Provided are cell plate inserts that include an interior lip and legs on a bottom side. The cell plate inserts can have a diameter that provides a snug fit within a cell plate or well. The cell plate inserts can include a cell support membrane disposed on an interior lip of the cell plate insert. The cell plate inserts can be included in systems for cell co-culture, where cells cultured in a top chamber formed by the cell plate insert do not infiltrate cells cultured in a bottom chamber formed by the cell plate insert.

Provided are cell plate inserts that include an interior lip and legs on a bottom side. The cell plate inserts can have a diameter that provides a snug fit within a cell plate or well. The cell plate inserts can include a cell support membrane disposed on an interior lip of the cell plate insert. The cell plate inserts can be included in systems for cell co-culture, where cells cultured in a top chamber formed by the cell plate insert do not infiltrate cells cultured in a bottom chamber formed by the cell plate insert.

The invention provides a device for growing cells—referred to as a cassette. The cell culturing device includes a housing that contains a lid having an optically clear window; a fluid distribution channel; a sample injection port fluidically connected to the fluid distribution channel; a base housing a porous media pad; and a media injection port fluidically connected to the media pad. The lid mates to the base to form a sterile seal; the fluid distribution channel is disposed over the media pad, which is viewable through the optical window; and sample fluid introduced into the fluid distribution channel is distributed evenly to the media pad, e.g., via a plurality of channels. The invention also provides kits that include cassettes of the invention and a tube set.

A microorganism culture sheet is provided which can limit the use of a costly cultivation material to a necessary portion, which has simple production at the time of manufacture, and can be simply and stably used by a user. The microorganism culture sheet of the present invention is a microorganism culture sheet comprising a base sheet, a culture layer formed on top of the base sheet, and a cover sheet that covers the culture layer, and the culture layer is pattern-formed with an application liquid comprising a polyvinylpyrrolidone and at least on selected from the group consisting of a gelling agent, a nutrient component, a color indicator, a selective agent and a substrate.

The present invention relates to systems and methods involving interconnected plate components, including bases, lids and covers, interconnected in a manner such that a continuous strip of each component is prepared. The continuous strips may be stored as rollstock in a reel style. The physical properties of each continuous strip allow the base, lid and/or cover to include means for positive control. In one embodiment, the continuous strip of bases is advanced and processed through an automated system with positive control, and remains in the form of a continuous strip until agar in the bases is cured, at which time the bases are singulated. When a lid is applied to a base using methods described herein, an airtight seal is formed improving the quality of culture media used in testing.

In some aspects, the invention relates to selectively permeable cell culture vessel storage containers and their methods of use. In some embodiments, the containers comprise a gas-permeable membrane that is selectively impermeable to water vapor.

In some aspects, the invention relates to selectively permeable cell culture vessel storage containers and their methods of use. In some embodiments, the containers comprise a gas-permeable membrane that is selectively impermeable to water vapor.

The present disclosure describes systems and methods for centering a circular object, such as a petri dish, between a plurality of pins. For example, in one embodiment, a method comprises placing a circular object on a rotatable platform surrounded by three moveable pins. In order to roughly center the circular object, the method further comprises moving, for a first time, all of the pins toward the circular object until at least two out of the three pins are touching the circular object. In order to more accurately center the circular object, the method further comprises: moving all of the pins away from the circular object so that it can be rotated without substantial inference; rotating the platform approximately 60 degrees, wherein rotating the platform causes the circular object to also rotate by approximately 60 degrees; and moving, for a second time, all of the pins toward the circular object.

An apparatus for dispensing microorganism culture plates, culture plate loader and culture plate reader comprising the same, as well as method dispensing microorganism culture plates, method of loading such culture plates into a culture plate reader, and method of counting microorganism colonies on such culture plates.

A pack includes at least one stack with Petri dishes which extends in a longitudinal direction, a connecting device which holds the at least one stack together, and an outer packaging which surrounds the at least one stack and which can be opened to remove the at least one stack.