Abstract: A microorganism culture tray (10) including a cover (11) and base (12) are described. The base and cover have polygonal preferably hexagonal, walls (14, 15) which allow the cover to be mounted on the base either opening a recess (17) or closing the recess.

Abstract: A dry, powdered culture medium for use in repair of microbial cells is described. The method involves combining fatty acids, an emulsifier and a carbon source to form a powder which is then mixed with a nutrient medium, yeast extract, an antioxidant and a buffering salt as a dry powder. Preferably the ingredients are milled together.

Abstract: An immunoassay process is provided for the detection of a target antigen in a fluid sample where an admixture of the target antigen and a labeled capture reagent against the target antigen is contacted by a solid polymeric carrier having bound to a portion of its surface a capture reagent against the target antigen and visual determination of a change in color of the bound labeled reaction product on the surface of the solid carrier member serves to readily detect the presence of the target antigen.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition useful for stabilizing diagnostic reagent which functions to react with a specimen to determine the presence or absence of a biological condition comprising about 0.01 to 35 parts by weight protein or peptide and either (A) about 1 to 90 parts by weight of a saccharide polyol selected from the group consisting of corn syrup and dextrose and optionally up to about 25 parts by weight of a pyrrol, or (B) about 1 to 90 parts by weight of a saccharide polyol and about 0.01 to 25 parts by weight of a pyrrol. Also disclosed is a method of stabilizing such diagnostic reagents comprising using the stabilizing composition, and a diagnositc device comprising a non-absorbent base carrying at least one deposition area in which is carried the evaporative residue of such diagnostic reagent and the stabilizing composition.