labeled particles. Each cell is analyzed to determine the ratio of any two identifiable marking characteristics associated with each cell so that is can be classified in a subpopulation category if its ratio of marking characteristics is related to one of the pre-selected ratios of marking agents.An apparatus for carrying out the above-described method is also within the purview of the present invention.

Abstract: In a method for determining cholinesterase (hereinafter referred to as ChE) activity, the improvement comprising by using, as a substrate, a protocatechuoylcholine derivative represented by the general formula (I), ##STR1## (wherein X is a halogen atom). The method for determining ChE activity according to the present invention is free from defects of the conventional methods, has many advantages and characteristics, permits accurate and simple determination of ChE activity, and can sufficiently contribute to determination of ChE activity in daily clinical examinations.