Abstract: A microbe suspender for determination of the microbiological quality of foods comprises a beater which beats the outside of a plastic bag containing test sample and suspending liquid at a frequency high enough that the bag does not completely follow the beater movement so that microbe suspending shock waves are transmitted into the liquid at each impact of the beater with the bag, yet low enough in frequency that on each impact the beater remains in contact with the bag long enough to transfer stirring energy to the liquid and test sample to aid the removal of deep-seated microbes. As additional improvements over the art the suspender provides a collecting tray which prevents hazardous microbial suspensions reaching the bench in the event that a bag leaks, and an operator-protecting door that does not comprise part of the beating/suspending mechanism so that it can be transparent and permit the action to be viewed, and additionally the door is completely removable to improve the cleanability.

Abstract: A safety valve which may be used in a pipette or in medical or biological equipment such as collection bottles, employs a carrier which is inserted in a flow line and contains a material which swells in the presence of an unwanted fluid to block the line and provide protection against contamination.