CULTURE DEVICE AND METHODS FOR ENUMERATING MOLD COLONIES

摘要

A thin film culture device for enumerating mold colonies is provided. The device comprises water-resistant first and second substrates with a growth region disposed therebetween, a dry, cold water-soluble gelling agent disposed in the growth region, and an effective amount of a calcium-chelating compound disposed in the growth region. The effective amount of calcium-chelating compound is capable of reducing a rate of lateral enlargement of the colony-forming unit growing in the culture device relative to the rate of lateral enlargement of a colony of the same mold species growing in an otherwise identical culture device that does not contain the effective amount disposed in the growth region, wherein reducing the rate of lateral enlargement of the colony-forming unit does not substantially delay detection of the colony. A corresponding method is also provided.

主权项

1. A thin-film culture device, comprising:
a water-resistant first substrate; a water-resistant second substrate; a growth region disposed between the first and second substrates; a dry, cold-water-soluble gelling agent disposed in the growth region; and an effective amount of calcium-chelating compound disposed in the growth region; wherein, when the growth region is hydrated with a predetermined volume of aqueous liquid and inoculated with a colony-forming unit of a mold species, the effective amount of calcium-chelating compound is capable of reducing a rate of lateral enlargement of the colony-forming unit growing in the culture device relative to the rate of lateral enlargement of a colony of the same mold species growing in an otherwise identical culture device that does not contain the effective amount disposed in the growth region; wherein reducing the rate of lateral enlargement of the colony-forming unit does not substantially delay detection of the colony.