Abstract: A calibrator bottle and method of calibration. The calibrator bottle includes a plastic material that is doped or compounded with a fluorescent material system that fluoresces in a target range and may be used to calibrate a blood culture instrument that measures sample fluorescence to determine bottle positivity or negativity. Also described herein is a system and method to control the temperature of samples in a blood culture apparatus using a resistance temperature device (RTD) device that measures the temperature of the sample. The sample measurements are correlated with the ambient temperature to determine an ambient temperature that will provide a target bottle content temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and monitoring blood culture bottles. The apparatus has a moveable rack configured as a drum having a plurality of receptacles therein for receiving blood culture bottles. The drum is disposed in a housing. The housing includes a heater and a blower for incubating the blood culture bottles at elevated temperatures. Optionally the apparatus has a plurality of drums, each having a plurality of receptacles for receiving blood culture bottles.

Abstract: A multi-port disposable device that can both vent a sealed culture vessel and draw a sample therefrom into a collection vessel. The multi-port disposable device has a first port configured to receive the top portion of a culture vessel and attach thereto. The multi-port disposable device has a second port configured to receive a sample collection vessel. The multi-port disposable device has first and second needles. The first needle has a cannula configured to penetrate a septum or cap of the culture vessel. Optionally, the cannula terminates in a layer of foam that carries a microbial agent such that any vapor that is transmitted from the culture vessel through the cannula when venting the sealed culture vessel is absorbed by the foam. Optionally, the ports of the disposable device are configured as sleeves. The sleeve of the first port receives a portion of the culture vessel and the sleeve of the second port receives the collection vessel.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure describe a diversion device that traps an initial flow of blood in a diversion chamber of the diversion device. The diversion device comprises a housing having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit; a diversion chamber that comprises a flow path defined by a channel or series of channels that terminate in a diversion chamber valve; a collected sample valve; and bypass flow chamber positioned within the housing, wherein the collected sample valve is configured to permit subsequent flow of fluid to enter the bypass flow chamber, and the bypass flow chamber is configured to permit the subsequent flow of fluid to exit the diversion device. The diversion chamber valve allows air, but not blood, to flow through it.

Abstract: An automated system for identifying in a biological sample microorganisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility (AST). The system provided an automated platform for preparing, from a single biological sample, inoculates for both ID and AST. The system loads a plate for ID testing as samples are being prepared for AST testing. The system tracks the sample and the inoculates from the samples to link the test results to the sample and the patients from whom the sample was obtained.

Abstract: An automated system for identifying in a biological sample microorganisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility (AST). The system provided an automated platform for preparing, from a single biological sample, inoculates for both ID and AST. The system loads a plate for ID testing as samples are being prepared for AST testing. The system tracks the sample and the inoculates from the samples to link the test results to the sample and the patients from whom the sample was obtained.

Abstract: An automated system for identifying in a biological sample microorganisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility (AST). The system provided an automated platform for preparing, from a single biological sample, inoculates for both ID and AST. The system loads a plate for ID testing as samples are being prepared for AST testing. The system tracks the sample and the inoculates from the samples to link the test results to the sample and the patients from whom the sample was obtained.

Abstract: An automated system for identifying in a biological sample microorganisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility (AST). The system provided an automated platform for preparing, from a single biological sample, inoculates for both ID and AST. The system loads a plate for ID testing as samples are being prepared for AST testing. The system tracks the sample and the inoculates from the samples to link the test results to the sample and the patients from whom the sample was obtained.

Abstract: An automated system for identifying in a biological sample microorganisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility (AST). The system provided an automated platform for preparing, from a single biological sample, inoculates for both ID and AST. The system loads a plate for ID testing as samples are being prepared for AST testing. The system tracks the sample and the inoculates from the samples to link the test results to the sample and the patients from whom the sample was obtained.

Abstract: An automated system for identifying in a biological sample microorganisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility (AST). The system provided an automated platform for preparing, from a single biological sample, inoculates for both ID and AST. The system loads a plate for ID testing as samples are being prepared for AST testing. The system tracks the sample and the inoculates from the samples to link the test results to the sample and the patients from whom the sample was obtained.

Abstract: A rules system for creating rules to an expert system is provided, the rules system providing a user-friendly, guided process for creating such rules.

Abstract: A rules system for creating rules to an expert system is provided, the rules system providing a user-friendly, guided process for creating such rules.