Method of and apparatus for collecting cultures

Apparatus for collecting cultures and the like, said apparatus comprising:

• a hollow tubular container having a closed end, an open end and sides extending therebetween;
• a culture-sustaining medium positioned within said tubular container adjacent said closed end;
• a swab including an elongated member and an absorbent tip extending into said tubular container;
• a movable piston member extending across said tubular container within said container and means associated therewith in sealing engagement with said sides, said piston member being movable through said culture-sustaining liquid toward said closed end when said swab is in pushing contact with said piston member, said piston member including a valve means for allowing said culture-sustaining medium to enter the area between said open end and said piston member when said swab is in pushing contact with said piston member;
• and
• means associated with said piston member within said container for forming a leak-proof chamber capable of enclosing at least a portion of said swab including said tip, said chamber adapted to contain a culture-sustaining medium which has passed through said valve means.

An improved method of collecting cultures in a live condition utilizing an apparatus comprising a collection tube having sides and a bottom, a culture-sustaining liquid adjacent the bottom of said tube, a swab including an elongated member having an absorbent tip, and barrier means extending across said tube above said liquid, said barrier means having an opening therein, the improved method comprising the steps of:

• swabbing an area of culturable material with the absorbent swabbing tip of the swab;
• inserting the swab into the tube;
• forcing the absorbent tip of the swab through the opening of the barrier means so as to permit the liquid to saturate the tip;
• forming a substantially leak-proof seal at said opening around said swab;
• and
• introducing culture-sustaining liquid into contact with the absorbent swabbing tip while said swab remains substantially stationary with respect to said opening.