Culture device for lactic acid bacteria

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a culture device for enumerating colonies of microorganisms. The device can comprise a base, a coversheet, and a nonporous spacer member disposed therebetween. The spacer member comprises an aperture that defines a growth compartment. Disposed in the growth compartment are a cold water-soluble gelling agent, a dry oxygen-scavenging reagent, a dry buffer system, and an effective amount of a dry carbon dioxide-generating reagent. The buffer system is selected such that, when the growth compartment is hydrated with a predetermined volume of deionized water, an aqueous mixture with a pt less than or equal to 6.35 is formed.

1 . A culture device for enumerating colonies of a target microorganism, the device comprising:
 a base having opposing inner and outer surfaces;   a coversheet having opposing inner and outer surfaces;   a nonporous spacer member disposed between the base and the cover sheet, wherein the spacer member is coupled to the base or the coversheet, wherein the spacer member comprises an aperture that defines a shape and a depth of a growth compartment, wherein the spacer member and the growth compartment are disposed between the inner surface of the base and the inner surface of the coversheet;   an effective amount of a dry oxygen-scavenging reagent disposed in the growth compartment;   a dry, cold-water-soluble gelling agent disposed in the growth compartment, wherein the gelling agent is adhered to the base or the coversheet in the growth compartment;   a dry buffer system disposed in the growth compartment that, when the growth compartment is hydrated with a predetermined volume of deionized water, forms an aqueous mixture with a pH less than or equal to 635; and   an effective amount of a dry carbon dioxide-generating reagent disposed in the growth compartment.