Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

Laurence R McCarthy

Joseph E Ahnell

Mark L Sussman

H Mark Perks

A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of biological activity in a sample of material. In the method, a sample of the material is placed in a closed container with a growth medium which includes a carbon source which may be metabolized to produce carbon dioxide. The medium with the sample therein is exposed to conditions conducive to the occurrence of normal metabolic process for a period of time sufficient to cause production of CO.sub.2 by the metabolism of the carbon source. Thereafter, the presence of CO.sub.2 in the gaseous atmosphere above the medium is detected by measuring the infrared absorbance of the gaseous atmosphere with the container by passing an infrared beam through the container and the gaseous atmosphere and detecting the infrared absorbance of the gaseous atmosphere.

Detection of the presence of biological activity in a sealed container

A method for identification of a microorganism includes combining in a suitable fluid the microorganism and a latex containing a particle coated with about 1 to 150 .mu.g per ml of latex of a lectin specific for the microorganism. Binding of the microorganism and lectin causes agglutination which is detected. The microorganism is identified by the agglutination as that organism which is specific for the lectin. The invention includes a reagent which may be included with other materials in a kit of materials useful for performing the method of the invention.

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Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Laurence R McCarthy