Device for the lysis of microorganisms present in an environmental or clinical sample and the extraction of nucleic acids from said microorganisms for analysis

A cartridge which can be positioned inside an air collection device and receive a means for recovering nucleic acids, said cartridge being substantially cylindrical and having an upper end and lower end, said cartridge comprising a microorganism retaining zone, said retaining zone comprising microorganism lysis means for lysing the microorganisms, wherein

• the upper end of the cartridge is open,
• the lower end is constituted of a wall, having, in its center, an orifice, there being, along an extension of said orifice, a duct extending, inside said cartridge, and
• the microorganism retaining zone comprises a material configured to retain the microorganisms, configured to keep the lysis means in place, and configured to dissolve in the presence of a liquid to release the lysis means from the material.