| abstract |
A sample of material such as blood, urine, spinal fluid, or the like to be tested for the presence of biological activity is placed into a sterile container together with a suitable growth medium which includes a C 14 carbon containing carbon source (such as C 14 substituted glucose) which is fermentable to produce gaseous C 14 O 2 . An incubator is provided for exposing the container and its contents to conditions conducive to growth. After a suitable incubation period, a portion of the gaseous atmosphere in the container is withdrawn and analyzed in gaseous form in an ionization chamber for the presence of radioactivity. Valve and conduit means are provided for analyzing a number of samples sequentially. |