Method and apparatus for detecting biological activity

An apparatus for the analysis of materials, said apparatus comprising:

• a first container adapted to receive a sample of said material together with a growth medium including a .sup.14 C carbon containing carbon source which is fermentable to produce .sup.14 CO.sub.2, said first container having removable sealing means operable to mantain a sterile environment within said first container;
• a second container adapted to receive said first container, whereby said first container occupies a substantial portion of the available space within said second container;
• closure means operable to seal said second container;
• means for exposing the medium and sample in said first and second containers to conditions conducive to the occurrence of normal metabolic processes;
• a paper disposed within the occupied portion of said second container, said paper having deposited thereon a .sup.14 CO.sub.2 absorbing compound and a scintillation compound, whereby the radioactivity of said .sup.14 CO.sub.2 causes said scintillation compound to emit light flashes;
• and
• means for detecting the light emissions from said scintillation compound.

An apparatus for the analysis of materials, said apparatus comprising:

• a first container adapted to receive a sample of said material together with a growth medium including a .sup.14 C carbon containing carbon source which is fermentable to produce .sup.14 CO.sub.2 ;
• a second container adapted to receive said first container;
• closure means adapted to seal said second container;
• and
• transparent absorbing means for absorbing .sup.14 CO.sub.2 and
• a scintillation compound disposed within said second container, said absorbing means being positioned to keep the absorbed .sup.14 CO.sub.2 in close proximity with said scintillation compound whereby the radioactivity of said absorbed .sup.14 CO.sub.2 causes said scintillation compound to emit light flashes.

An apparatus for the analysis of materials, said apparatus comprising:

• a first container adapted to receive a sample of said material together with a growth medium including a .sup.14 C carbon containing carbon source which is fermentable to produce .sup.14 CO.sub.2 ;
• a second container adapted to receive said first container;
• closure means adapted to seal said second container;
• means for exposing the medium and sample in said first and second containers to conditions conducive to the occurrence of normal metabolic processes;
• transparent absorbing means for absorbing .sup.14 CO.sub.2 and a scintillation compound disposed within said second container, said absorbing means being positioned to keep the absorbed .sup.14 CO.sub.2 in close proximity with said scintillation compound whereby the radiocactivity of said absorbed .sup.14 CO.sub.2 causes said scintillation compound to emit light flashes;
• and
• means for detecting the light emissions from said scintillation compound.

A method for analyzing a material for the presence of biological activity, said method comprising:

• placing a sample of said material into a first container together with a growth medium including a .sup.14 C carbon containing carbon source which is fermentable to produce .sup.14 CO.sub.2 ;
• placing said first container into a second container, said second container also having disposed therein a transparent .sup.14 CO.sub.2 absrobing absorbing in close proximity with a scintillation compound;
• sealing the thus formed assembly by placing a cap over the opening of said second container;
• subjecting the assembly and thereby the medium and the sample therein to conditions conducive to the occurrence of normal metabolic processes for a period of time sufficient to cause production of .sup.14 CO.sub.2 by the fermentation of said source;
• thus absorbing the gaseous .sup.14 CO.sub.2 on said transparent absorbing material;
• and
• detecting the light emissions from said scintillation compound with a scintillation counter.