Johnston Laboratories, Inc.

Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

John R Waters

Rodney L Broman

Joseph E Ahnell

Dennis Buda

A nutrient culture medium which isolates antibiotics and other microbial growth inhibitors during culturing of a microorganism is shown. The culture medium includes an aqueous dispersion of nutrient materials and an effective amount of an isolating substance or substances capable of isolating antimicrobial materials during culturing of a microorganism. The isolating substances are selected from ion exchange resins and non-functional adsorbent resins.

Culture medium and method for culturing body fluids containing

A vacuum blood collection system is provided. The blood collection system contains an evacuated sample collection container which is open at both ends. One end of the container is closed by a self-sealing puncturable stopper adapted to be penetrated by one end of a double ended needle. The other end of the collection container is closed by a slidable sealing stopper affixed to a plunger to provide a piston assembly. The blood collection system also includes restraining means to prevent premature movement of the slidable sealing stopper and may contain a temporary seal to prevent movement of the piston assembly prior to the need for removing the blood specimen from the collection container.

Device and method for drawing a blood sample

A method of detections biological activity is disclosed. A nutrient growth medium which isolates antibiotics and other microbial growth inhibitors during culturing of a microorganism. The growth medium includes an aqueous dispersion of nutrient materials and an effective amount of an isolating substance or substances capable of isolating antimicrobial materials during culturing of a microorganism. The isolating substances are selected from ion exchange resins and non-functional adsorbent resins.

Method for detecting biological activity in a body fluid

A sample of material to be tested for the presence of biologically active agents, such as bacteria, is introduced into a sealable container partially filled with a culture medium comprising a .sup.13 C-labeled fermentable substrate, the remainder of the container being filled with a culture gas, the container and its contents are subjected to conditions conducive to biological activity for a predetermined period sufficient for fermentation of the medium to produce carbon dioxide after which the ratio of .sup.13 CO.sub.2 to .sup.12 CO.sub.2 in the culture gas in the container is determined and compared to the initial ratio of .sup.13 CO.sub.2 to .sup.12 CO.sub.2 in the culture gas in order to detect any differences indicating the presence of biologically active agents in the sample.

Method for detecting the presence of biologically active agents

A sample of material to be tested for the presence of biologically active agents, such as bacteria, is introduced into a sealable container partially filled with a culture medium; the remainder of the container being filled with a culture gas, the container and its contents are subjected to conditions conducive to biological activity for a predetermined period sufficient for fermentation of the medium to produce at least one gaseous product after which the character of the culture gas in the container is determined and compared to the initial character of the culture gas in order to detect any differences caused by changes in the composition of the culture gas indicating the presence or absence of biologically active agents in the sample.

A method of measuring the level of an aminoglycoside antibiotic, such as gentamicin, tobramycin or amikacin, in blood serum or plasma comprising incubating an aliquot of blood serum or plasma from a human patient being treated with an aminoglycoside antibiotic in a urea-containing culture medium with a susceptible strain of an adaptive urease producing microorganism corresponding to Proteus rettgeri JLI 03, ATCC No. 31168.

Microbiological assay of aminoglycoside antibiotics

A method for characterization of biological activity comprising providing a plurality of gas-tight cells each having a light-permeable wall section, each cell containing a different .sup.14 C-labeled fermentable substrate, a carbon dioxide absorber and a scintillation compound in intimate proximity to each other remote from said substrate, and an axenic sample of a biologically active material; subjecting said cells to conditions conducive to biological activity and thereafter measuring the light emitted by the scintillation compound as a result of the decay of .sup.14 CO.sub.2 generated by the metabolic action of the biologically active agent in said sample on said substrate and captured by the carbon dioxide absorber. Apparatus is provided comprising a plurality of sterile chambers containing different .sup.14 C-labeled fermentable substrates, means to facilitate introduction of an axenic sample of a biologically active agent into each chamber, means for sealing each chamber to form a gas-tight cell having a light-permeable wall section, and a carbon dioxide absorber and a scintillation compound in intimate proximity to each other in each cell adjacent the light-permeable wall section.

Method and apparatus for characterizing biologically active agents

A sample of materials such as blood, urine, spinal fluid, or the like to be tested for the presence of biological activity is placed into a first sterile container with a suitable growth medium which includes a .sup.14 C carbon containing carbon source (such as .sup.14 C substituted glucose) which is fermentable to produce gaseous .sup.14 CO.sub.2. This first container is placed within a second container which also contains CO.sub.2 -absorbing material associated with a scintillation compound. The gaseous .sup.14 CO.sub.2 generated in the first container diffuses into the outer container where it is absorbed and held in contact with the scintillation compound. The decay of .sup.14 C will cause the scintillation compounds to emit light flashes which can be detected by a scintillation counter. Thus, the presence of .sup.14 CO.sub.2 is detected in the same container in which the reaction is taking place.

Method and apparatus for detecting biological activity

A sample of material such as blood, urine, spinal fluid, or the like to be tested for the presence of biological activity is placed into a sterile container together with a suitable growth medium which includes a C.sup.14 carbon containing carbon source (such as C.sup.14 substituted glucose) which is fermentable to produce gaseous C.sup.14 O.sub.2. An incubator is provided for exposing the container and its contents to conditions conducive to growth. After a suitable incubation period, a portion of the gaseous atmosphere in the container is withdrawn and analyzed in gaseous form in an ionization chamber for the presence of radioactivity. Valve and conduit means are provided for analyzing a number of samples sequentially.

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Towson, MD, United States of America

John R Waters