Method and apparatus for the identification of microorganisms

Claim 1

MEANS USEFUL TO IDENTIFY A MICROOGANISM THROUGH A CHANGE IN ABSORBENT BY THE REACTION OR NONREACTION OF THE MICROORGANISM WITH A CARBOHYDRATE COMPRISING: A. AN ESSENTIALLY FLAT SHEET OF ABSORBENT MATERIAL ADAPTED TO BE PLACE ONTO THE TOP SURFACE OF A CULTURE MEDIUM CNTAINING A MICROOGANISM WHERE IDENITY IS TO BE DETERMINED; B. THE ABSORBENT MATERIAL FREE OF RESTRICTION ON AT LEAST ONE SURFACE THEREOF AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF DISTINCT AND SEPARATE TEST ZONES THEREON IN A SUFFICIENT NUMBER SUCH THAT THE MICROORGANISM CAN BE IDENTIFIED; C. EACH TEST ZONE CONTAINING ABSORBED THEREON IN COMBINATION A CARBOHYDRATE AND A PH COLOR INDICATOR OF PHENOL RED, WHICH INDICATOR CHANGED COLOR ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF THE TEST ZONE ON THE FERMENT A THE MICROORGANISM; AND D. THE INDICATOR EMPOLYED IN EACH TEST ZONE BEING THE SAID PHENOL RED AND THE CARBOHYDRATE IN EACH TEST ZONE A DIFFERENT CARBOHYDRATE, WHEREBY THE ABSORBENT SHEET MAY BE PLACED ON TOP OF A CULTURE MEDIUM CONTAINING A MICROORGANISM IN A CULTURE PLATE, AND THE CHANGE IN COLOR AMD LACK OF COLOR CHANGE ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF THE TEST ZONES USED TO IDENTIFY THE PRESSURE OR ABSENCE OF A PARTICULAR MICROORGANISM.

Claim 8

A method of identifying a microorganism in a culture medium, which method comprises: a. placing into contacting engagement onto the top surface of a culture medium containing or suspected of containing the microorganism where identity is to be determined an essentially flat absorbent sheet material, the sheet material having a plurality of distinct and separate test zones thereon in a sufficient number such that the microorganism can be identified, each test zone containing a substrate and a pH indicaTor which, on reaction between the microorganism in the culture medium and the various substrates in the test zones, causes a change in color of the indicator about the periphery of the test zones, or no change in color by nonreaction, the test zones all having the same pH indicator and different substrates; b. incubating the culture medium and the sheet material with the test zones for a period of time to permit the reaction or nonreaction of the microorganism with the substrates in the test zones; and c. observing the change in color, if any, about the periphery of each test zone as a means for identification of the microorganism.

Claim 9

A method of identifying a microorganism in a culture medium, which method comprises: a. placing into contacting engagement onto the top surface of a culture medium containing or suspected of containing the microorganism where identity is to be determined an essentially flat absorbent sheet material, the sheet material having a plurality of distinct and separate test zones thereon in a sufficient number such that the microorganism can be identified, each test zone containing a substrate and a pH indicaTor which, on reaction between the microorganism in the culture medium and the various substrates in the test zones, causes a change in color of the indicator about the periphery of the test zones, or no change in color by nonreaction, the test zones all having the same pH indicator and different substrates; b. incubating the culture medium and the sheet material with the test zones for a period of time to permit the reaction or nonreaction of the microorganism with the substrates in the test zones; and c. observing the change in color, if any, about the periphery of each test zone as a means for identification of the microorganism.