Combination air sampling cassette and nutrient media dish

A combination air sampling cassette and nutrient media plate for the collection of viable microorganisms from ambient air, said apparatus comprising:

• a base member having a bottom with a center, an interior bottom surface, and a contiguous side with an upper edge;
• support means for locating and supporting a nutrient media dish above said interior bottom surface;
• a removable nutrient media dish having a bottom, said nutrient media dish positioned by said support means and having a circumferential side with an upper edge, wherein said circumferential side, said contiguous side of said base member, said dish bottom, and said interior surface of said base member are each spaced apart so as to define an air passageway;
• an orifice plate having an underside and a plurality of apertures, said orifice plate in sealing arrangement with said contiguous side of said base member, said orifice plate underside positioned on said upper edge of said contiguous side of said base member, and configured such that said orifice plate, said base member side, and said circumferential side of said removable culture media dish define an air exit gap, which places said culture media dish in fluid communication with said air passageway, wherein the apertures of said orifice plate place said culture media dish and the ambient air into fluid communication;
• an air outlet port integral with said base, said outlet port in fluid communication with said air passageway and adapted for connection to a suction pump;
• and
• a removable cover for placement over said cassette and constructed so as to prevent air from entering into the cassette.

A combination air sampling cassette and nutrient media dish, comprising:

• a base member having a bottom;
• an outer side;
• an interior partition having an upper edge, said partition integral with said base member and spaced apart from said outer side so as to define an integral culture media dish portion and an air passageway between said interior partition and said outer side;
• a removable cover for placement over said cassette;
• an orifice plate for removable coupling with said base member, said orifice plate having an underside, an integral side extending above said upper edge of said internal partition when said orifice plate is coupled with said base member, and a plurality of apertures, and coupling means for coupling said orifice plate to said base member, wherein when said orifice plate is coupled to said base member, said orifice plate is interposed between base member and said cover when said cover is on, and said underside of said orifice plate and said internal partition define an air exit gap, thereby placing said culture media dish portion in fluid communication with said air passageway, wherein said plurality of apertures of said orifice plate place said culture media dish and the ambient air into fluid communication;
• and
• an air outlet port in fluid communication with said air passageway and adapted for connection to a suction pump;
• wherein said outlet port is disposed outwardly form said orifice plate side.

A combination air sampling cassette and nutrient media plate, comprising:

• a base member having a bottom and a base member side with an upper edge;
• an interior partition having an upper edge, said partition integral with said base member and spaced apart from said base member side so as to define an integral culture media dish portion and an air passageway between said interior partition and said base member side;
• a selectively removable orifice plate having an integral side, and underside, and a plurality of apertures, said orifice plate adapted for connection to said base member side such that said base member side and said orifice plate side combine to have a height greater than the height of the upper edge of said interior partition, wherein said underside of said orifice plate and said upper edge of said interior partition define an air exit gap between said underside of said orifice plate and said interior partition upper edge, thus placing said culture media dish portion in fluid communication with said air passageway, and wherein the apertures of said orifice plate place said culture media dish and the ambient air into fluid communication;
• a removable cover for placement over said cassette and constructed so as to prevent air from entering into the cassette;
• and
• an air outlet port, said outlet port in fluid communication with said air passageway and adapted for connection to a suction pump.