Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to drain actuators for cassettes used in sterility testing. A sterility cassette may have a spring-loaded drain to allow fluid flow through a porous membrane. To activate the drain, upwards pressure is applied to the spring during kit preparation through an actuator base. The actuator base may automatically actuate the drain when the cassette is inserted into the actuator base, and may be separate from or integral with a thermoformed drain tray. When the sterility cassette is removed from the tray, the base automatically shuts the drain. The actuator base has features that: maintain the rotational alignment between the tray and cassette; actuate the drain port on the bottom of the cassette; minimally inhibit flow out of the drain; minimize the collection of drain fluid; provide a rigid support across the drain tray surface; and stay locked into the drain tray when the cassette is removed.

Abstract: A microbe enumeration kit or system is provided that includes a number of cassettes with an upper and lower chamber separated by a membrane. The kit further includes a media reservoir fluidly coupled to the cassettes by a tube set and a dual pressure valve mechanically coupled to the tube set and arranged to change a pressure in the cassettes to cause fluid from the fluid reservoir to pass through or interact with the membrane.

Abstract: This application relates to improvements in environments for microbial testing. Exemplary embodiments provide a uniquely configured tray containing an environment conditioning material, such as an oxygen scavenger material, for use with a cassette assembly. Furthermore, some embodiments provide a cutting mechanism that allows the tray to be reliably breached, thereby exposing the material inside to the environment. Some embodiments can cut open the material with specially-configured cutter teeth, which can easily be deployed by twisting or pushing two halves of the cassette assembly.

Abstract: This application relates to improvements in environments for microbial testing. Exemplary embodiments provide a uniquely configured tray containing an environment conditioning material, such as an oxygen scavenger material, for use with a cassette assembly. Furthermore, some embodiments provide a cutting mechanism that allows the tray to be reliably breached, thereby exposing the material inside to the environment. Some embodiments can cut open the material with specially-configured cutter teeth, which can easily be deployed by twisting or pushing two halves of the cassette assembly.