Microbial culture apparatus

A microbial culture apparatus for providing an anaerobic gaseous atmosphere around a culture retaining container comprising

• (a) an anaerobic gassing and indicator apparatus including a first open top receptacle having a bottom wall and upstanding side wall means, a first cover having a top wall and depending flange means adapted to extend downwardly along the side wall means of the first receptacle, divider means in the first receptacle defining a first open top compartment at one area of the bottom wall and a second open top compartment at a second area of the bottom wall of the first receptacle, a first rupturable container in the first compartment containing material for providing a gaseous atmosphere, a second rupturable container in the second compartment containing a redox color indicator liquid, first interengaging detent means on the side wall means of the first receptacle and flange means of the first cover for releasably retaining the cover in a first position on the first receptacle with the top wall of the cover spaced above the divider means of the receptacle a distance to retain the first and second rupturable containers in their respective first and second compartments without rupturing the first and second rupturable containers, the first interengaging detent means being releasable in response to downward pressure on the first cover to allow the cover to move down to a second position on the first receptacle, means operative in response to movement of the first cover from its first to its second position on the first receptacle for rupturing said first and second rupturable containers, and vent means for venting the first and second compartments when the first cover is in its second position,
• (b) outer enclosure means including a second receptacle having a bottom wall and upstanding side wall means and of a size to receive said anaerobic gassing and indicator apparatus at one area of the bottom wall and to receive a culture retaining container at another area of the bottom wall, a second cover having a top wall and depending flange means adapted to extend downwardly along the side wall means of the second receptacle, second interengaging detent means on the side wall means of the second receptacle and flange means of the second cover for releasably retaining the second cover in a first position on the second receptacle with the top wall of the second cover spaced above the bottom wall of the second receptacle a distance to retain said anaerobic gassing and indicating apparatus at said one area of the bottom wall of the second receptacle without depressing the first cover on the anaerobic gassing and indicating apparatus, the second interengaging detent means being releasable in response to downward pressure on the second cover to allow the second cover to move down to a second position, means responsive to movement of the second cover from its first to its second positions for depressing the first cover on the anaerobic gassing and indicator apparatus sufficient to move the latter to its second position, and means on the second cover and the second receptacle engageable when the second cover is in its second position for sealing the second cover to the second receptacle.