Automatic test apparatus for antimicrobial drugs

An automatic test apparatus for use in a test method for detection of antimicrobial drugs in a sample, which test apparatus comprises:

• a) a lower metal heating block having a plurality of openings therein for the insertion and holding of one or more test containers to be heated and cooled with a sample therein;
• b) electrical heating means to heat rapidly the heating block, so that one or more of the test containers and samples therein will be heated rapidly to one or more selected temperatures for a defined time period;
• c) an upper metal cooling block to cool rapidly the heated heating block with one or more of the test containers and samples therein to a selected cool temperature, the cooling block having a plurality of openings therethrough which openings are aligned with the plurality of openings of the heating block for the insertion of one or more test containers therethrough and into the openings of the lower heating block, the cooling block being of sufficient mass to cool rapidly the heating block, when the two blocks are placed in a contacting heat exchange relationship;
• d) means to move the heating and cooling blocks between a separate, spaced apart, generally horizontal heating position wherein an electrical heating means heats the heating block with one or more test containers therein, to one or more selected heating temperatures, while the heating block is spaced apart from the cooling block, and a contacting, tilted, heat exchange, cooling position wherein the heating block, with one or more test containers therein and extending through the aligned opening in the upper cooling block, is cooled to a selected cool temperature by sliding in the tilted position into direct contact heat exchange with the cooling block, which is at a lower temperature than the heating block;
• and
• e) electrical circuitry and programming means to provide for the automatic, timed, sequential heating of the heating block to one or more defined heating temperatures and which includes signal means to signal the timed periods for movement of the heating and cooling blocks by the user between the heating and cooling positions.