Microbiological test panel and method therefor

• US 5,922,593 A
• Filed: 05/23/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Livingston, Dwight
• Primary Examiner(s): Beisner, William H.
• Application Number:
  US08/863,045
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 435/29, 435/30, 435/33, 435/40, 435/287.7, 435/288.5, 435/288.4, 435/288.7, 435/305.2, 435/305.3, 435/309.1, 422/58, 422/61, 422/102-104, 422/100, 436/165, 436/180
• US Class Current: 435/288.5
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates

Abstract

A microbiological test panel assembly used in microorganism identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility determinations (AST) testing is provided. The microbiological test panel assembly includes a plurality of test wells segregated into two sections. The test wells of each section are adapted to receive reagents capable of causing reactions used in performing ID and AST testing. The reagents enter the respective sections through fill ports and flow down a passageway of the test panel assembly in a serpentine manner filling all the test wells.

Claims

1. A microbiological test panel assembly, comprising:

a base comprising a planar surface having a plurality of translucent cups extending from a first side of said planar surface, and a side wall extending from said first side in the same direction as said cups;

a chassis comprising a planar surface having a plurality of open-ended tubes formed on a first side of said chassis, a bottom end of each said tube located on said planar surface, a top end of each said tube having an indented portion for engaging a respective one of said translucent cups so as to form a well when said chassis is press-fit into said base to form a chassis-base subassembly, said chassis also comprising a plurality of raised passage walls on a second side of said planar surface, said passage walls forming a passageway over the openings at the bottom ends of the tubes, one end of the passageway having an opening to allow an inoculum to pass through said passageway, the other end of the passageway having an opening to allow excess inoculum to a reservoir formed at a first end of said chassis, said chassis also comprising an air communication port between said first side and said second side of said planar surface of said chassis, said air communication port formed as an open-ended tube extending from said second side of said planar surface; and

a lid attached to said chassis-base subassembly over said second side of said chassis so as cover said chassis-base assembly, said lid comprising a planar surface for covering said plurality of wells, and a fill port at a first end of said lid for receiving the inoculum into said passageway.

2. A microbiological test panel assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for mounting said test panel assembly onto a testing apparatus.

3. A microbiological test panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of wells are arranged in an array.

4. A microbiological test panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the passageway is arranged over the openings at the bottom ends of the tubes of said chassis in a serpentine fashion.

5. A microbiological test panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said passage walls have a stepped rail formed thereon, so that a drain gap is formed between said planar surface of the lid and said passageway when said lid is attached to said chassis-base subassembly.

6. A microbiological test panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said indented portion of each said tube of said chassis has formed thereon a plurality of ribs extending in the same direction as said tube.

7. A microbiological test panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lid is formed from a translucent material.

8. A microbiological test panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said chassis is constructed from an opaque material.

9. A microbiological test panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said chassis further comprises an absorbing member positioned in said reservoir for absorbing the excess inoculum.

10. A microbiological test panel assembly according to claim 9, wherein said absorbing member is constructed from an cellulose acetate material.

11. A microbiological test panel assembly according to claim 9, wherein said lid further comprises a reservoir at a second end of said lid for receiving said absorbing member of said chassis.

12. A chassis of a test panel, comprising:

a planar surface having a first side and a second side;

a plurality of open-ended tubes, each having a bottom and a top end, formed on said first side of said planar surface, said bottom end of each said tube located on said planar surface, each said tube extending from said planar surface, and said top end of each said tube having an indented portion;

a reservoir formed at a first end of said planar surface;

a plurality of raised passage walls on a second side of said planar surface, said passage walls forming a passageway over the openings at the bottom ends of said tubes, one end of the passageway having an opening to allow a liquid to flow through said passageway, the other end of the passageway having an opening to allow excess liquid to flow to said reservoir; and

an air communication port between said first side and said second side of said planar surface, said air communication port formed as an open-ended tube extending from said second side of said planar surface.

13. A microbiological test panel assembly, comprising:

a base comprising a planar surface having a plurality of translucent cups extending from a first side of said planar surface, and a side wall extending from said first side in the same direction as said cups;

a chassis comprising a planar surface having a plurality of open-ended tubes formed on a first side of said chassis, a bottom end of each said tube located on said planar surface, a top end of each said tube having an indented portion for engaging a respective one of said translucent cups so as to form a well when said chassis is press-fit into said base to form a chassis-base subassembly, said chassis also comprising a plurality of raised passage walls on a second side of said planar surface, said passage walls forming a plurality of passageways, each passageway positioned over a predetermined plurality of openings at the bottom ends of the tubes, one end of each passageway having an opening to allow an inoculum to pass through each said passageway, the other end of each passageway having an opening to allow excess inoculum to a reservoir formed at a first end of said chassis, said chassis also comprising an absorbing member positioned in said reservoir for absorbing the excess inoculum, said chassis also comprising an air communication port between said first side and said second side of said planar surface of said chassis, said air communication port formed as an open-ended tube extending from said second side of said planar surface; and

a lid attached to said chassis-base subassembly over said second side of said chassis so as cover said chassis-base assembly, said lid comprising a planar surface for covering said plurality of wells, a reservoir at a first end of said lid for receiving said absorbing member of said chassis, and a plurality of fill ports at a second end of said lid, each said fill port for receiving the inoculum into each respective passageway.

14. A method for inoculating a test panel, the test panel comprising a fill port, a reservoir, a plurality of wells, and a passageway formed over the wells connecting the fill port and the reservoir, said method comprising the steps of:

holding the test panel at a substantially stationary inclined position with respect to a horizontal plane, with the fill port being elevated from the horizontal plane;

inserting inocula into the fill port; and

maintaining the test panel in the substantially stationary position to allow the inocula to flow through the passageway to fill the wells and to allow the excess inocula to flow into the reservoir.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the incline is at an angle between 20-25 degrees from the horizontal plane.

16. A test panel, comprising:

a planar surface having a first side, a second side, a top end and a bottom end;

a plurality of wells, each of said wells having an open end on said planar surface and another end which prevents a liquid from escaping, said wells extending from said first side of said planar surface;

a reservoir formed at said bottom end of said planar surface;

a fill port at said top end of said planar surface;

a plurality of raised passage walls formed on said second side of said planar surface, said raised passage walls forming a passageway over said open ends of said wells, one end of the passageway having an opening to allow the liquid to flow through said passageway from said fill port, the other end of the passageway having an opening to allow excess liquid to flow to said reservoir; and

an air communication port on said planar surface for allowing air to pass from said first side of said planar surface to said second side.

17. A test panel according to claim 16, wherein said another end of each of said wells has a rib for allowing air in said wells to escape.