Abstract: A transport/preservation system has been found which provides safe, effective transport for patient specimens and bodily fluids, and functions as a preservative for biological reagents, therapeutics, and personal care products. The transport/preservative formulations can also be used as safe, effective sanitizers on surfaces, equipment, and appliances. The transport preservation formulation includes a biguanide and one or more other antimicrobial agents, which is cidal to microorganisms when present in a sample or on a surface to be sanitized.

Abstract: A transport/preservation system has been found which provides safe, effective transport for patient specimens and bodily fluids, and functions as a preservative for biological reagents, therapeutics, and personal care products. The transport/preservative formulations can also be used as safe, effective sanitizers on surfaces, equipment, and appliances. The transport preservation formulations comprising a biguanide and one or more other antimicrobial agents are cidal to microorganisms when present in a sample or on a surface to be sanitized.

Abstract: A transport/preservation system has been found which provides safe, effective transport for patient specimens and bodily fluids, and functions as a preservative for biological reagents, therapeutics and personal care products. The transport/preservative formulations can also be used as safe, effective sanitizers on surfaces, equipment, and appliances. The transport preservation formulations comprising a biguanide and one or more other antimicrobial agents are cidal to microorganisms when present in a sample or on a surface to be sanitized.

Abstract: A method for increasing the quantitation of microorganisms in cell-containing or cell-free blood samples, included those intended for blood product transfusion purposes, is provided which employs a sustained level of sodium polyanethol sulfonate throughout microbial replication on solid media. In another embodiment, purified saponin is combined with sodium polyanethol sulfonate to provide increased quantitation of microorganisms.

Abstract: The improvement of specimen quality for microbial analysis is addressed by the present invention which discloses a chemical composition for use in a method and apparatus for transporting a specimen suspected to contain microorganisms of interest to a laboratory for analysis and improved methods of analysis.A device and method for taking, storing, and preserving fluid samples is disclosed comprising a container and a composition designed to maintain the level of microorganisms present in a specimen during transportation of the specimen to a testing facility.The method and apparatus can be utilized on all types of aqueous specimens and specimens which may be extracted in aqueous solution for analysis of microorganisms therein.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed for the rapid identification of fungal pathogens. In a preferred method, a sample of human body fluid is obtained and subjected to analysis comprising inoculating a nutritive medium, incubating said inoculum for such time and temperature as is necessary for visible fungal colony formation, thereafter plating a sample of said visible fungi on miniature culture plates for example having the dimensions of about 33.times.75.times.5 millimeters, said plates containing differential fungal media, and thereafter identifying funal pathogens in a manner consistent with said medium selected.

Abstract: The improvement of specimen quality for microbial analysis is addressed by the present invention which discloses a chemical composition for use in a method and apparatus for transporting a specimen suspected to contain microorganisms of interest to a laboratory for analysis and improved methods of analysis.An improved method and apparatus for detecting microbial pathogens in a sample body fluid is disclosed which comprises by mixing the sample body fluid with an antimicrobial factor deactivating agent and improver of microbial quantitative integrity within the sample body fluid after it has been collected and before the microbial pathogens are analyzed. An article useful in the concentration of microbial pathogens from a sample fluid and useful in practicing the method of the subject invention is further disclosed.The method and apparatus can be utilized on all types of aqueous specimens and specimens which may be extracted in aqueous solution for analysis of microorganisms therein.

Abstract: The invention provides a specimen collection and sampling device, particularly useful for urine samples, for collecting a liquid sample and segregating an aliquot of the sample away from contact with the remaining portion of the sample. This segregation is accomplished as the lid is closed on the container. In one embodiment, the aliquot sample is transferred to an evacuated tube held within the container. In another embodiment, the aliquot is held within a sample chamber that is built into the container. In a preferred embodiment, the aliquot is mixed with a treating agent to maintain the microbiological integrity of the aliquot, or to provide an appropriate reagent or buffer for drug analysis.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed for the rapid identification of fungal pathogens. In a preferred method, a sample of human body fluid is obtained and subjected to analysis comprising inoculating a nutritive medium, incubating said inoculum for such time and temperature as is necessary for visible fungal colony formation, thereafter plating a sample of said visible fungi on miniature culture plates for example having the dimensions of about 33.times.75.times.5 millimeters, said plates containing differential fungal media, and thereafter identifying fungal pathogens in a manner consistent with said medium selected.

Abstract: A culture container having a convenient size for use under a conventional microscope stage. The container having media of a composition and amount effective to induce germ tube production in Cryptococcus. The media, which includes purified saponin, oxgall, a substrate for phenol oxidase, water and ammonia ions, is in an amount up to 5 milliliters at a depth up to 4.5 milliliters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed which provide for improved rapid quantitative analysis of a blood sample for the presence of microbial pathogens. The blood sample is lysed and deposited on a high density, water immiscible, hydrophobic, nontoxic, liquid cushioning agent and subjected to centrifugation. Microbial pathogens contained in the lysed blood sample will collect in a layer adjacent the interface of the cushioning agent and the blood sample residue and, in this concentrated form, can easily be separated from the residual portion of the blood sample for culturing and quantitative counting.

Abstract: A method for concentrating and separating microbial pathogens present in a blood sample is provided. Initially, a blood sample is injected into a closed evacuated space within an elongated centrifugation receptacle which comprises a smooth continuous surface at one end thereof. The centrifugation article is then subjected to centrifugation causing any microbial pathogens present in the blood sample to move toward the end of the elongated centrifugation receptacle which comprises the smooth continuous surface and collect thereon. After centrifugation, the major portion of the residual blood sample is removed from the centrifugation receptacle and the separated and concentrated microbial pathogens can then be removed for quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Abstract: Fungal growth media comprising a mixture of oxgall, purified saponin, a substrate for phenol oxidase and a supporting agent, such as agar, are provided which facilitate rapid identification of a variety of pathogenic fungi obtained from a sample of body fluid, for example. Specifically, the growth media of the present invention provides for the rapid differential identification of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed which provide for improved rapid quantitative analysis of a blood sample for the presence of microbial pathogens. The blood sample is lysed and deposited on a high density, water immiscible, hydrophobic, nontoxic, liquid cushioning agent and subjected to centrifugation. Microbial pathogens contained in the lysed blood sample will collect in a layer adjacent the interface of the cushioning agent and the blood sample residue and, in this concentrated form, can easily be separated from the residual portion of the blood sample for culturing and quantitative counting.

Abstract: An in vitro diagnostic technique for quantitative analysis of human sputum, such as lung fluid, for the presence of microbial pathogens is provided wherein a sputum sample is contacted with a minor quantity of nontoxic saponin to degrade the viscosity of the sputum and thereafter the sputum is thoroughly admixed to distribute microbial pathogens generally uniformly therein. The sputum can be diluted as desired and then subjected to conventional analytical techniques, i.e., plating on growth media and recording results.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing fluids especially suitable for use in laboratory tests for the detection of microbial pathogens which includes an elongated centrifugation vessel, an injectable closure, completely enclosing a treating fluid chamber, and a novel stylus which causes a sample to be admixed and commingled with a treating fluid upon injection. The treating fluid is disposed within the treating fluid chamber and a sterile aqueous solution having a greater density than a sample fluid but able to selectively receive microbial pathogens from the sample fluid is disposed within an evacuated space within the centrifugation vessel. The sample is mixed with the treating fluid when the novel stylus is injected through the injectable closure means facilitating contact of the treating fluid and the sample via an aperture or apertures longitudinally spaced along the stylus so as to be within the treating fluid chamber upon injection of the stylus.

Abstract: A mixing and centrifugation device particularly suitable for use in procedures involving detection of microbial pathogens which includes an elongated enclosed centrifugation receptacle containing an evacuated space and having an injectable closure on an end thereof with an enclosed treating fluid chamber disposed in communication and adjacent the injectable closure and separated from the evacuated space by a thin rupturable membrane. A sample treating fluid is carried within the enclosed treating fluid chamber and a sterile aqueous solution having a greater density than a sample fluid but able to selectively receive microbial pathogens from the sample fluid is disposed within the evacuated chamber.