Apparatus and method for dispensing microorganism culture plates

A culture plate dispensing apparatus comprising

• a base having a first major surface, a front edge, and a back edge, the base comprising a roller or series of rollers;
• a pusher on or above the first major surface of the base, the pusher being capable of moving from a retracted position to an engaged position, the retracted position being closer to the back edge than the engaged position;
• the pusher and base being configured such that when the pusher is in the retracted position the base is capable of supporting one or more culture plates on top of the first major surface of the base, the one or more culture plates having a back edge positionable near the pusher and a slip cover positionable over the pusher when the pusher is in a retracted position;
• an upright member positioned at least in part above a portion of the base near the front edge of the base to form a space between the upright member and the base, the space between the upright member and the base defining a precision gap large enough for a culture plate to pass through;
• wherein the precision gap is at least the height of the one or more culture plates and less than twice the height of the one or more culture plates;
• and
• wherein the pusher is adapted to push one and only one culture plate at least partially through the precision gap when it is moved from the retracted position to the engaged position, wherein the one or more culture plates are thin film culture plates.