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(11) | EP 0 459 093 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Capillary inoculator and assembly for inoculating multiple test sites and method of inoculating test sites therewith. |
| (57) A capillary inoculator assembly is provided for inoculating multiple test sites with
small, precise volumes of inoculum. The inoculator employed in the assembly includes
a trough-shaped carrier (12) and one or more rows of capillaries extending therethrough.
The capillaries (26) extend through one or more rows of projections which form the
lower part of the carrier. They are completely filled by capillary action, and the
inoculum is retained therein by forces of adhesion and surface tension. A test device
may be employed in conjunction with the capillary inoculator and includes discrete
test sites which are aligned with the ends of the respective projections. Each of
the test sites may be provided with an absorbent material such as a cellulose disk
(32). A dry reagent may be deposited upon each disk so that the inoculum may be analyzed
by testing equipment or by visual observation. A method is provided which includes
the steps of filling the capillaries, aligning the capillaries with the test sites
within the test device, and depositing the liquid inoculum on the respective test
sites through wicking action or other procedures. A method is also disclosed for providing
a plurality of discrete, liquid samples having small, precise volumes from a quantity
of liquid which may be of indeterminate volume. |