Abstract: A presence/absence test for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) involves placing a first generation test sample in a solution that will clot in the presence of S. aureus. The solution contains components that will selectively grow S. aureus and also contains clotting factors that will react with S. aureus, if S. aureus is present in the sample, to clot the solution. Examples of specimen samples that can be tested include nasal swabs and lesion swabs, among others. The test can also be modified to detect the presence or absence of methicillin resistant S. Aureus (MRSA). The addition of micro particles having a size in the range of about 0.1 micron to about 1.0 mm provides localities where the bacteria agglomerate, thereby significantly decreasing the clotting time, and providing a significantly stronger clot. The micro particles can be used in other bacteria tests to accelerate the production of an end result.

Abstract: A presence/absence test for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) involves placing a first generation test sample in a solution that will clot in the presence of S. aureus. The solution contains components that will selectively grow S. aureus and also contains clotting factors that will react with S. aureus, if S. aureus is present in the sample, to clot the solution. Examples of specimen samples that can be tested include nasal swabs and lesion swabs, among others. The test can also be modified to detect the presence or absence of methicillin resistant S. Aureus (MRSA).

Abstract: A microbe-specific medium for detection of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci in a test sample within 24 hours and preferably within 18 hours. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and includes specific nutrient indicators which only the target microbe can significantly metabolize and use for growth. The nutrient indicator contain a nutrient moiety and a detectable moiety linked together by a covalent bond. The nutrient indicators produce detectable signals only if the nutrient indicators are hydrolyzed by the Enterococci specific enzymes including ?-glucosidase and pyrrolidonyl arylamidase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the presence or absence of a target microbe in a liquid water sample, the method consisting of a) combining a liquid water sample and a powdered medium having at least one nutrient indicator, the nutrient indicator being selected from the group consisting of: orthonitrophenyl-B-D-glucuronide; B-napthalamide-B-D-glucuronide; &agr;-napthol-B-D-glucuronide; and methylumbelliferyl-B-D-glucuronide, to form a mixture; b) incubating the mixture for a time sufficient to produce a detectable color signal indicative of the presence or absence of a target microbe; and c) observing the signal to determine the presence or absence of the target microbe in said sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting the presence or absence of a target microbe in a liquid sample, the method comprising: providing a powdered medium having one or more nutrient indicators and ingredients to support the growth of the target microbe, the one or more nutrient indicators being operable to alter a detectable characteristic in a medium/sample mixture when metabolized by the target microbes so as to confirm the presence or absence of target microbes in the sample, wherein the medium lacks a gelling agent and the medium is free of target microbes before mixing with a sample; providing a liquid sample; combining the powdered medium and the liquid sample to form a medium/sample mixture; and observing the mixture for the presence or absence of a detectable characteristic wherein the presence of the detectable characteristic results from a target microbe metabolizing a nutrient-indicator.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a predetermined target first generation environmental sourced microbe in an environmentally derived sample is determined by adding a testing medium to the sample, or vice versa. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for the target microbe and includes a specific nutrient which only the target microbe can metabolize. This specific nutrient is modified by attaching a sample-altering moiety thereto, thereby converting the nutrient to a nutrient-indicator. The sample-altering moiety is activated to alter the sample only if the specific nutrient is metabolized by the target microbe. The sample-altering moiety can be a material which changes the color of the sample (visible or non-visible) or changes an electrical characteristic of the sample, or alters some other detectable characteristic of the sample. The testing media does not have to be kept sterile, and the testing procedure does not have to be performed in a sterile environment.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a predetermined target first generation environmental sourced microbe in an environmentally derived sample is determined by adding a testing medium to the sample, or vice versa. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for the target microbe and includes a specific nutrient which only the target microbe can metabolize. This specific nutrient is modified by attaching a sample-altering moiety thereto, thereby converting the nutrient to a nutrient-indicator. The sample-altering moiety is activated to alter the sample only if the specific nutrient is metabolized by the target microbe. The sample-altering moiety can be a material which changes the color of the sample (visible or non-visible) or changes an electrical characteristic of the sample, or alters some other detectable characteristic of the sample. The testing media does not have to be kept sterile, and the testing procedure does not have to be performed in a sterile environment.

Abstract: The presence or absence of one or more target microbial analytes in a substance, such as a biological or environmental substance, is assayed by inoculating a growth medium with a sample of the substance. The medium may be combined with a labeled analyte-specific material (LASM) which can migrate through the substrate and which is homogeneously distributed throughout the medium. The LASM may be premixed with the medium, or may be added to the medium after inoculation with the substance. The nature of the medium is such that it will support target analyte reproduction so as to form target analyte colonies in or on the medium, and it will not allow the target analyte colonies to migrate on or within the medium. After the sample to be assayed is added to the medium, growth of the target analyte colonies in the sample will bind increasing quantities of the LASM, thereby creating localized intensely labeled areas in the medium which can be visually or photometrically detected.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a target microbial analyte in a substance, such as a biological or environmental substance, is assayed by inoculating a sterile growth media with a sample of the substance. The media may be combined with a labeled analyte-specific material (LASM) which can migrate through the substrate and which is homogeneously distributed throughout the media. The LASM may be premixed with the media, or may be added to the media after inoculation with the substance. The nature of the media is such that it will support target analyte reproduction so as to form target analyte colonies in or on the media, and it will not allow the target analyte colonies to migrate within the media. After the sample to be assayed is added to the media, growth of the target analyte colonies in the sample will bind increasing quantities of the LASM, thereby creating localized intensely labeled areas in the media which can be visually or photometrically detected.

Abstract: A microbe-specific medium for detection of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci in a test sample within 24 hours and preferably within 18 hours. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and includes specific nutrient indicators which only the target microbe can significantly metabolize and use for growth. The nutrient indicator contain a nutrient moiety and a detectable moiety linked together by a covalent bond. The nutrient indicators produce detectable signals only if the nutrient indicators are hydrolyzed by the Enterococci specific enzymes including &bgr;-glucosidase and pyrrolidonyl arylamidase.

Abstract: A microbe-specific medium for detection of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci in a test sample within 24 hours and preferably within 18 hours. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and includes specific nutrient indicators which only the target microbe can significantly metabolize and use for growth. The nutrient indicator contain a nutrient moiety and a detectable moiety linked together by a covalent bond. The nutrient indicators produce detectable signals only if the nutrient indicators are hydrolyzed by the Enterococci specific enzymes including &bgr;-glucosidase and pyrrolidonyl arylamidase.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a predetermined target first generation environmental sourced microbe in an environmentally derived sample is determined by adding a testing medium to the sample, or vice versa. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for the target microbe and includes a specific nutrient which only the target microbe can metabolize. This specific nutrient is modified by attaching a sample-altering moiety thereto, thereby converting the nutrient to a nutrient-indicator. The sample-altering moiety is activated to alter the sample only if the specific nutrient is metabolized by the target microbe. The sample-altering moiety can be a material which changes the color of the sample (visible or non-visible) or changes an electrical characteristic of the sample, or alters some other detectable characteristic of the sample. The testing media does not have to be kept sterile, and the testing procedure does not have to be performed in a sterile environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a target microbe-specific medium for detecting the presence or absence of a target microbe in an environmental or biological sample, the medium including: a) an effective amount of vitamin, amino acid, element and salt ingredients operable to allow viability and log phase reproduction of the target microbe in the presence of a nutrient-indicator and to aid the target microbe through lag phase and into log phase of growth in the sample; and b) an effective amount of a nutrient-indicator which is provided in an amount sufficient to support log phase growth of the target microbe of a sample until a detectable characteristic signal is produced in the medium/sample mixture during the log phase growth; the nutrient-indicator being incapable of supporting continued logarithmic growth of any viable non-target microbes in the medium/sample mixture to produce a detectable characteristic signal; and the nutrient-indicator being operable to alter a detectable characteristic of the medium/sample m

Abstract: The presence or absence of a predetermined target first generation environmental sourced microbe in an environmentally derived sample is determined by adding a testing medium to the sample, or vice versa. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for the target microbe and includes a specific nutrient which only the target microbe can significantly metabolize and use for growth This specific nutrient is modified by attaching a sample-altering moiety thereto, thereby converting the nutrient to a nutrient-indicator. The sample-altering moiety is activated to alter the sample only if the specific nutrient is metabolized by the target microbe. The sample-altering moiety can be a material which changes the color of the sample (visable or non-visable) or changes an electrical characteristic of the sample, or alters some other detectable characteristic of the sample.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a predetermined target microbe in a sample is determined by adding a testing medium to the sample, or vice versa. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for the target microbe and includes a specific nutrient which only the target microbe can metabolize. This specific nutrient is modified by attaching a sample-altering moiety thereto, thereby converting the nutrient to a nutrient-indicator. The sample-altering moiety is activated to alter the sample only if the specific nutrient is metabolized by the target microbe. The sample-altering moiety can be a material which changes the color of the sample (visible or non-visible) or changes an electrical characteristic of the sample, or alters some other detectable characteristic of the sample. The testing media does not have to be kept sterile, and the testing procedure does not have to be performed in a sterile environment.