Abstract: The present invention describes a method and devices for the simultaneous detection, recovery identification and counting of a plurality of microorganisms consisting in providing mixtures of nutrients specially selected from those that curtail the lag phase of growth in bacteria and moulds and which, together with fluorescent enzymatic, chromogenic or bioluminescent markers and other nutrient components or growth inhibitors, are embedded in three-dimensional structures or natural or artificial clays or ceramics with cavities of different dimensions and forms and specific surface areas of between 2×103 and 6×108 m2/m3.