Agglomerated microbiological media

A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium, the method comprising:

• introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber;
• wherein the nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism;
• wherein the agglomeration liquid is introduced as an atomized spray;
• wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles;
• and
• exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium;
• and
• isolating a subpopulation of the particles having a size distribution range being about 149 microns to 1000 microns.
• The method of claim 13, wherein the agglomeration liquid consists of water.